Just because spouses have agreed divorce is the right option, it does not mean the divorce is any less complicated. An “agreed divorce” or an amicable divorce still comes with a heavy heart, emotional turmoil, and many things to consider.
An agreed divorce does not mean that you or your spouse can simply file some documents and part ways. There is a lot of planning, dividing, and compromising with any divorce. An experienced divorce lawyer can help you navigate the process and ensure that your rights are protected.
Do It Yourself Divorce
You may be thinking that since you and your spouse have agreed divorce is the right choice, there is no need to involve divorce attorneys. This can be a critical error. Even the best divorce situations can get complicated. Those complications can have long-reaching impacts in the future.
Divorce is not as simple as signing a few documents and filing them with the court. A divorce attorney can simplify the process and guide you every step of the way. A DIY divorce is a risky endeavor for even the most amicable spouses.
What Has to be Worked Out
Even if you and your spouse do not own a home together, there are still some things that will have to be worked out before your divorce can be finalized. Most people do not have a prenuptial agreement in place. Even fewer have a postnuptial agreement to provide direction.
Tennessee is a “separate property state,” which means that only goods and property accumulated during the marriage can be divided during a divorce, but there are some exceptions. For example, if you sold your home to move into your spouse’s home after you were married, if your work improved that home’s property value, that is a consideration. But it can get complicated.
Division of assets, even in the most agreeable divorce scenarios, can bring out the worst in people. Divorce lawyers in the trenches every day have many stories about how easily an agreed divorce can become a contested divorce over the simplest things.
When Children Are Involved
An agreed divorce takes on a whole new aspect when children are involved. Child support, custody, and visitation all need to be worked out. Child support is often a sticky subject with parents who have agreed divorce is the right choice.
Most divorce lawyers would agree that the more things agreed upon during the divorce proceedings, including child support, the better. Child support can be modified down the road if there is a significant variance, but it is always easier to get things right from the start instead of going back to court for modifications.
Before you sign away your future, consider contacting a divorce lawyer that can help you navigate the process and come to an amicable end with your spouse. Expert support can make a difference in how your marriage ends and how you move forward.
