What Is An Agreed Divorce?
Marriage can be a beautiful thing. Many of us dream of finding “The One” and building a life with another special person. But, marriage, in reality, does not always align perfectly with the vision we create in our heads. Not every relationship is meant to last. Sometimes, for various reasons, a married couple has differences that they cannot reconcile, and divorce is the best option for those two people.
Many people think that going through a divorce is a time-consuming and expensive process, and while it certainly can be, it doesn’t always have to be. Not every couple who wants a divorce has to go through the strenuous and expensive process of litigation in a courtroom. If you and your spouse have made the difficult decision to separate and already agree on key issues such as division of assets, you can choose the faster, easier option of an agreed divorce (sometimes called an “irreconcilable differences divorce”) rather than going through the process of litigating your issues in court.
An agreed divorce allows a couple to end their marriage outside of the courtroom, saving them time, money, and the headache of filing motions and attending hearings. How do you know if an agreed divorce is right for you? In Tennessee, you and your soon to be ex-spouse can file for an agreed divorce if:
You have no children together or if you and your spouse have minor children together, both parties agree on child support and a Parenting Plan.
One or both of you have lived in Tennessee for six months, or you both lived in Tennessee when you decided to divorce and the children you have together have lived here for at least six months.
Neither of you are pregnant.
You can agree on how to divide your property, and you are both willing to sign a divorce agreement.
If the criteria above apply to you, then an agreed divorce could be your best option. In Tennessee, this means that you and your spouse simply need to fill out a few forms in which you work together to determine the exact terms (child support, how property will be divided, etc.) of your divorce and how you two will be moving forward. Then, you can file the completed forms with the appropriate court and your divorce will become official once the court processes your information.
Even if you and your spouse do not currently agree on all the terms of your divorce, an agreed divorce may still be an option for you. Through the process of mediation, you and your soon to be ex-spouse can potentially settle on the terms of the divorce that work best for you and then file your agreed divorce paperwork. At Joe Kwon Law, we are experienced in helping divorcing spouses find the most appropriate terms of separation so that they can go through the agreed divorce process rather than the traditional route of litigating all their issues in court.
Also, if you are considering an agreed divorce, it is important to remember that divorce is a legal process that can affect your personal assets and affect your individual rights. So, our experience with agreed divorces can help you ensure that you protect yourself from any unforeseen consequences of divorce. Contact us today if you want to learn more about how an agreed divorce may be the right option for you!
