Divorce can be one of the most stressful and challenging things to go through in life. You may worry about its impact on your kids, property, or future. Even in the friendliest of situations, it can be a draining process, both emotionally and financially. At any time during the process, disputes can arise over considerations like child support, custody, alimony, division of debts and assets, and time-sharing with kids.
When you are filing for divorce, you need a qualified and assertive family attorney by your side. The legal professionals at Busald Funk Zevely have the skills to protect you and fight for the most favorable result possible. Call an Erlanger divorce lawyer for an aggressive advocate with decades of experience.
The Different Kinds of Divorce
Each state has different categories when it comes to divorce. In Kentucky, there are uncontested and contested divorces.
Uncontested Divorce
Divorces do not always have to be messy and dramatic. Sometimes, couples just agree that it is time to part ways amicably. An uncontested divorce is when both partners are willing to work together to find a mutual agreement, and neither of them opposes getting divorced. This is the fastest and least expensive option. Our attorneys could quickly draft the documents needed and facilitate a smooth, cost-effective process.
Contested Divorce
Unfortunately, not all divorces can be resolved amicably, requiring the legal system to step in. In contested divorces, the parties may not agree on important aspects like division of assets, child custody, alimony, debt allocation, and more. This may lead to mediation or appearing before a judge, and as a result, take longer to finalize. Our Erlanger lawyers are ready to provide aggressive representation during a contested divorce to win the best outcome.
Local Divorce Laws
To get divorced in Kentucky, at least one of the spouses must live in the commonwealth and have been a resident for the preceding 180 days. The parties must also have been separated for at least 60 days because the court must determine that the marriage is irretrievably broken.
Kentucky is a no-fault commonwealth, which means neither party is to blame or guilty of any misconduct that caused the marriage to end. There is no legal requirement for divorce outside of an irretrievable breakdown. However, when one of the parties denies the irretrievable breakdown, the judge will analyze the surrounding factors. If the judge cannot make a determination at that time, they can advise the couple to go to counseling or conciliation conferences and come back in 30 to 60 days.
Kentucky is an equitable distribution state, so a judge will try to split marital property fairly—but that does not necessarily mean that the assets and debts will be divided equally. The judge will consider relevant factors, including:
- Duration of the marriage
- Age and condition of the parties
- Tax consequences for each party
- Debts and liabilities of each spouse
- Contributions of each party to the family
- How and when marital property was acquired
- Circumstances contributing to the dissolution of the marriage
A knowledgeable Erlanger divorce attorney could fight to get the best financial resolution possible.
Reach Out for Representation From a Divorce Attorney in Erlanger
If you are thinking about handling your divorce without legal representation, it might be wise to reconsider. Divorce can be stressful even under the most ideal of circumstances. Complexities can arise at any time during the legal process. It is not the time to take any unnecessary risks. Reach out today for an initial consultation with an experienced Erlanger divorce lawyer from our firm.
