There are two categories of divorce cases, uncontested and contested. If your case is uncontested, you and your spouse are in agreement about most issues and with little or no assistance can come to agreement on how you will divide your property and debts, determine maintenance, establish child custody and visitation, and calculate child support. If the parties cannot come to agreement on any of these issues, your case will be considered contested.
Uncontested cases are preferred as the parties are in the most control over the outcome and the time and cost are minimal. The more issues in dispute, the more time and cost will be required to reach an agreement. If an agreement cannot be reached, a court will make the final determination after a trial has been held. An experienced family law attorney can help you to make informed decisions and negotiate a reasonable settlement on your behalf. In addition, your family law attorney will ensure that you are in compliance with the rules throughout your case in the event you must go to trial.
While it’s important to hire a lawyer, who is skilled at negotiating for your economic and custody interests, it is also crucial to find a family law attorney with whom you feel comfortable on a personal level. Divorce is an intensely emotional process, requiring delicate people skills in addition to legal know-how.
