Posted on: 14 August 2020

An uncontested divorce means that both parties have reached an agreement on how to divide assets as well as any responsibilities, such as child care, without the need for the court to mediate disagreements. These divorces can be less stressful as well as less expensive for all parties.

1. Consult With An Attorney

You may feel that the divorce will be amicable, but in truth, there is no way to truly know if your ex is being completely honest with you. It's in both of your best interests to hire your own legal counsel for consultation over the divorce paperwork. In some cases, your former spouse may try to take advantage of the situation, either knowingly or unwittingly. For example, it may seem to make sense to split everything 50-50, but if one party was a stay-at-home parent and will be at a long-term financial disadvantage after the divorce, then a more equitable split may be to grant them a few more of the assets so they can get back on their feet.

2. Hire an Appraiser

Don't just assume that you and your former partner know the value of every asset. Often, assets are either undervalued or overvalued. This can be a shock following the divorce if you need to liquidate an asset and you find out that your ex got the higher value items and you were stuck with low-value items. A lawyer will usually recommend that you work with an appraiser to determine the value of items such as real estate, vehicles, boats, jewelry, and other formerly shared assets that you will be splitting between the two of you. By taking the time to value items pre-divorce, you can ensure a more equitable division of assets and less animosity down the road.

3. Make a List of Possible Issues

The quickest way to increase both the cost and stress of a divorce is to invest time and effort into filing uncontested and then to begin contesting issues during the final divorce hearing. After talking with your legal counsel, make a list of things that you aren't sure about that could lead to possible arguments. Your ex should do the same. Your lawyers will then connect you with a mediator so that you can work through these items together and reach an agreement prior to your hearing. Not only does this eliminate any surprises when you are finalizing your divorce, but it also reduces the chances of bad feelings later. This is especially important if there are children involved in the divorce.

Contact a divorce attorney for more help with navigating your divorce.