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A Separation and Property Settlement Agreement (also known as a Marital Settlement Agreement) is a contract that resolves all issues arising from your marriage, including the division of property and debts, spousal support, custody, child support, etc. If you and your spouse are able to reach an agreement on all issues, you can avoid the necessity of a contested divorce trial in court; your divorce can be finalized simply by filing certain paperwork with the court.

The contracts set forth an agreed division of property and debts in the event of a future separation/divorce, address whether one or both of the parties will waive spousal support, and identify and protect any separate property that each spouse may have owned prior to the marriage.

In order to modify custody, a parent must show: 1) that there has been a material change in circumstances since the entry of the last custody order, and 2) that a modification of custody is in the best interests of the child.

You may have rights to custody and visitation of minor children that are biologically unrelated to you, regardless of whether you and your partner were ever married. If you have established a parental relationship with the biological children of your partner, the existing laws recognize you as a person with a legitimate interest and can afford you custodial and visitation rights. Marriage does not automatically confer parental rights over the biological child of your spouse.

Alternate dispute resolution embodies all methods of resolving divorce disputes outside of the courtroom, and includes mediation, where a neutral third party such as a retired judge assists you and your spouse in finding middle ground, and Collaborative Divorce.