A divorce (Dissolution of Marriage) is the legal
end to your marriage, and requires filing
documents in court.
To get divorced, one spouse must file a petition,
and the other spouse will file a response. You and
your spouse must decide how to split property
and other assets, who will have custody of your
children, and whether child or spousal support
must be paid. After completing the process, you
will get a final judgment from the court.
A legal separation follows the same process as a
divorce, and requires a court order to determine
the rights and duties of a couple while they are
still married but living separately.
The only difference between divorce and legal
separation is your marital status. You and your
spouse will be single at the end of a divorce, but
still married at the end of a legal separation.
We guide you through each step of the process,
inform you of your rights under the law, and
work diligently to resolve your issues.
If you think you and your spouse agree on most
issues, we recommend you use mediation first to
help you and your spouse find common ground to

end your marriage (or domestic partnership) with
less bitterness.
If you don’t agree on anything (or so it would
seem), we start with negotiation because
courtroom battles are a last resort not a default
strategy. Divorce or legal separation is best
accomplished through cooperation, especially if
you have children.

When considering a divorce or legal separation,
you may find the process exhausting and
overwhelming — Lawta is here to help!