Divorce is hard. For most people, it is one of life’s most difficult events, but the pain a divorce causes can be minimized. Louisiana allows for a no-fault divorce option. If your marriage is over, there really is no point in making this process any more difficult than it already is. The Gouner Law Office is here to make your divorce as painless as possible, and to give you all the tools you need to begin the next chapter of your life.
Why Time Matters
There are certain time delays which will affect any no-fault divorce (A “fault based” divorce is a different story). If you and your spouse have minor children, you must be separated for 365 days, before a judge will grant your divorce. If there are no minor children between the parties, a 180-day separation is required. If you have already lived separate and apart for the requisite time period, it is a quick process. If not, you will have to wait to be separated for the applicable time period.
Two Types of Divorce
A divorce can be filed under Louisiana Civil Code Article 102 or Article 103. Under Article 102, the divorce petition is filed, and you then live separate and apart. Article 103 is used when you have already lived separate and apart for the requisite time period. A special note: If you have been living apart from your spouse, but have not reached the entire time period required by law, your divorce can be filed under Article 102, then simply amended when you hit that date. You can also ask the court for the granting of your divorce at that time.
When Fees Can Be Waivered
The divorce procedure can also be easier and cost you and your spouse less money. As you may know, almost every single legal document filed in any case costs you a filing fee. You then have to pay additional money for service of that document upon the other party. You and your spouse can avoidpaying those extra funds by waiving service of process and visit our office together,to make the process move faster and more smoothly.
Consent Judgment
Some of the most painful and expensive parts of the divorce process are child support, child custody, spousal support, etc. Instead of appearing in front of a judge and dredging up any and all bad things you can think of about your spouse, you can come to an agreement on the above listed items and have them included in a consent judgment.Our office has assisted in forging many agreements between parties regarding child support, custody, and other incidentals–without the need for a lengthy court hearing. You also save money on hefty legal fees, since most attorneys will bill you hourly for their time. If you decide at a later date that the agreement needs to be modified, this can be done by a judge, after a showing a good reason to do so.
The attorneys the Gouner Law Office understand that going through a divorce is one of the most difficult hurdles you will likely face in your life. It is our job to make sure it is less painful. At the end of the day, the best thing for all parties is to come to an agreement, and peacefully move on with your lives. We do understand that parties are sometimes unable to come to an agreement. In those cases, we are here to fight for you, to get you everything you deserve. We welcome you to contact us to schedule a consultation.
