Although there are divorces where couples have heated disagreements and it is difficult to communicate, there are situations where the parties have agreed on all or most issues that must be decided in the divorce. This is called an uncontested divorce, and there can be advantages and disadvantages to this approach.
Advantages
An uncontested divorce can save time and money because there are often fewer court procedures the couple needs to go through. Usually, when both sides of the relationship agree to the larger issues in a divorce like property division, alimony, child support, and child custody, the process is simpler.
While one spouse will still need to file for divorce to start the process, there may be less paperwork for the couple to complete. They may need to submit a statement to the court about the grounds for the divorce and the items they have already agreed on. However, there may be less back-and-forth between the parties, and this can allow the spouses to move on more quickly.
Also, couples who want to maintain their privacy may want to consider an uncontested divorce. Financial and other private information is usually part of the public record in a divorce proceeding. When there are fewer issues to resolve, there may be less information contained in those filings.
Disadvantages
If the couple has conflicting ideas for parent-time and custody, disputed property arrangements, or disagreements about alimony, they may find that an uncontested divorce is not right for them. Even though the uncontested divorce process may be simpler and more cost effective, there may be issues that require a more thorough analysis to decide.
An experienced attorney can provide guidance and advice about divorce and other related matters.