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Despite the impact of COVID-19, we are open and continuing to meet the needs of our existing clients and new clients without interruption or change in the quality of our services. Please do not hesitate to contact us with any concerns, questions or requests for information about your matter. At this time we are offering appointments via telephonic and/or video conferencing.
To help out during these trying times we are offering Free Consultations. Click here to Schedule a Consultation.

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Paying attention to a divorce settlement agreement

Jul 20, 2016 | Divorce

While the need to quickly dissolve a broken marriage is understandable, both parties should carefully consider what goes into their divorce settlement agreement. New Jersey couples might often need to think about and refer to this agreement when dealing with a former spouse for reasons related to children, real estate or business.

Litigation is not always needed during divorce proceedings, but settlement agreements should be validated by a judge so that the arrangements made can be enforced by a court if necessary. When drafting an agreement, one should ask questions to fully grasp everything in the document. An attorney can cover things from a legal perspective, but an individual can inquire about any loopholes or ambiguous language that might give one ex-spouse an unfair advantage.

If a dispute takes place after a settlement arrangement is finalized, it is a judge’s job to uphold the divorce agreement. It is best to follow the terms agreed upon by both parties after a divorce, but deviating from the terms does not automatically invalidate a divorce settlement agreement. Former spouses might sometimes act more leniently towards each other, but the divorce settlement prevails if one no longer wishes to extend such courtesies.

As people grow older and change, irreconcilable differences can occur in a marriage that make divorce the best option. It is natural to feel scared and hurt when growing apart from a spouse, but couples must try to think rationally and not emotionally when going through a divorce. Arguing and blaming each other often makes the process longer and more costly, so a couple should attempt to work together to form a settlement agreement.