Ending a marriage can be an emotional experience. To make the situation easier and less contentious, spouses can work together and negotiate the terms of their divorce until they reach a settlement on all key issues, such as child custody, spousal support, and property division. Of course, settlement agreements can only work out when spouses mutually agree to their terms and are willing to compromise.
Creating a Divorce Settlement Agreement
One of the biggest advantages of negotiating a divorce settlement agreement with your spouse is being able to forego the long and arduous process of litigation. However, this also means you will have to trust each other to disclose all necessary and pertinent information since you will forego the discovery process. Having an experienced divorce attorney is essential for protecting your rights throughout this process.
Keep in mind that, even if your spouse hired an attorney, you should still hire your own, regardless if you agree on everything. You need someone to look out for your interests and advocate on your behalf to ensure the settlement agreement is fair before you sign off on it.
Below are some of the issues you will have to negotiate and agree on before you can finalize the process:
- The division of marital assets and debts
- Child custody and access
- Child support
- Spousal support
- Division of retirement accounts
- Division of debt
- Marital award
Before signing your settlement agreement, review it thoroughly with your attorney to ensure it is appropriate for your needs. Family law can be complicated and the language used in settlement agreements can have very specific meanings. If you do not fully understand what is written in your settlement agreement, you may end up signing off on something that is not in your best interests.
Set Up a Consultation with Our Skilled Divorce Attorney to Discuss Your Case Today!
Divorce does not always have to turn into a legal battle in court. At Matthew Penick Law, our family law is committed to helping clients resolve their cases out of court, but prepared to fight on their behalf in court whenever necessary. If you and your spouse agree to negotiate the terms of your divorce, we can advise you throughout the process and ensure you do not make any unnecessary or costly mistakes.
Reach out to our law office today at (410) 618-0863 to set up an initial case review with our experienced divorce attorney.