Legal fees will widely vary depending on: your location, the status of your lawyer, the number of contested issues, and the length of the proceedings. Most divorce lawyers will charge at least $75 per hour; however, it's not uncommon for larger law firms to charge $450 per hour or more.

While some firms will offer a flat rate for each contested issue, this rarely includes the cost of the trial itself. If you have a low income, your local legal aid clinic may provide a lawyer for you free of charge.

In an uncontested divorce, both parties will agree on all aspects of the dissolution, such as the support payments, property distribution and child custody. Because the divorce doesn't go to trial, the costs are significantly cheaper.

While it's possible to resolve a divorce without hiring a lawyer, it is not recommended. If you choose to take this route, consider using an online service to ensure everything remains cheap, yet legally binding.

There are many companies out there that can offer basic digital services for as little as $250.

Unlike uncontested and trial-led divorces, mediation and collaboration is designed for couples that just have minor disagreements. In some states mediation must occur before a divorce even goes to trial.

While mediators can be expensive, they are significantly cheaper than divorce lawyers, costing an average of $5,000.

The cost of divorce spreads far beyond court fees and legal counsel. There are plenty of other expenses that you must also take into consideration, such as where you will live, moving fees, transportation, child counseling and day care.

While you should never remain in an unhappy marriage for financial reasons alone, you should at least assess the consequences before you take the plunge.

Knowing ahead of time what to expect will make it a lot easier to handle.

Divorce is rarely entirely amicable, especially when you have children, finances and assets to formally discuss. To facilitate a successful outcome, you must be emotionally equipped to make big decisions, and ensure that your spouse isn't going to run riot and make the legal procedures difficult for you.

Visit the Custody X Change Mindful Guide to Co-Parenting for detailed information about how to navigate these tricky waters and ensure your children grow up in a stable environment.

Unfortunately, you can never anticipate the true cost of divorce in advance. There will always be something that you've failed to consider. Over-budgeting will offer protection against any unforeseen expenses and ensure you're not left completely penniless after the legalities are settled.

When you and your children are in a serious housing predicament, emergency housing is available on a short-term basis. Options include homeless shelters, boarding houses and group homes.

If there is nothing available, your state welfare subsidy may pay for accommodation in a hotel or hostel. Call your local agency to find out.

Low cost rent or mortgage payments may be granted with Section 8 vouchers. The Emergency Solutions Grants (ESG) Program provides funding to nonprofit organizations and local governments to help low income families pay for housing.

The Housing Choice Voucher Program is a federal program that was established to help low-income families, pensioners and disabled people afford safe and sanitary private housing. The vouchers are awarded by local public housing agencies (PHAs), which receive funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

The following requirements must be met in order to qualify for Section 8 housing vouchers as a low income family:

The PHA will determine if your family is eligible. If selected, you will usually be placed on a waiting list. The demand usually exceeds the available funds; therefore, families whose income doesn't exceed 30 percent of the total median average income will be prioritized.

Established in 1983 alongside the signing of the Jobs Stimulus Bill, the Emergency Food and Shelter Program (EFSP) provides funding to organizations that aim to offer food and shelter to poverty stricken citizens. If you are a struggling single parent, the funds can also be used to help you make mortgage, rent or bill payments.

The aim of the charitable organization, A Bridge of Hope, is to prevent homelessness for women and children across the United States by using Christian churches and religious traditions. Aside from deep, long-lasting friendships, the organization can provide permanent housing, employment and advice on holistic living.

For years The Nurturing Network has been dedicated to alleviating abuse, neglect and exploitation among America's most vulnerable women. The organization can provide education, training and life's necessities to single moms in need.

With a developed network of pregnancy resource centers, The Nurturing Network is extensively equipped to provide emotional and physical support to single, pregnant mothers.

The Salvation Army is dedicated to providing the basic necessities of life, be it food, shelter, warmth or simply a shoulder to cry on. Over 30 million people received help in 2015 alone, including struggling families and single parents.

People in need can find hunger relief, housing assistance and even recreation camps. For more information, get in touch with your local community center.

There are more than 160 Catholic Charities across the country, each providing a vast array of social services. Whether you are a member of the Catholic faith or not, they will help.

Two people are stronger than one. Sharing a home with other single parents can significantly reduce stress and ease financial burdens.

CoAbode helps single mothers combine their resources in order to help each other improve their quality of life. The organization also provide affordable housing, specialized support and vital resources that make the living situation for all involved parties easier to bear.

The U.S Department of Energy (DOE) has a Weatherization Assistance Program that provides grants and financial assistance to low income families looking to improve the energy efficiency of their homes. Since the program began in 1976 it has helped over seven million families reduce their energy bills.

Each state has its own income requirements for the Weatherization Assistance Program. To apply, contact your local weatherization agency. Applications take approximately 20 minutes to complete and must contain proof of income. If you are deemed eligible, you will be placed on a waiting list.

When your local weatherization agency is ready to move forward, they will perform an energy audit of your home. This assessment will analyze your monthly bills and energy equipment, and then provide a recommended list of conservation measures.

Note that the Weatherization Assistance Program does not include roofing, siding or structural improvements.

You should always check the guidelines for Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit if you're a single parent. Many fail to claim for tax credits as they don't realize they are eligible. If successful, you could gain up to $1,200 in tax savings by simply completing IRS form 2441.

Every state will offer its own financial assistance for child care. While the type and quantity of aid will heavily vary, most will provide some form of grant. If taking this approach be prepared to undertake strict income assessments if your children are under 13.

Not all states will distribute grants in the same way. While many will offer financial assistance by depositing funds directly into your bank account, others may pay daycare centers directly.

If you're employed, check with your human resources department to find out if you are eligible for any benefits. Many companies will provide subsidies specifically to help employees cover child care expenses. Some large organizations may even have their own on-site child care facilities.

A Flexible Spending Account (FSA) is a special account that is tax-free. The money you are permitted to deposit into this account must be equal to the taxes that you would pay if all of your funds were deposited in a "standard" bank account. Money from this account can be used to cover child care costs.

If you and your ex both contribute, you could save up to $2,000 per year.

Launched in 1965 by director Jule Sugarman, the Head Start Program is a United States Department of Health and Human Services program that was developed to help low-income families foster stable relationships.

Each year over one million children and families from low-income urban and rural areas (in all 50 states) get free preschool education and health screenings that target cognitive, social and emotional development. To be eligible your must fall below the federal poverty level.

Most colleges and universities will offer financial assistance for child care expenses. Some may also provide free or low-cost, on-site care for students.

If you or your ex are a full-time student at an institution that doesn't offer such services, consider applying for a hardship fund instead, citing child care expenses in your application. Almost every college and university will set aside funding for students in need.

Over 63 percent of parents pay more for child care services than they originally expected. While these costs should be split between both parents, it can still be quite a shock to your finances.

Child care is one of the biggest annual expenses for parents, costing approximately $18,000 per year.

The average cost of a nanny is $477 per week for one child or $488 per week for two children. Day care centers are significantly cheaper, costing an average of $188 per week for one child and $341 per week for two children. If you are going through a divorce and need to compensate for a lack of residence, a day care center is probably the most viable option. However, if you have a more permanent solution, using an in-home day care provider, such as an au pair or nanny, may be more suitable.

Who pays for what, and when those payments are due is always one of the primary topics of divorce arrangements. However, without accurate quotes and a solid idea of how much everything will cost, it can be a difficult topic to negotiate.

Always track expenses so you know exactly how much money you've spent on your children. This will help you and the other parent keep updated on parental finances and accurately determine who owes what.

Custody X Change allows you to write the amount and description of the expense, and then assign it a category. You can also calculate what percentage you are both supposed to pay and how much you should be reimbursed.

At the end of the day, week, month or even year, you may then print out a consolidated invoice that will show the other parent how much they owe. This document can be exported in PDF, Word, or Excel form.

The U.S. Department of Education's Federal Work-Study Program is designed to provide needy students with money to subsidize post-secondary education. It is available to around 3,400 educational institutions throughout America.

By applying you could also be awarded a job opportunity that enables you to work and earn a living around your study schedule.

There are lots of private scholarships popping up all the time. Check your university's website and ask their financial aid department for any information they have on scholarships.

Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is a government grant scheme that has grants available for single parents who are enrolled in college (you can apply for FAFSA grants alongside other scholarship schemes).

Federal, state and county grant schemes come and go on a yearly basis, so if you're seeking financial aid, be sure to keep checking and asking. Scour the Internet for other opportunities.

There are various federal and state grants offering capital to single women starting small businesses. For example, the Small Business Innovation Research program (SBIR) can provide funding for research and development within the tech sector.

Acquiring a small business grant can be difficult as the number of applicants far outweigh the receivers. If you have a great idea that already shows promise as has possibly started generating revenue, it'll be a lot easier.

The U.S. Small Business Administration operates a vast network of women's business centers throughout every state, offering free training to female entrepreneurs and resources that can help you get up-and-running.

Many also provide short courses in accounting, bookkeeping and other related skill-sets, and will assign you your own personal mentor. Some will also provide grant and loan packages if you complete the training.

The Community Development Financial Institution Program (CDFI) is a subsidiary of the U.S. Treasury Department that works closely with the Small Business Administration.

The organization's aim is to help small businesses in undeserved communities to flourish. This includes low-income families who aren't entitled to traditional financing options, such as bank loans.

In today's highly connected, digital world, you can quite easily use your existing skills to earn money on the Internet. If you're a writer, photographer, filmmaker, website designer, graphic artist or even a sales representative, you can find plenty of opportunities on freelancing websites such as People Per Hour and Upwork.

Other options include:

Just like any other type of business, it can take a while to establish yourself in the online world. However, it can be a viable source of income when things are up in the air.

There's nothing more rewarding than building something from the ground up. Starting a business isn't easy; it'll be a very steep uphill battle. However, you will eventually find a natural rhythm that will suit your work and parenting schedule.

There are three major credit bureaus that collect information from public records and use it to create a credit report: Experian, Equifax and TransUnion.

Almost every creditor in America will use one of these services. In addition, banks and financial institutions may also have their own in-house system that they can use in conjunction with public systems in order to make a more reliable assessment.

The credit bureaus will:

All of these elements together contribute to your credit score. Therefore, if any one of them is out of balance with the others, it will reduce the overall number.

Separate all of your credit ties with your spouse. The implications of being attached to somebody with poor credit can be huge and may affect you for many years to come, especially if they have declared bankruptcy in the past.

Most blemishes on your credit score will remain for at least seven years and up to ten years for in the case of bankruptcy. However, with any luck, the blemishes that were caused by your spouse may be removed or downgraded in severity.

Is has been estimated that approximately 80 percent of all consumer credit reports contain errors. Having a blemish on your credit score is not a be all and end all as most people will have one or two, and creditors are unlikely to deny you finance for a one-off slip-up. They will be more concerned about trends, such as regular late payments of energy bills, failed mortgage payments, and maxed out credit cards.

If you have blemishes on your credit record that you weren't aware of or were caused by a reason beyond your control then dispute them. Send a letter of complaint to the creditor and request a reversal. If you have a viable reason for the unpaid or late credit, they may wipe it from your record.

Every time you sign up to a new finance agreement, raise your credit balance, or check your credit score, a note will be placed on your credit report. While it's only natural to accumulate credit checks, especially when you're going through divorce and have to transfer the names of account holders for bill payments, too many of them can look suspicious.

Don't check your credit score more than once every three months, and only ever apply to raise your overall balance if you genuinely need to.

Contrary to popular belief, a higher credit balance can actually improve your overall score. If your total credit line is $3,600, then you can in theory, withdraw up to $1,200 without hindering your credit score (providing you stay up-to-date with the minimum payments).

Creditors will look favorably upon people who don't exceed a limit of around one third of their available total credit. Therefore, if you stay within this bracket you should be safe.

If you have a credit card with $1,200 of credit limit and you use $600 or half of your total, increasing your card limit will move this total down into a "less risky" bracket. While this approach can be effective for building your credit score quickly, use it with caution.

Although blemishes will remain on your credit report for years, creditors will place the most emphasis on the previous 24 months. In the very worst scenario, you'll have two years of damage control. While this may not be enough to satisfy high-end lenders and attract low interest rates, etc., it will almost certainly qualify you for credit.