Expensive Divorce Cases Lead People to Crowdfunding

 Posted on October 30, 2015 in Divorce

Going through a divorce is not only emotionally draining, but can be financially draining as well. Even the most amicable of divorces involve some costs, and higher conflict divorces can become expensive very quickly. While it is hard to estimate the average cost of a divorce in the United States, it is generally thought that any divorce case that goes to court will cost somewhere between $15,000 to $30,000, if not more.For the average American, paying tens of thousands of dollars to leave an unhappy marriage is not a feasible option. Of course, one cheaper alternative is a divorce that does not end in court.

Many Americans, however, are left with no other option but bringing their case to court, as they fight difficult battles with their soon to be ex. A popular new source of fundraising, known as crowdfunding, is being utilized more and more often by people looking to raise money to fund their divorces. Crowdfunding has risen to popularity in the U.S.over the past few years. Sites like Kickstarter and GoFundMe have helped many people raise money for various reasons. Businesses create crowdfunding campaigns to find investors. Musicians turn to crowdfunding to raise money for a new album release. Newlyweds create and share crowdfunding campaigns with friends and family in hopes of collecting money for a honeymoon. The Crowdfunding Center, a group of experts on crowdfunding, says that crowdfunding raises $2 million dollars each day around the world. As crowdfunding grows in popularity, and millions of people experience success through crowdfunding, it was only a matter of time that it would be utilized to cover legal fees. For people without close family or friends that can help, or good enough credit scores to receive loans to cover legal fees, crowdfunding can be an excellent option. Sites like GoFundMe, FundRazr, and Kickstarter, all previously existing crowdfunding sites, have recently seen a growing number of campaigns to finance divorces. New sites, like CrowdDefend and FundedJustice.com have been created solely for raising funds for legal fees. For those looking into crowdfunding, there are a couple of things to keep in mind. First, creating a crowdfunding campaign for your divorce will require you to share your dirty laundry with the world. People will need to share your pain and emotional distress, before they are driven to donate money to you. Successful cases typically involve a person sharing a compelling story. A Geneva, Illinois woman, for example, has recently launched a crowdfunding campaign to pay for her split from a husband with more than 15 criminal convictions, and children she was hoping to protect from him. Her story was compelling enough to some donors, and she was able to raise nearly $1,000 in one month.

Second, a successful crowdfunding campaign must be promoted and maintained. It is not as simple as creating a campaign and watching the money pour in. A person hoping to raise serious money through crowdfunding must market their campaign constantly. One has to be prepared to share their campaign everywhere and stay actively promoting it. This can be tough, especially while dealing with a divorce at the same time.

Despite the challenges, many people have seen success with crowdfunding. Of course, avoiding court battles all together is the cheapest option, but for those with no choice and limited assets, crowdfunding can be a good option. It may take someone with a mindset for marketing, but many people are great at sales. For people with a compelling story, and the ability to constantly market their campaign, crowdfunding can be extremely successful.

The first step in any divorce process is meeting with an attorney. They can help you estimate potential legal fees and assist you through the divorce process. A qualified DuPage County divorce attorney is available to assist you. Contact the law office of Stock, Carlson & Asso. LLC at 630-665-2500 to speak to an attorney today.

Sources:

 http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20150830/business/150839940/

http://www.commdiginews.com/featured/crowdfunding-creative-financing-help-people-get-divorced-47767/

http://thecrowdfundingcentre.com/data/maps