Do I Need a Lawyer For an Uncontested Divorce?

Many divorces can get nasty, but an uncontested divorce probably won’t. This is because couples in an uncontested divorce are actually able to negotiate with each other so that they can come to some agreements on key tenets of their divorce settlement. If you are on good enough terms to negotiate with your spouse, that’s great, but it does not mean that you should do this completely on your own. Our Morris County, NJ divorce lawyers can still help you even if the process seems to be going rather smoothly.

What is the Difference Between a Contested and Uncontested Divorce?

A contested divorce and an uncontested divorce differ in one key way. In an uncontested divorce, the couple mostly agrees on what their divorce settlement is going to look like. In a contested divorce, the couple cannot come to an agreement and needs to solve their issues through mediation, arbitration, or even litigation.

An uncontested divorce can be better for everyone because it often costs less money and takes less time. If a couple can come together and negotiate, then it’s also likely that the divorce process is less likely to leave behind bad blood. This is especially important for parents who need to be civil while making co-parenting arrangements for their children.

What Needs to Be Settled in an Uncontested Divorce?

A typical divorce requires a couple to agree on a few different things. The problem is that most of these matters involve family, money, or both, and topics like that can end up becoming tough to talk about. A divorced couple has to settle on things like:

• Child custody
• Child support
• Alimony
• Child visitation schedules and rules
• Who gets the family home
• How assets and debts are divided

In an uncontested divorce, a couple has agreed on exactly how to handle all of this.

How Can a Lawyer Help in an Uncontested Divorce?

Even if you have come to an agreement on most of the important stuff, it’s still a good idea to have a divorce lawyer of your own. An attorney can look over any agreements to make sure that you did not miss anything and that you are not being taken advantage of.

It can also be good to have an attorney around in case there is a part of your divorce agreement that cannot be settled easily. Sometimes there is a miscommunication or someone actually changes their mind, which means more negotiations. We can help you reach a favorable agreement whether it requires mediation or a collaborative divorce approach.

Schedule a Consultation

So even if you think your divorce is proceeding smoothly, contact Townsend, Tomaio & Newmark to schedule a consultation. We recommend doing everything that you can to protect yourself during these negotiations, so find out more about what an experienced family lawyer can do to help you.