Every divorce is going to involve conflict in one form or another; however, in an ideal situation, each spouse will be able to work through divorce-related issues through discussion and mutual compromise. It’s never easy, but there are many services available that help divorcing couples through this, from divorce mediation to counseling and therapy.
If an agreement on the way in which the divorce should be finalized cannot be reached, the divorce is known as a contested divorce.
What is a contested divorce?
A contested divorce is one that features prolonged litigation due to the delay in agreements being made on issues such as alimony, child custody and division of assets. This often means that the court must make the decisions on behalf of the divorcing spouses, and these decisions may be subject to appeals.
Making a contested divorce as successful as possible
Contested divorces are extremely stressful because a lot is at stake. Often, a couple is conflicted on how the division of valuable assets should be conducted, or on who should have primary custody of the children. These are extremely sensitive matters that can never be taken lightly. The best idea, however, is to try to settle these issues through out-of-court negotiation, so that a compromise can be made between the two of you.
Contested divorces are a last resort when you believe that the other spouse is being unreasonable about what they expect to gain. Although lengthy, the contested divorce process can be worthwhile since it brings about justice for those who are determined to get what they deserve.
Source: LiveAbout, “8 Steps From Beginning to End of a Contested Divorce,” accessed Dec. 27, 2017
