The financial cost of divorce is very great. However, if a couple cannot solve the basic communication and other issues in their marriage, the answer for them might be to divorce.
People always underestimate the cost of divorce, thinking of only the legal fees. However, in separating assets and income and creating two households, the economic loss (which at times is unavoidable) is very great. But people generally can’t and don’t want to stay in unhappy marriages just because of economic reasons.
Marital mediators generally charge by the hour, based on their fee for mediation. Lawyer/mediator fees are generally in the $250-$350 an hour range. Nonlawyer/mediator fees are usually somewhat less. Multiply that by 10 or 20 hours, and you have an estimated cost. If successful in resolving the marriage issues, the cost is a tiny fraction of the economic cost of divorce.
Marital mediation (unlike some marital counseling) is not reimbursed by health insurance. Because marital mediation has an out-of-insurance cost, many couples don’t choose it. However, it is very effective for many couples and is generally a very short term process, usually lasting for 3 to 5 sessions. The sessions are generally 90 minutes to 2 hours long.
