What Is A Contested Divorce?

In a contested divorce, the couple is unable to agree on some or all of the decisions needed to end their marriage. The case is filed in court and both spouses usually hire attorneys. The attorneys spend months negotiating and collecting evidence. Numerous court appearances are held. Eventually, the case gets scheduled for a trial which may take several days spread out over several weeks. The judge then makes the final decisions about every issue involved in the divorce.

The longer the contested divorce process takes, the more expenses accrue. One can expect to spend several thousand dollars; the average cost of divorce ranges between $15,000 and $20,000, but a highly contested divorce usually costs more. Often, in addition to attorney fees, the couple hires experts to evaluate issues and to testify about them.

A contested divorce may last many months or more than a year. This means time away from work or family as you meet with your attorney and appear in court.

In addition to monetary costs, a long and hard-fought contested divorce can be draining mentally and emotionally for everyone involved. For this reason, it is not uncommon for a divorce to start as contested but eventually settle.

There are several reasons that could lead to a contested divorce.

• Division of marital assets: If a couple cannot decide how best to divide property or which items qualify as marital assets, they will likely need a judge to determine this on their behalf.
• Spousal support: The couple may not agree whether spousal support should be payable or in what amounts.
• Child support and custody: When there are children involved, one or both parents may fight very hard for a type of preferred arrangement, whether it is full custody or visitation rights. Additionally, the couple may not agree on the amount of child support that will be required.
• Prenuptial agreement: Just because a prenup exists does not automatically make it uniformly enforceable. For instance, Texas holds that a pre-marriage agreement is unenforceable if the court determines there was coercion.
• Grounds: Although all states allow no-fault divorce, a spouse may still choose to use grounds for the divorce (such as adultery or abandonment) which the other spouse must agree to or it must be proven at trial.

If your spouse contests the divorce, there are steps you can take to achieve your desired outcome.

Discuss Options With a Divorce Lawyer

Before taking action, it is vital to seek the advice of a knowledgeable and experienced Contested Divorce Attorney. If you are worried about the cost of legal counsel, seek lawyers willing to work “pro bono,” or on a volunteer basis. Additionally, some firms offer free legal consultations. You may also be able to arrange to pay in manageable installments.

Attempt to Negotiate

Even if you can’t reach a perfect agreement, an attempt at negotiation may move the two of you closer to a mutually beneficial outcome than you would be if neither side spoke to the other. If you are worried about bias, seek a process that involves neutral third parties, such as mediation or arbitration.

Make Sure Details Are in Order

If your spouse contests the divorce by challenging claims you made while filing, you should back up all claims with as much evidence as possible, whether it is financial documents, witness testimony, or photographs. Try to have a preponderance of detailed and organized evidence in your favor.

The more coherent, reasonable, and fact-driven your argument is in court, the better positioned you are to achieve a favorable outcome.

Just because a couple does not see eye to eye on issues involved in the divorce doesn’t make a contested divorce inevitable. It is always possible to choose an alternate method of marriage dissolution. The following are a few examples of when a contested divorce may not be the right path for you.

You Need a Quick Divorce

If you hope to end your marriage sooner rather than later, the contested divorce process is not for you. After months of negotiations and discovery, you will have a trial that is protracted by the number of issues to decide. You will not get a speedy divorce through the contested divorce process.

You Can’t Afford an Attorney

If you are in a position where you cannot afford an attorney yet do not qualify for legal aid or pro bono services, you should do everything you can to avoid going to a trial where you have to represent yourself. In this situation, working to achieve a settlement that is something you can live with is worth the effort.

State Laws Are Unfavorable to You

Depending on state laws, a contested divorce could leave you in a far worse position than you would be if you mediated or reached a negotiated agreement. For instance, some states automatically divide marital property evenly, even if only one partner worked to earn the majority of assets during the marriage. This would be crucial to know if you are a moneyed spouse and want to protect your assets or are a stay-at-home spouse afraid of being left destitute following a divorce.

If research and legal advice suggest a contested divorce will not result in the best outcome, you will likely be better off trying to negotiate.

There Is a Negative Impact on Your Health

Some research suggests that divorce not only directly impacts overall health, but in some cases, potentially shortens lifespan. That does not mean you would be healthier staying in an unhappy marriage. However, it does suggest that a long, hostile and emotionally draining divorce process may do more harm than good. Additionally, a long, contentious divorce can be damaging for your children.