Phase III – Finalizing Your Judgment

Taking The Final Step To Make Your Divorce Official

Legal Dissolution of Marriage

Following Phase II - Information Gathering is Phase III - Finalizing Your Judgment. During this process, both parties work to come to agreement of the terms surrounding all the issues relating to their imminent divorce. Regardless of whether this is done through mediation or litigation, this is rarely an easy process, and is often emotionally-charged. Impasse and conflict are common. Once an agreement is reached, it becomes formalized in the court.

The Judgment

In order to be legally divorced, you must have a formal agreement called a Judgement (known as a Judgment for Dissolution of Marriage). This is a legal document declaring that your marriage is dissolved. Typically, this includes coming to an agreement on how you will allocate your income, debts, assets and parenting responsibilities. For unmarried parents, a Judgment defines your parental relationship and establishes financial obligations and parenting responsibilities.

How to Get a Judgment

There are 2 ways to get a divorce Judgment:

  • In less than 5% of family law cases, your Judgment is after a trial where the judge applies legal principles to your situation. 
  • In all other cases, you and your spouse negotiate the Judgment without a trial. 

Why Choose Mediation for Your Judgment Process

Mediation is an agreement-reaching process in which Peace Talks mediators assist spouses to reach agreements in a collaborative, consensual interest-based manner. The mediator has no power to decide disputed issues. Our approach is to develop options that are tied closely to the client’s individual and family goals set forth at the beginning of the process. 

For more information regarding common issues in finalizing your judgment, find out how to resolve impasse or how to deal with conflict.