A divorce can be one of the most painful life experiences, and the frustration of a long court battle with high court costs and legal fees can add insult to injury.  Fortunately, expensive court battles are not inevitable.  If you can agree on how to resolve the issues in your divorce, you may be able to obtain an uncontested divorce in the state of Florida.  Many of the most unpleasant aspects of the divorce process may disappear in an uncontested divorce including:

• Bitter conflict over property division
• Contentious spousal support issues
• Time consuming court hearings
• Expensive litigation

Uncontested divorces in Broward County finalize quickly and often require only a single party to stand before the judge for a short hearing.  A single lawyer that represents one of the parties can draft a Marital Settlement Agreement resulting in substantial savings in time and money.

The challenge is that an uncontested divorce must in actuality be uncontested.  This means that you and your spouse have already agreed upon the division of property, debts, child custody (now called “timesharing”), and whether alimony needs to be paid and in what amount.  This can be difficult if either party feels the only way they will receive their fair share is by going to court and having an objective third party divide assets.  Alternately, emotions run high and sitting down with your spouse to discuss property and asset division can be upsetting and ineffective.

It should be noted that a contested divorce is far more expensive and time-consuming.  Rather than a single attorney providing assistance in drawing up forms, both parties will typically hire legal counsel to handle litigation in court. While the judge will attempt to divide property fairly, no one outside your marriage is as aware of your property and lifestyle as you and your spouse.  While an uncontested divorce is often charged at a single flat fee to have everything done, a contested divorce typically means that you will be paying by the hour for as long as it takes to resolve your divorce.

If you have any of the following issues, it is imperative to seek legal advice from an experienced Florida divorce lawyer:

• Minor children
• Real property including a family residence
• A long-term marriage
• Significant debts or financial obligations
• Any type of deferred compensation plan (i.e. 401K, military retirement, pension, etc.)
• Ownership of a business
• Significant intangible or hard to value assets

Any of these issues can complicate a divorce considerably so it is essential to obtain legal advice from an experienced Florida family law lawyer before agreeing to any final settlement of your divorce.  If you think that you and your spouse have worked out all issues or that you are close, our experienced family law firm can evaluate your agreement and analyze it for weaknesses or potential problems.  We can advise you regarding how a court would likely resolve certain issues to help you negotiate a settlement with your spouse.

We provide an initial no obligation free Florida divorce consultation.

If you or someone you love is considering filing for divorce in Broward County, or has any other family-law-related needs, a meeting with a compassionate Fort Lauderdale divorce lawyer from Eric N. Klein & Associates, P.A. may be able to help.  To discuss your needs with us in detail and learn more about what we may be able to do for you, please contact us today by calling (954) 580-8080.