The Law Society of Zimbabwe (LSZ) has announced that the new divorce payment will start at US$2 000 or the equivalent of RTGS$ 170 000. The council has encouraged lawyers to stick to these set fees or approach the council if they wish to adjust their fees.
The US$2000 fee is are said to only apply to uncontested divorces while contested divorces should expect heftier fees.
Uncontested divorces are those in which there are minimal or no disputes while the opposite is true for contested divorces. In the case of an uncontested divorce, the party seeking the divorce is expected to pay US$1 200 while the other party will pay US$800. It is evident, however, that this has come as a huge blow to civil servants that might consider divorce in from no on as they are likely unable to afford such high fees.
However, regardless of whether the divorce is uncontested or contested, the final say on matters such as division of property, child support and child custody are left to the courts.
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