Quick Easy Guide to Divorce Court

A divorce process is oftentimes an emotionally draining and daunting procedure. A divorce court, which is the venue and mechanism to initiate a divorce process, is a legal process that resolves the financial and child custody aspects of a troubled couple. A divorce court is the legal process that initiates the end of a marriage and the vehicle that leads to a resolution in regards to the couple's assets and debts.

In some jurisdictions, a divorce does not require an individual in the union to claim fault of their marital breakdown. Jurisdictions who have adopted this "no fault policy", however, are still susceptible to a court initiating a review of the relationship and account the behavior of the individuals when dividing the couple's debts, property, and when evaluating custody, if relevant.

In the majority of jurisdictions, the legal divorce process requires a certification by a court of law to become fortified. The terms of the divorce process are typically determined by the court. However, if prenuptial or post-nuptial agreements are present, a ratification of the divorce court’s resolution will take precedence.

In the absence of a premarital or post-marital agreement, a contested divorce process is typically a stressful and costly procedure for the spouses involved. To quell the costs associated with legal aid and to mitigate the stress involved in a lengthy divorce process, less adversarial approaches to resolution have recently reemerged. Such alternative processes, like mediation and collaborative divorce, attempt to negotiate mutually acceptable resolutions in divorce court.