Most divorces can be handled in an agreed fashion if you put in a little effort at the beginning.  An agreed divorce can cost as little as $800.00-$1,000.00 flat fee (which includes court costs and filing fees) and should be concluded in as little as sixty days.  Sometimes an agreement can't be reached and litigation must ensue.  For those circumstances, quick and decisive action may mean the difference between operating from a position of strength or weakness.

There are generally two areas of concern in a divorce, issues of children and issues of property.  Children's issues can be grouped into three categories, conservatorship (the rights and obligations of the parents), possession and access (when the parents are entitled to physical possession of the children), and child support (which parent is obligated to pay support and in what amount). 

Property issues concern the division of assets and division of debts.  Assets and debts are grouped into two categories, separate and community.  Generally speaking, separate assets/debts are those that you acquired or incurred before the marriage and those, in the case of separate assets, that were received during the marriage by gift or inheritance, and in the case of separate debts, those debts that were generated or incurred during the marriage and are related to an item of separate property or a separate transaction.  Community property is all property acquired during the marriage that is not separate property.

The issues of law that guide the Court on how to resolve these issues are very different and such situations are extremely fact dependant.  It is always best to consult with an attorney before trying to resolve the situation, but after such consultation, you should always try to use your very best efforts to resolve these issues amicably, thereby reducing the stress and cost of the divorce.

For more information, please contact this office to see if your needs can be met by filing an uncontested, flat fee divorce.