It is more expensive for a family to live in two separate homes than one home, which is what usually happens when you get divorced.  Either you are each finding a new place to live or one person is staying where you currently live together and one person is moving out to live in a new residence.  But what exactly makes it so expensive?
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The list is extensive of what is now two separate bills instead of one joint bill— all of your utilities, rent/mortgage, car insurance, home owner’s/renter’s insurance, repairs, maintenance, cable, internet, cell phone, some food (for example, you now need two bottles of ketchup- one for each place), domestic help, etc.  And when you are using a divorce mediator at Westfield Mediation, LLC,you will review all of these expenses when completing a Case Information Statement Budget Form (pages 6 and 7).  It is a form the courts created.  It is not as user-friendly as it could be, but it serves as a good reminder of what your monthly expenses consist of. 

You have some flexibility about how and when to separate some of the joint expenses into two separate expenses.  One of the more expensive bills that comes up is car insurance.  Many people receive a multi-car discount or a bundle discount with their home owner’s insurance.  When living apart you may no longer qualify for these offers and you can expect your monthly rate to increase.  You can also address who is paying the marital house bills if one person is staying in the house and the other person moves out sooner or later than agreed upon.  Or if you are selling the house but one person moves to a new residence sooner than the other, how are the house bills getting paid until it is sold? All of these issues are addressed in mediation in a calm and careful manner.  They are important conversations to have so each party can start to plan for their increased expenses.