Thursday, April 20, 2017

Options Available To You For Divorce Financing

By Barbara Brown


It generally does not cost a lot of money to obtain a marriage license from the county and state. You may be able to exchange marriage vows for very little cash out of pocket. As inexpensive as it is to get married, it tends to be costlier when you want to end your union. Hiring a lawyer or going to court could cost thousands of dollars. Even if your case is simple and straightforward, you still may need to know your options for divorce financing.

Your first option could be to charge everything to a credit card. You can put the fees for retaining an attorney, filing paperwork, and more on a card that has plenty of credit available on it. While you face paying interest, you also might pay down what you owe for the case little by little without bankrupting your checking or savings account. You also could ask the court to include it in the judgment if you are asking for legal expenses and more to be covered.

You could also apply for a bank loan to get divorced from your spouse. Getting a bank loan requires that you have relatively good credit, however. People who do not have high enough credit scores might be turned down for such loans. They may have to consider other options.

Instead of a personal loan, you might try for an equity loan against your house. This lien does not require the high score. It could put your house at risk of foreclosure if you default on it, however.

Similarly, you might take out a line of equity that is based on the value in your house. Many banks will give home equity loans even if the owners do not have the best of credit ratings. The loan is secured the equity in the house. If you default, the lender could recoup the loss by foreclosing on the house. This type of lien typically is paid out quickly, letting you move forward with your marital dissolution promptly.

Finally, if your finances are poor and you do not own a house or free and clear car, you may just ask the law firm for a payment arrangement. You might need to pay the retainer fee up front. After that, you might be able to make payments on your account until the case is settled or the judge awards you legal expenses in the judgment.

When the IRS issues your refund, it will mail it to your attorney instead direct depositing it in your bank account. Your lawyer would then give you the remainder of the refund after your expenses are settled with the firm. This strategy might work best for low-income clients or people who cannot save up or get the funds they need to file.

These options for financing your divorce are available to you. You can decide which one suits your needs and what ones you can afford. You do not need to be rich to file for the end of your marriage in court. You may have to liquidate or use assets for collateral. Even so, the judge might award you damages in the settlement of the case.




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