22. Can I Afford to Get Divorced? | Assessing the Costs of Separation and Divorce with Deb Dilman

The decision to separate from your spouse is a difficult one, and finances are a top reason why people stay in unhappy and unhealthy marriages. In this episode, Theresa Viera and Deb Dilman discuss what it actually costs to go through the divorce process, why talking to an attorney early can save you money, and more ways to cut down costs while separating. Deb L. Dilman is an award-winning family law attorney, collaborative attorney, and a NC DRC Certified Mediator. She has been practicing law for over 20 years and she joined the Modern Legal team in 2024. Need legal help in your family law matter? Schedule a consultation with our team to make sure you and your future spouse are both legally protected should a divorce occur. Some key takeaways from this episode include: One thing you can do during the year of separation is work on regaining your financial independence. That might look like re-entering the workforce after staying home to raise your children or taking a class on financial literacy to learn how to manage finances on your own. The divorce process moves slowly, so don’t be afraid to reach out to an attorney in the early stages of deciding you want to separate from your spouse. A good attorney - like the team at Modern Legal - will take the process as slowly (or quickly) as you want to take it. While the prospect of moving out of your marital home and starting over can feel daunting, it can also be incredibly freeing and even exciting. If that’s your situation, try to embrace it as the beginning of a new chapter in your life. The Legal Lounge podcast aims to dispel misinformation and downright bad legal information to empower anyone with questions about their family, their children, their finances, their marriage, and the law. As a team focused exclusively on family law matters, we aim to help you not only with the information you need, but also with the hope that your situation has a solution.  Modern Legal is a family law firm based in Charlotte, North Carolina. Our Modern Legal team can help you navigate the legal system when the law and your family collide. We help turn confusion into confidence, helplessness into empowerment, and frustration into action.  Connect with Modern Legal: Website Phone: 704-286-6302 Instagram LinkedIn YouTube Facebook  LEGAL DISCLAIMER: This podcast is for educational purposes only and the information should not be relied upon as legal advice or for legal purposes.