There is no doubt about it divorces can be expensive. The more you argue over distribution of assets the richer the lawyers become, the more you fall out with the ex then the less you both get. 
Remember that two Solicitors arguing with each other at 
£175.00 per hour each means that your total assets are depleted by £350.00 for every hour that the Solicitors argue.
Remember that two Solicitors arguing with each other at £175.00 per hour each means that your total assets are depleted by £350.00 for every hour that the Solicitors argue. Don’t let Solicitors wind you up. Many divorcing couples argue for weeks (or indeed months or years) and end up settling for what was on the table in the first place.
Ask for an estimate of costs before you start the legal process. Ask to be kept informed as to how costs are being spent and the level that expenditure is reached. You don’t want to expect a bill for £500.00 and find out that its £5,000.00. Set an upper limit of costs which must not be exceeded of (say) £2,000.00 which should not be exceeded without your authority.
Do try and agree with your ex what is happening. Your CD collection in the whole scale of things is valuable to you but it is of no monetary value. Similarly clothes are worth very little as indeed is furniture. If you have a three-piece suite that cost a grand then the cost of arguing in correspondence in three hours you could have bought a new suite. Sometimes, discretion is the better part of valour and you may be better off walking away from it. In addition, if you say to your ex “OK, you can have it”. On many occasions you are more likely to get what you want. Second hand furniture is worth very little.
Of course, if the house is full of expensive antiques you may decide to want to take a more robust line.
If you have not been married for very long and your ex is a multimillionaire don’t expect to walk away with half your partner’s worldly wealth’s after 18 months of marriage. It just doesn’t happen. You can argue all you like (remember it costs £350.00 per hour in reality) but you just simply will not get 50%.
Remember also that in matrimonial matters the Court do not apportion blame in most cases. It doesn’t matter that the partner was caught in bed with the au pair, the Court are simply not interested. The only time the Court will take into account conduct is if that conduct directly affected the children. They may then favour the agreed party in any financial settlement.
The above is not meant to be a definitive Do It Yourself divorce course but simply a few pointers that may help you save some money.
Remember, the more you talk between you the less money it is going to cost in legal costs. Do try to avoid arguing through lawyers or letting lawyers wind either of you up at all costs (no pun intended).
