Most couples don’t get married to call it quits. Feelings and circumstances can change, though. What may have worked at one point might not anymore.
There are two options for going your separate ways here in Minnesota. You can pursue a contested divorce or an uncontested one, known as dissolution of marriage. There’s a fine line between these two concepts that you may want to learn more about as you and your spouse go your separate ways.
Do you qualify for an uncontested divorce?
Uncontested divorces are ones in which both spouses agree that their marriage is beyond repair. This dissolution of marriage option is also ideal for those married couples who don’t have any property or kids or have already reached an agreement on what will happen to them.
Any instance in which you and your spouse disagree about moving forward with a divorce or you can’t see eye-to-eye on property division, child support or custody or spousal maintenance may not qualify for a dissolution of marriage. You’ll need to broker a deal yourselves or with the help of an attorney.
A judge will ultimately need to sign off on any agreement that you make. A judge may convert a contested divorce case to an uncontested dissolution of marriage if one of the spouses fails to appear at any hearings in the case.
What are the benefits associated with pursuing a dissolution of marriage?
Uncontested divorces are ideal as they minimize the stress placed on everyone involved. Spouses have more of a say as to what happens in their case. Dissolution of marriage proceedings tend to be less costly and to finalize more quickly than contested divorce cases.
Ending your marriage
As with making any choices, there are implications associated with pursuing one option versus another. You may find it helpful to have an attorney guide you through the decision-making process as you look to dissolve your marriage to ensure that you receive a fair shake in your divorce.