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What is the financial cost of separation?
It often depends on which route you take.
The cost of separation and divorce in Canada can vary widely, depending on the process you choose. Traditional litigation with lawyers can cost tens of thousands of dollars, especially if disputes escalate to court. Mediation or collaborative approaches are often more affordable, but still involve fees for lawyers, mediators, and other professionals.
Opting for a streamlined process, like using automated tools to draft agreements and organize information, can significantly reduce costs by minimizing lawyer involvement and focusing on what truly requires expert advice. Most people will need some supportive advice and help to finalize the agreement. You may find that you need additional support to get to a resolution, but you only have isolated the pieces where you need help.
The path you choose will directly impact how much you spend, but also your stress levels and how quickly you can move forward.
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Approximately 95% of family law cases settle without going to trial, which means that most disputes are resolved through negotiation, mediation, or collaborative approaches, with or without lawyer representation, leading to agreements outside of court.
As seen in the graph above, some people will resolve things right away on their own and spend the least amount of time and money. Other people will hire lawyers to negotiate for them or attend mediation and others may fight all the way to the Supreme Court of British Columbia (and pay the corresponding fees!). But 90 percent of people will find resolution at some point. You likely will never get to a trial, but if you're on that path, you might spend more money than is necessary.
These high settlement rates highlight the importance of focusing on cost-effective and cooperative solutions as early as possible during the separation process. In the best case scenario, Divii may be all you need, but in the worst case scenario, Divii will help you define your interests, settle as many of the details as possible, and isolate your unresolved issues that need the support of a lawyer, which will still save thousands of dollars.