An uncontested divorce basically means both parties involved are in agreement on the major elements of a divorce, including:
- Child custody, visitation and/or shared parenting time arrangements
- The amount and duration of child support payments
- The amount and duration of alimony payments
- How all marital properties and debts will be divided
If able to agree on these and other important issues, the couple will likely be able to
file divorce paperwork without having to go to court. The divorce would then be finalized as soon as the time period set forth by state law has elapsed.
Divorcing spouses might wonder if such an amicable divorce would even require them to have an attorney. While not seeking legal counsel could save money, it’s still generally considered a good idea to safeguard your interests and have a family law attorney look over any agreements you enter into — just to make sure you are not getting a bad deal.
Uncontested divorce can be advantageous
There are clear advantages to moving ahead with an uncontested divorce. Of course, the most obvious advantage is the cost savings, as you are completely avoiding litigation. There also tends to be less stress and time required of you when you can agree on divorce-related issues in an amicable way.
However, sometimes an uncontested divorce is simply not a realistic alternative to the standard divorce process. Therefore, it’s important that you find a dependable divorce attorney you can trust and talk to him or her about all of the elements of your case. If uncontested divorce is an option, your lawyer will guide you through the process and make sure you are protecting your best interests. If it is not, your attorney can keep you at ease through what can become a complicated process.
For more information on divorce alternatives in Maryland, contact a skilled La Plata
family law attorney with Mudd, Mudd & Fitzgerald, P.A.
