Uncontested Divorce & Mediation
By far, uncontested divorce is preferable to the highly contentious process of contested divorce. It is less costly, less time-consuming, and carries the potential for far less animosity between the parties after the end of the case. Many spouses can achieve an uncontested divorce without ever entering a courtroom. In those cases, the parties often meet with a single attorney who represents only one of them but negotiates and files a full marital settlement agreement with the court. After a statutory waiting period of 30 days, the court signs off on the agreement and the parties are officially divorced.
It is also common for cases to settle after a contested divorce has already been filed. Often, the discovery process provides both parties with full disclosure of the marital finances, and this allows them to negotiate from a more informed position. A useful tool that most parties in contested cases should consider is mediation, a process whereby both spouses and their attorneys meet with a neutral mediator who guides the conversation of settlement negotiation in order to help facilitate an agreement.
Mediation is usually a worthy endeavor so long as issues of abuse are not present. Many cases that seem hopelessly gridlocked still end up settling when everyone comes to the table in the presence of a skilled and creative mediator. Parties have the opportunity to customize an agreement that may work better for them than the order a court may fashion following a trial. Importantly, the parties also retain control over the outcome, and working together through their attorneys to achieve an amicable resolution may promote further cooperation down the road. This can make all the difference in the world, particularly in families with children.
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Our team has negotiated and filed hundreds of agreements and represented clients in numerous mediations. If you are interested in seeking an uncontested divorce, call us today to set up an appointment.
Davis Family Law, LLC | 1420 Government Street | Mobile, AL 36604
Phone: (251) 444-5332 info@davisfamlaw.com