Three Things That Will Raise the Cost of Your Divorce

 Posted on November 26, 2025 in Illinois Divorce

There is no denying that getting a divorce can be expensive even in the most amicable cases. Since every divorce presents differently, it is difficult to estimate how much your individual case will cost at the outset without first taking a detailed look at your circumstances. With that being said, there are some factors in a divorce that will almost always result in the overall cost increasing. A skilled Kane County, IL divorce attorney can guide you through the legal proceedings and help to minimize the financial burden on your end.

Three Factors That Affect Divorce Costs

Litigation

In general, litigation is something to be avoided in most divorces. In fact, over 90 percent of divorces are settled outside of court in 2025. If your divorce goes to trial, you can expect to pay a substantial amount in filing fees and court costs, both of which can cut into your marital estate.

Before considering litigation, you should try to exhaust every other avenue of dispute resolution first. Even if you and your spouse have opposing ideas about how to handle issues in your divorce, most of the time they can be settled through careful negotiation or mediation. If there are no other favorable options, we can represent you in litigation to protect your best interests.

Forensic Accounting and Valuations

When a divorce involves complex or high-value assets, forensic accounting is often necessary to ensure that all property is uncovered and valued properly. Some of these more complex assets may include:

• Real estate properties

• Businesses

• Stock portfolios

• Retirement accounts

Attorney Tim Weiler is a certified financial litigator with experience representing clients in high asset divorces. During your divorce, we can bring in outside professionals and experts who can make sure that your interests are protected.

Child Custody Disputes

When spouses disagree about how to handle custody, the resulting dispute surrounding parenting time and decision-making responsibility becomes another financial stressor in the divorce. Keep in mind that the court’s main priority is to determine what arrangement would serve the child’s best interests (750 ILCS 5/602.7). When the child’s best interests are not clear, all parties will have to spend more time in court to resolve the issue.

In some cases, outside professionals like child psychologists and guardians ad litem are called in to help inform the court’s decision. When possible, the courts encourage parents to work together on a custody arrangement outside of court based on the assumption that they know what is best for their child.

Contact a St. Charles, IL Divorce Lawyer

At Weiler & Associates, Inc., we provide clients with transparent information about our billing structure. We can work with you throughout your case to keep costs down in your divorce. To schedule an initial consultation with our Kane County, IL family law attorneys today, call us at 630-331-9110.