Efficient Client Service in Uncontested Divorce
Some of our clients find that Virginia's uncontested divorce procedures can help avoid the delays and expenses that can be generated when parties have disputes resolved in the courtroom. To learn whether your situation might be appropriate for divorce on an uncontested basis, contact MacDowell & Associates in Fairfax for the advice of a knowledgeable family lawyer.
Sometimes our clients aren't sure whether an uncontested divorce is right for them. We'll take the time to discuss your situation in sufficient detail to see whether important points of disagreement are likely to prevent an uncontested divorce.
Our attorneys also make sure that you haven't overlooked any points which will need to be resolved in the process of ending your marriage. We'll take care as well to make sure you're eligible to file for an uncontested divorce — you'll need to have been separated for a full year if there are children of the marriage, or for six months if there are no children, and have signed a property settlement agreement.
The Property Settlement Agreement is the Key Document
Although Virginia law does not recognize legal separation status, a period of living separate and apart can be accomplished utilizing a property settlement agreement (PSA).
The PSA isn't just limited to property division issues. Ideally, it will cover all of the outstanding issues that need to be addressed in the course of a divorce: division of assets and debts, alimony, child custody, visitation and child support.
If you're not certain that an uncontested divorce will work for you, we can draft a property settlement agreement with terms that you think will be acceptable for your spouse, and we can submit these to your spouse as a first step in the process. Minor modifications to a particular provision might solve the problem, or you might find that what you thought would be an easy issue to resolve might need to be resolved in a Northern Virginia court.
Call 703-763-0923 for Advice About Uncontested Divorce
We also review proposed PSAs for people whose spouses have taken the lead in drafting the document, and we can advise you about your options for improving the terms either through negotiation or litigation.
For further information about what uncontested divorce can mean for you in practical terms, contact an attorney at MacDowell & Associates in Fairfax.
