You may have heard horror stories of divorce proceedings dragging on over months and even years. You and your spouse have decided to divorce, and you want it done sooner rather than later.
An uncontested divorce may offer the best solution for ending your marriage. If you and your spouse can agree on the terms of the divorce, it may also mean that your final divorce occurs faster. For this type of dissolution proceeding, you and your spouse must reach an amicable agreement on these three issues.
- Splitting up finances
One of the first things you need to address in a divorce is how to divide money and debt. During a regular divorce proceeding, the financial division may take time to settle. In some cases, a couple cannot find common ground, and the matter winds up in the hands of the judge. If you want the faster resolution that an uncontested divorce offers, you and your spouse must effectively agree on who gets what portion of marital assets and debts.
- Deciding on issues regarding children
Divorcing with children is rarely easy. When kids get caught in the middle of two parents at war, the effect on them is often catastrophic. Grades may start slipping, and behaviors may change overnight. Whether you and your spouse go through with the uncontested process or not, keeping things above board for the sake of your children should top your priority list.
- Contemplating alimony
One parent may have stayed home while the other’s career took off. Once you decide to get a divorce, the spouse without a job may feel a significant disadvantage. Without a regular income, it may become necessary for spousal support. This is typically a divisive issue, and the court has guidelines that may dictate whether support gets paid or not. If you feel like you need alimony, the best course of action is to get your spouse to agree to the terms.
You need to take the best course of action for yourself and your future. If an uncontested divorce is possible, then agreeing on these three issues is critical.