Choosing to end your marriage is likely to be one of the more difficult decisions you ever make. This may be true even if your spouse is on the same page. Fortunately, you may be able to minimize the emotional and financial fallout of your divorce by proceeding with an uncontested one.
With an uncontested divorce, you and your soon-to-be ex-spouse work together to solve all divorce-related issues, such as the division of marital property and spousal support. Still, you may wonder if uncontested divorce is possible when a couple shares children.
You must address child-related matters
The simple answer to your question is yes. In fact, married Floridians with children regularly choose to end their marriages without going through protracted and costly court battles. If you want to have an uncontested divorce, though, you must also address child-related matters.
These may include the following:
- Developing a time-sharing arrangement
- Negotiating child support
- Determining holiday schedules
- Addressing school, extracurricular activities, medical care and insurance
Reaching consensus on these and other matters outside of the courtroom may be beneficial both to your mental health and to your wallet. The benefits of an uncontested divorce do not stop there, however.
Your children may thank you
According to Psychology Today, high-conflict divorces can take a considerable toll on the emotional well-being of children. Specifically, a high-conflict divorce may cause your kids to develop anxiety, depression or even behavioral and academic-performance issues. By contrast, children whose parents go through uncontested divorces tend to suffer fewer emotional consequences.
Ultimately, while an uncontested divorce is not right for every married couple in the Sunshine State, avoiding a court fight may benefit everyone in your family.
