What is a divorce?

Generally, a divorce or dissolution of marriage is a legal order declaring that the marriage no longer exists. Divorce laws vary by state and country. A divorce typically begins with a party filing a divorce action in the appropriate court; after the issues are heard by the court, the court may subsequently grant the divorce by issuing a final divorce decree, provided the parties to the divorce have met all legal requirements and have provided relevant evidence to support their divorce action. A divorce can become complicated depending on the issues presented to the court. Depending on the questions presented to the court, legal issues may revolve around: child custody and visitation, division of property, child support, spousal support, and marital debt. Sometimes, there are no such issues involved, or both parties agree to all the issues arising from the marriage – this is sometimes called an uncontested divorce – then a court, after examining the petition and reviewing the evidence may grant the divorce easily. Most divorces can be finalized this way or through a divorce agreement obtained through various informal settlement negotiations and mediation called alternative dispute resolution, to avoid a court trial which can become expensive to litigate. A good divorce lawyer can assist in navigating the maze of legal issues involved in a divorce proceeding, especially when there are minor children or property involved.