With An Uncontested Divorce Atlanta Couples Can Separate With Dignity

By Debra Johnson


It is a sad fact that marriages simply do not seem to last any longer. More and more people separate each year, often resulting in single parent families. Divorces are never easy. There are always a host of emotions involved and in some cases there anger and bitterness prevent couples from separating in an amicable manner. Also, divorces can be prohibitively expensive. However, by opting for an uncontested divorce Atlanta couples can save money and handle the process in an adult manner.

There are many reasons why contested divorces should be avoided. For one thing, they can be extremely expensive. Each partner will need to hire a lawyer and if they cannot come to a settlement agreement on important issues, the matter may be dragged out for a considerable time. In the process, the cost can escalate to crippling dimensions. There is also the fact that contested divorces are public affairs and this can be humiliating.

Even when a couple do not want to contest their separation, much remain to be done to dissolve their union. They have to agree on numerous issues such as the division of their assets and matters such as custody and visitation rights. The best solution is to hire a professional mediator to facilitate the process. This means that only one impartial professional will be required.

It is not mandatory to hire a lawyer to mediate in the negotiations between the separating couple. Couples may decide to rather make use of the services of a qualified and properly authorized counsellor to perform this task. The main benefit is that these counsellors charge much less than lawyers. The key is to find a counsellor that is trusted by both partners and that remain unbiased at all times.

Experts agree that mediation is a far better option than a contested separation. However, this can only work if both parties agree to negotiate with an open mind, if they are willing to compromise and if they refrain from aggressive behaviour. If there are children involved, both parties must agree that their interests should be the most important issue. If these conditions cannot be met then mediation is probably not the best course of action.

Sensible separating couples can limit their expenses even more by being reasonable. If they are willing to communicate with each other, discuss all the issues involved in the separation and privately agree on those issues, then they do not have to spend much time with the mediator. All the mediator will have to do is to make sure that the agreements reached between the two partners are legal and fair.

Once the mediator is sure that there is full agreement in all respects, a separation document will be drawn up and submitted to the court. In most cases the judge will simply make this agreement an order of the court. The separating couple do not even have to go to court and the details of the agreement is deemed to be confidential.

Contested divorces are not just hideously expensive but they can cause long term emotional damage to everyone involved. In fact, in bitterly contested cases both partners often walk away much poorer than they would have if they rather opted for a mature and reasonable separation. All too often the lawyers are the only winners in such cases.




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