With the complexities of a Fresno divorce, it helps to understand what options are available ahead of time. The dissolution of a marriage involves a number of decisions that impact the lives of spouses, children, and other family members. How these decisions are made depends on the type of divorce a couple chooses.
Divorces in Fresno are governed by California regulations including the following:
An uncontested divorce in Fresno is one of the most common methods of dissolving a marriage. When spouses can agree on major issues such as the division of property, alimony, custody of children, and financial issues it is possible to avoid going to court. Instead, the two parties negotiate a settlement agreement and submit it to the judge. A Fresno uncontested divorce is often simpler and quicker than other types of divorce.
When a couple is unable to agree on one or more issues then the divorce becomes contested. In a Fresno contested divorce the case goes to trial and a judge renders the final decisions. The process is often lengthy, costly, and complicated. However, many couples that start with a contested divorce in Fresno find they may be able to come to an agreement before going to court.
Fresno collaborative divorce offers an alternative to the traditional adversarial court based process. Each side hires a collaborative lawyer who acts as an advisor through the process. The issues are negotiated in meetings run by the spouses with a team of professionals including divorce coaches, financial consultants, and child specialists available to help both sides make well-informed decisions. If an agreement cannot be reached, both lawyers must withdraw from the process and new legal representation must be retained for divorce litigation.
There are numerous advantages to choosing a Fresno collaborative divorce. It shortens the divorce process, saves money, and lessens the trauma inflicted on children who see their parents working together to find solutions instead of locked in conflict.
Whenever legal rights are at stake, it is important to seek advice from knowledgeable and experienced lawyers. At Miller & Ayala, LLP we have extensive experience representing clients in family law mediations, negotiations, and litigation.