Marital Settlement Agreements
Many people begin the divorce process with the assumption that every issue must be litigated and ultimately decided by a judge. In fact, nothing could be further from the truth.
Chase, Berenstein and Murray, Counselors at Law, guides clients toward favorable, amicable resolutions. As a seasoned Burlingame family law attorney, Lisa Murray strives for results that leave clients confident about the future and with familial relationships intact. Attorney Murray believes it is important to minimize conflict whenever possible because divorce is more than a legal proceeding; it can set the stage for how individuals and families move forward for years to come.
Outcomes Tailored To Your Specific Circumstances And Goals
In contrast to a litigated divorce, couples who use mediation, or Collaborative Practice, which are forms of alternative dispute resolution, reach agreements to decide the important matters between themselves. These agreements are then written into a marital settlement agreement. The advantage of this approach is that agreements can encompass as few or as many issues as necessary.
In most cases, however, an agreement settles questions related to:
- Property division
- Spousal support
- Child custody and visitation
- Child support
In contrast to litigation, where a judge decides the outcome and which can be in effect indefinitely barring substantial changes to one or both parties’ situations, settlement agreements can incorporate review periods or even end dates to give the parties greater flexibility.
When couples can approach a divorce with a spirit of compromise and equity, such agreements can result in divorces that are finalized with a fraction of the time, expense and acrimony that are hallmarks of so many divorces in which parties and their lawyers fight in court.
How To Contact Us
Attorney Lisa Murray can discuss how to best approach your divorce during a confidential consultation. To contact our office, call 650-642-3897 or send an email via our website.