Helping Ann Arbor Families Amicably Reach Settlement Agreements

At the conclusion of your case, a Judgment of Divorce will be signed by a judge. This document ends your marriage and governs every aspect of your divorce including property division, spousal support, child custody, child support, parenting time, and more.

If your divorce goes to trial, which is rare, a judge will make decisions that will be reflected in your Judgment of Divorce. Usually, divorces do not go to trial. Instead, the spouses agree on the terms of their divorce and their attorneys write a settlement agreement. That settlement agreement is then incorporated by reference in the Judgment of Divorce.

The settlement agreement is fully enforceable by way of contract law, and its incorporation in the Judgment of Divorce.

Negotiating a settlement allows you and your spouse to come up with creative solutions designed to work for your unique family that a judge might not have ordered. And settling out of court is almost always less expensive than going to trial.

The property provisions of a settlement agreement cannot be modified unless the parties agree or in rare legal circumstances. Provisions relating to child custody, parenting time, child support and sometimes spousal support can be modified by agreement: however, without agreement, certain legal thresholds must be met before a judge can make changes.

Signing a settlement agreement is a serious matter. Your agreement is a final, binding document. Never sign a settlement agreement based on a side agreement with your spouse, or on the theory that you can just change it later.

An experienced family law attorney can help you negotiate a favorable settlement agreement and will make sure you understand all of your rights and obligations before signing.

Nichols, Sacks, Slank, Sendelbach, Buiteweg & Solomon, P.C. serves families and divorcing couples in Washtenaw, Oakland, Wayne, Livingston, Jackson and Lenawee Counties in Michigan, helping them settle in their family law matters. through a variety of dispute resolution techniques. With the right legal help, you and your spouse can settle your case in a way that works for you and your family. We invite you to contact us to schedule a consultation to discuss your needs.

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