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Thanks to the availability of many legal documents online, it is no longer necessary to meet with a Colorado Springs divorce lawyer before putting together the basic elements of your Marital Settlement Agreement.  This document, which is also known as a Marital Dissolution Agreement, is an agreement that spells out the terms of a divorce and dictates the division of property, child custody, spousal support and many other issues relevant to the legal dissolution of marriage.

While it is always best to seek an attorney’s help with constructing the content of such an agreement, many people find it easier to start with the basic form and figure out some areas of potential agreement before starting to work with a lawyer.  Looking at a few samples of marital settlement agreements online will help you start a conversation with your spouse about the decisions that need to be made.  Then, wherever possible, start to construct your own agreement.  It doesn’t even need to be done in person; many couples find it easier to send revisions back and forth to each other via email, using the “Track Changes” feature on Microsoft Word.

The benefits of doing this are twofold.  First, you can save a lot of time in front of a Colorado divorce attorney, which ultimately saves you money, and secondly you can start a good working relationship with your spouse that is far less threatening than divorce court.  Whenever possible, initiating these conversations directly with your spouse allows you to find common ground.  However, if your breakup is particularly hostile, then it will be smarter to work with a Colorado Springs divorce lawyer right from the start.

If you are lucky enough to be able to come to agreement on every issue of your divorce without mediation or a court appearance, then it is possible to file your own Marital Settlement Agreement in the state of Colorado.  Most judges will honor the written agreement when it has been written correctly and covers all material aspects related to the divorce.   The two parties in a divorce can enter into a marital settlement agreement at any time, but it is always advisable for each party to have an attorney independently review it before filing it with the courts.  

The difficulty of your divorce will depend greatly on the reasons for your divorce, how long you have been married, how complicated your finances are, and if you have minor children.  Having a marital settlement agreement already underway is a great way to move the divorce process forward a few steps, which will save both of you a lot of money and time.

Patricia Marrison is a Family Law attorney in Colorado Springs, CO. and the owner of the Marrison Family Law LLC, Colorado Springs largest Family Law practice.  The Marrison Family Law LLC is devoted to assisting with the difficulties of the breakup of relationships, be it common law marriage, a non-marriage with children, or dissolution with or without children. We attempt to serve the entire spectrum of relationships, from those couples with the simplest, uncontested dissolution to the highly conflicted relationship involving allegations of domestic abuse.