Should You Go For An Uncontested Divorce?

An uncontested divorce takes place when two parties come to an agreement on all terms. All the negotiations are done between the two parties outside of the court. Lawyers are present, but are not representatives of either party and primarily serve as advisors and to fill out paperwork. Hiring a lawyer in this case is not necessary, but generally they are not very expensive and help ease the burden. How long an uncontested divorce process lasts depends on how quickly the two parties are able to agree to all terms. Going this route however does have its pros and cons.

One benefit of uncontested divorces is that it's a far less expensive than being in court. You will save even more money however if you and the other party can do all the negotiations without the assistance of a lawyer. This is especially true if you are paying the divorce lawyer by the hour. Another advantage is the time that is saved. Divorce cases that go to court can take on average one year to be completed, sometimes even two years. An uncontested divorce generally will only last a few months, though this does vary based on the area you live in. But saving money is what makes this route so attractive, especially when your living expenses are going to change without your partner in the picture.

Uncontested divorces generally are far less emotional and dramatic than contested ones. This of course is because the two parties are working together and ultimately reaching an agreement. The relationship is able to at least become mutual, which is especially beneficial if children are involved. Plus, children won't have to suffer through a drawn-out divorce case.

Another benefit that you get with uncontested divorces is privacy. The negotiations are done behind closed doors just between the two parties, and only a limited amount of information will be released in the documents. All that will be public is the records.

Patience will be necessary however in uncontested cases. It's not often that both parties will agree on everything in the beginning. There will be some back and forth, so it's important that both are willing to work together and have an open mind. Just because there are some disagreements doesn't mean you should go running off to a judge.

So what are the downsides? Well, depending on the relationship, an uncontested divorce may not even be possible. If one party for instance was abused or under the control of the other, then it would be difficult for both sides to cooperate with each other. Each side should get a good deal, but this requires both to put aside differences.


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6268592