Although the number of divorces in the United States of America has increased over recent years, they are all very different, with each one being unique, based upon the relationship of the couple in question.
Where no children or large assets are involved, the process can be completed relatively quickly and straightforward. However, it does become a bit more tricky where children are involved and where the family home and other large assets need to be sold in order to fund the settlement amounts.
If it can be avoided, the terms of the divorce should be agreed between the couple themselves and without the use of a legal professional from the likes of the Pasadena family law firm. Even though going down this route is more expensive, for some couples it is inevitable that they have to bring in legal representation in order to find an amicable solution for both individuals.
There are a number of steps involved in becoming divorced from a partner that you have married and these are listed below for your assistance should you ever find yourself in such a situation.
Contents
1. Filing the petition
In order to initiate the divorce process, either one of both of the individuals need to submit a legal petition – this is a request for the court to legally end the marriage. On this petition you must state a reason for divorce. This varies greatly from state to state. Following the link to find out What Are the Grounds for Divorce in Oklahoma?
2. Requesting orders
When filing a petition for divroce, you can also present a request for temporary custodianship of your children whilst the divorce process goes through. Once the final outcome of the divroce has been agreed upon, these temporary orders are lifted.
3. Serving the papers
This is the responsibility of the individual who has filed the petition in the first place and involves providing the other half of the couple with the paperwork for the divorce for signing. If they agree and are happy to sign then the process can continue without any issues, however problems arise when they are not willing to sign the papers.
4. Negotiating the settlement
It is unlikely to be the case that both individuals perfectly agree on who should own what assets and what access to children they should be allowed. With the help of their lawyers, the couple come together to negotiate and come to a deal as to who gets what.
5. Going to trial
As you can imagine though, this is not always plain selling and no matter how much negotiating happens, some couples can never come to an agreement regarding an equal settlement. Where this happens the divroce goes to trial and the court steps in ti habde the settlement deal.
6. Agreeing to the judgement
The very last step sees the judge agree to the settlement and then back this up by signing the relevant documentation to say so. Once this has been done, the couple are no more and they are now legally divorced.
