Steps for a Contested divorce

If you and your spouse are unable to come to an agreement on issues like child custody and division of joint assets., you have to file for a contested divorce.

In a contested divorce, you and your spouse will have to go through number of steps before the divorce is finalized.

• You and a spouse must hire a well qualified and experienced divorce lawyer individually.
• Then you along with your lawyer shall prepare the divorce petition stating the grounds for the breakdown of the marriage,
• The petition should be filed at the district family court.
• Send the divorce petition to your spouse.
• Then your spouse is required to respond to the petition.
• Both you and your spouse shall be required to be present in the court, on whatever date the court decides.
• The court shall further continue with the divorce proceedings.
• After deciding upon all the issues between you and your spouse that shall include child custody, division of property, maintenance etc the court may or may not grant the divorce.
• Complete court proceedings may take a period of 1 to 3 years, depending on your case.
• If the decision of the court is not in your favour or you are not satisfied with it you can make an appeal in the High court.

Related Law Guides

• Steps to apply for a divorce
• Reasons on which a divorce can be filed
• Mutual Divorce vs. Contested Divorce
• Divorce under Special Marriage act
• Steps for Mutual Consent Divorce
• How to choose your divorce lawyer?