When a divorce or custody case reaches the court, the involved parties always have the option to settle matters amicably instead of undergoing a protracted and expensive trial. A settlement is a mutual agreement crafted with the guidance of their respective lawyers. The agreement may address issues such as alimony, child support, educational expenses, medical costs, property distribution, and the arrangement for sharing vacations, public holidays, birthdays, and Christmas with the children.

Settling these matters allows the parties to have greater autonomy over the final terms, rather than having the court impose orders on them. While it’s beneficial to resolve as many issues as possible, the parties are under no obligation to reach an agreement. In the absence of a settlement, the case will proceed to trial.