Family Court and Final Judgment - Divorce & Family Law Center

As mentioned in Settlement Agreements and Court Approval, the vast majority of divorce cases reach some sort of settlement -- whether through informal negotiation between the spouses (and their attorneys) or through more structured proceedings such as mediation or collaborative law.

But in rare divorce cases no settlement can be reached, usually because the spouses are too far apart in their respective wishes and what they see as fair solutions on issues such as child custody and property division. In these situations, the divorce will be handled in civil or "family" court, at the county/district branch of state court where the divorce petition was filed. A single judge usually presides over a divorce trial, although one or both spouses may have the right to request that the case be heard by a jury.

The Court Process: Evidence and Arguments

In family court, attorneys for each spouse present evidence and arguments related to the divorce on issues like child custody and visitation, child and spousal support, and property division. Evidence in a divorce trial comes in the form of:

Testimony from the spouses
Witness testimony -- including children (if old enough) and expert witnesses (financial analysts, property valuation experts, etc.)
Documents -- including records related to marital property and finances.

As each side presents its own evidence and arguments, the other side has an opportunity to question witnesses and challenge evidence through "cross-examination" -- challenging the witness's story, testing their credibility, disputing documents, and otherwise attempt to discredit or discount witnesses and evidence.

The Court Process: Final Judgment

After hearing and examining all evidence, the judge (or jury) will issue a final ruling resolving the divorce and all surrounding issues. Once the judge reaches a decision, he or she grants the divorce and enters a judgment finalizing the divorce and all related issues. This judgment dictates a number of things about the now-divorced couple's rights and obligations, including:

Child custody, living arrangements, and a visitation schedule;
Division of the couple's marital property, debts, and resolution of other financial matters;
Child support and spousal support (alimony): who pays, who receives, how much, when, etc.;