A separation agreement is a legally binding contract between a husband and a wife. It must be in writing, signed by both parties and notarized. It should be the product of full disclosure and negotiation between the parties as it is a binding contract and is designed to last. Parties who draft these agreements on their own, without the assistance of a competent attorney, leave out important information that affects their rights during the divorce process, such as child custody, child support, division of property, and spousal support. These mistakes can prove to be very costly to parties who attempt to save money and do it themselves.

There are two types of divorce: uncontested and contested divorce. If the parties agree to be divorced, it is known as uncontested divorce. A written Separation Agreement that makes adequate and sufficient provisions in writing for the custody and support of the minor children of the marriage and makes a fair and equitable division of the property may be incorporated into the divorce judgment. A contested divorce is a case in which the parties cannot agree on one or more points of the divorce (property division, alimony, custody, child support, or attorney's fees). Even when parties have lived separate and apart for one year, and wish to be divorced but cannot agree to the terms of financial settlement, or custody, it is a contested divorce.

If you need a divorce, whether it be contested or uncontested, Teddy & Meekins attorneys know the procedures to get you results. Teddy & Meekins attorneys are equipped with the legal expertise and knowledge to help you!