"How much does a divorce cost?" That, of course, is a question asked a lot in the United States, and both  those who practice and research divorce law frequently respond, "It depends."

That answer is necessarily couched in many cases, given the number of disparate factors that can feature in any given divorce. As example, a divorce might be somewhat  civil, or, then again, extremely contentious, maybe even combative to the point that both parties aren't even rational anymore and are willing to burn bridges - financial and otherwise - just to hurt the other side.

Perhaps children are involved; maybe they aren't. Joint debt could be an issue; perhaps, though, there are no liabilities at all. Is there a family business to divide or bicker over? How about other assets?

Fundamentally, how complex does the process need to be? In some divorces, a couple will hire private investigators, financial planners, insurance representatives, business valuators and a host of other "experts" to weigh in with opinions and services. Costs rise accordingly; in some cases, they exceed hundreds of thousands of dollars or even more.

Arguably, this might seem necessary in certain cases. For most people, though, and under most circumstances, divorce needn't be protracted, and divorce costs don't have to be excessive.

A majority of couples do not value acrimony during the divorce process, and they are not out for blood. In fact, many of them are focused on an amicable split and cost-containing measures that will help them achieve it.

When this is the goal, and a divorce is uncontested, a couple intent on saving money can do so by paying serious attention to divorce attorneys and the services and fees they offer. In the divorce realm, research invariably pays off in a literal sense, and a couple can save a substantial amount of money by working with an experienced divorce attorney who focuses solely on uncontested divorce and cost-containment measures. There is a wide range in which attorneys bill, and a bit of time spent up front examining costs and fees will ultimately help a couple avoid an excessive outlay on them.

Related Resource: www.doughroller.net "The Financial Impact of Divorce" August 10, 2010