Minki - the Constant cost of moving on

The cost of divorce

Minki van der Westhuizen and her husband Constant Visser are calling it a day according to media reports and a statement by her publicist. The split is apparently not acrimonious nor are there children involved. There is however a cost associated with getting divorced. It is not just the emotional pain and turmoil but any separation costs that may be part of the divorce agreement and the cost of setting up a new life for yourself.

So what should you do if you are considering a divorce?

• Re-read the ante-nuptial if you have one
• Get a decent lawyer
• Be prepared to spend more

If you have an agreement before marriage then it simplifies the split, but this can still end up costing you a packet. Minki is a business woman in her own right so Constant shouldn't have to worry too much about funding her after their divorce, but in many instances this would not be the case. Good lawyers cost money, even bad lawyers cost money. This is a factor that would need to be planned into any budget before even considering a divorce. While Minki and Constant may have the cash to splash out on fancy lawyers not everybody else does.

Finances and marriage 

When you get married you believe in the fairytale that it is going to last forever, but the fact is that many, many marriages end in divorce. Your personal finance can be expected to take a hit from the cost of setting up a new place to live, changing your banking accounts and generally restarting your life. Always consider the costs before the divorce, even if it is amicable like with Minki and Constant it costs more to live on your own than to share with your partner, bear in mind that a divorce will make life more expensive.