What does contesting a divorce mean?
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What does contesting a divorce mean?
In a contested divorce you and your spouse cannot agree on the terms of your divorce and need a judge to help you sort it out. In a contested divorce that does not settle, the judge is the one who is ultimately responsible for making the decisions for the couple.
What happens if a divorce petition is contested?
Ultimately a Judge will decide whether the person who started the divorce (the Petitioner) is entitled to the divorce, based on the evidence given. If a divorce is contested and the Respondent is unsuccessful, it is usual for the Court to make an Order which says the Respondent must pay the Petitioner’s costs.
How long can a contested divorce last?
The average cost of a contested divorce is $5,000 per spouse, and takes about 6 months. Some contested divorces can cost $15,000 or more per spouse and take 12 months or longer. Here is the basic process of a contested divorce.
Is it better to be the petitioner or the respondent in a divorce?
There is often very little advantage or disadvantage to being the petitioner as opposed to the respondent. As the petitioner is the party effectively bringing the divorce, unless they are relying upon the parties having been separated for more than 2 years, they will have to assign some form of blame to the respondent.
