Paying for your divorce: Some options to consider

The high cost of divorce isn’t just emotional — it’s also financial. The average cost of divorce these days is estimated to be about $15,000 — although that can vary considerably depending on where you live, what you and your spouse are willing to negotiate in private and what you have to argue over.

So, how can you manage the expense? Here are some options to consider:

Borrowing the money

Taking on more debt when you’re getting divorced is probably nothing you really want to consider, but it might actually be the best option. A personal loan can offer you the money you need to finance your divorce, and the expenses associated with starting over, at a fixed, affordable rate of repayment.

Alternatively, you can borrow money from a friend or relative if someone has it to spare. If you have the room on your credit cards, that’s also an option (although the interest rates there will definitely soar well past the interest rate a personal loan might offer).

Filing for an uncontested divorce

If you and your spouse weren’t married very long or just don’t have any tangible assets to split, it might be possible to keep your divorce costs down tremendously just by filing for an uncontested divorce. Essentially, that requires you and your spouse to agree on all the terms before the judge signs off on the split.

Using mediation or something similar

If there are a couple of sticking points between you and your spouse, or you have a lot of assets to divide, mediation might be a solution that could still save you a lot of money. With a mediator guiding you, you can often avoid the expense that goes along with a full-blown litigated divorce.

Ultimately, whatever path you take, the expense of a divorce is worth it when you consider the long-term benefits you stand to gain by leaving an unhappy relationship.