Contested Divorce

Contested Divorce

What Is a Contested Divorce:

A contested divorce is a type of divorce where the spouses cannot agree on one or more issues, such as property division, child custody, or spousal support. These disagreements must be resolved in court through a legal process, typically involving evidence, witness testimony, and negotiations. A contested divorce can be a lengthy and stressful process, as the outcome is determined by a judge rather than the parties involved.

A divorce is considered a contested divorce when a spouse does not agree to getting a divorce, or they disagree with any of the terms of the proposed settlement. This is especially true in high-asset divorces involving business ownership, extensive financial holdings, real property, retirement and investment accounts, etc.

Most contested divorces involve a high-degree of emotions. This can range from anger and resentment to greed and fears about financial security. Sometimes a spouse acts more to drag it out and make the other party suffer a long and contentious ordeal. Whatever you may face, we will get you through it and do our best to buffer you from the majority of the acting-out.

In full disclosure, a contested divorce is almost always a relatively expensive route to dissolve a marriage. Why? Contested divorces require a tremendous amount of time with discovery, phone calls, meetings, and the other aspects of intense litigation. Additionally, a contested divorce will almost certainly move to a trial. The preparation and managment of a trial is an additional costly process.

We commit to providing a strong representation at the lowest reasonable cost. This does not mean having a cheap divorce, but it does mean that we are conscientious about how we manage your case work and your retainer.

How Long Does It Take to Get a Contested Divorce?

In Georgia, a contested divorce can take several months to over a year. A high-asset divorce typically takes far more time than a contested divorce with only relatively minor points of disagreement.

Where Do I Start?

Each divorce case has it's own unique circumstances and aspects. The first step is to meet with an experienced divorce lawyer and discuss your situation. During the discussion you can get answers to your questions, discuss potential outcomes, and identify the next step.

When you hire a divorce lawyer they will work with you to develop a strategy and plan. Whether you're filing for divorce and need papers served on your spouse, or you need to respond to papers served on you, we can help you.

Temporary Orders

How will you pay your bills during your divorce? Our divorce lawyers can file papers for Temporary Orders which can address spousal support, child support, temporary child custody and visitation, protecting property loss, who stays in your primary residence, and other important details.

To learn more about what a divorce looks like for you, we invite you to chat with a friendly divorce lawyer. Simply call 912-502-1400 to arrange a confidential consultation to discuss your situation.