If you are considering divorce or going through one, it is either contested or uncontested. A contested divorce is one in which you and your spouse have at least one point of disagreement. It could be over debt, child custody, ownership of the house or something else entirely. Fortunately, many divorces are uncontested, meaning that both parties agree on how to approach and resolve the issues. Such divorces tend to benefit everyone involved in the following ways.
Children may pick up on less tension
If you and your spouse agree on how to handle parenting and are able to create an effective parenting plan that puts the children’s interests first, then this collaborative approach benefits the children. It also sets the stage for a productive and long-lasting co-parenting relationship.
The proceedings are quicker
Not surprisingly, a contested divorce takes longer to resolve. Some can drag on for months or even years. On the other hand, an uncontested divorce can be finished in a month or less. Moreover, you do not need to appear in court as long as you do phone interviews with your attorneys. They will appear for you in court instead, and you do not even have to make visits to the offices of your law firm.
The process is more predictable
Not only is the timetable much clearer for an uncontested divorce, but so are the costs. You should know from your lawyer upfront how much the fee is. There will be no surprises later, and keeping legal issues out of court saves more money overall. In general, expect to pay a few hundred dollars more if your uncontested divorce involves children.
To go through an uncontested divorce, you and your spouse should agree on debt division, child custody, property division and a few other issues. An attorney can help with your uncontested divorce, possibly making it go through quicker than if you did it alone.
