What is an uncontested divorce?

An uncontested divorce is where both sides sign an agreement, typically referred to as a marital settlement agreement, which settles all of the contested issues within their dissolution of marriage action. A judge then reviews the agreement, and if appropriate, and most are, signs off by issuing a final judgment of dissolution of marriage. At that time, the divorce case is over, and it gets concluded without any fighting through the courthouse.

Almost all divorces go uncontested at one point or another, the question is, how early on is the agreement reached. Either at the very beginning, prior to a divorce filing, or on the steps of the courthouse at the very end, or somewhere in the middle. Obviously, the sooner an agreement is signed, the less expensive, and less stressful, and less time-consuming is the process.