DIVORCE & DISSOLUTION

 

            Family law issues are among the most difficult for both attorneys and clients because of the personal nature of such disputes.  Our firm dedicates itself to being attentive to our clients needs, and providing prompt, personal, and absolutely confidential legal advice in the following areas:

 

 

            Clients often confuse the differences between divorce and dissolution.  The following provides a concise distinction between the two types of legal separation. 

Divorce:

The legal separation and termination of the marital relationship by the judgment of a court which may be granted only upon a finding by the court that certain "grounds" for divorce exist. A divorce puts an end to the marital relationship.

Dissolution:

A form of no fault termination of the marriage relationship, where both parties negotiate the terms of their own separation, with limited intervention from the courts.  This includes division of marital property, spousal support, parental rights and responsibilities, and child support, among others.  It is essentially a request that the court terminates the marriage and approves the agreement between the parties. The basic advantages of a dissolution are that it is not adversarial in nature (i.e. the parties have already agreed upon every aspect of the termination); there is no plaintiff or defendant; it is not a "divorce"; and the court does not have to make any of the decisions it would have to make in a contested divorce. Additionally, it is usually concluded faster than a divorce action.