There are times when divorce is the best possible option for a relationship. Ending a marriage can be tough, and even more so when there is trouble settling differences and ironing out the details. An equitable divorce settlement agreement (DSA) is always our goal at Williamson, Clune & Stevens. Our experienced divorce lawyers in Ithaca and Syracuse are skilled negotiators and mediators who can provide invaluable assistance during your divorce proceedings.
What is a Divorce Settlement Agreement?
A divorce settlement agreement, also sometimes called a marital settlement agreement, is a comprehensive legal document that details the agreements on specific issues between you and your spouse in your New York divorce. This completed agreement is submitted to the court and becomes a part of your overall terms of divorce. It is important, therefore, that this agreement include everything that is should.
Williamson, Clune & Stevens is your hometown marital law firm in Ithaca, Syracuse, Elmira and Binghamton with the skills and experience to know where to look for settlement issues that can affect your divorce settlement. We can prevent many disagreements and problems by dealing with many common issues during the negotiation process, and suggesting some elements to include in the agreement that can make for an equitable divorce.
Common Elements to Include in a Divorce Settlement Agreement
A divorce often severs a long-standing relationship that has included many joint decisions and partnerships. Severing the marriage also severs these partnerships and requires decisions regarding dividing assets, child custody and support, taxes, retirement and other important issues. Here are the most common elements you should include in a divorce settlement for an equitable agreement.
Parenting Plans & Schedules
If children are involved in the marriage, you will need specific agreements on where they will live, time to be spent with each parent, holiday arrangements and other scheduling details. An experienced divorce attorney from Williamson, Clune & Stevens knows the common pitfalls that can arise in this area, and will provide clear advice on how to formulate the best agreement for your child/children.
Detailed Support Elements
You will both need to work out detailed support agreements for the children, and possibly alimony as well. This can be a complicated negotiation, including state law and/or court-ordered regulations, and a seasoned divorce attorney can help you negotiate the larger rocks and shoals and come to an agreement on support details that is equitable and adequate.
Insurance Provisions
Part of the support negotiations should include provisions for insurance. Who will pay for the child’s health insurance, vehicle insurance and questions about any life insurance policies should be decided and recorded in your agreement. There may also be joint insurance policies that may need to be addressed.
Retirement Accounts
How to handle retirement is often a huge question, especially if both spouses contributed to a joint retirement account or other retirement investment strategy. A divorce lawyer from Williamson, Clune & Stevens can recommend a trusted financial advisor, if necessary, to provide counsel and solutions for these or other investment questions.
Property & Asset Divisions
Dividing up the property and assets of a marriage is never easy. Disagreements can easily arise over jointly-held assets. Often, these assets must be sold and the proceeds divided in order to reach an equitable solution. Divorce lawyers in Ithaca and Syracuse from Williamson, Clune & Stevens can work with you and your spouse to reach the best solutions without rancor or emotions staining the negotiations.
Divorce is never easy; but when it is necessary, Williamson, Clune & Stevens divorce lawyers in Ithaca, Syracuse and Elmira New York, can provide seasoned, mature and wise counsel to help you and your spouse craft an equitable divorce settlement agreement. Call or message us online today to schedule a confidential consultation.