Divorce

Divorce is the legal process that results in the end of a marital relationship. The end of a marriage usually occurs when both spouses have determined that their marriage is "irretrievably broken." Sometimes a divorce results from the wrongdoing of one of the partners. In that case it is possible that such conduct is the basis for a "fault grounds" divorce which may impact property distribution and/or alimony. More often than not, divorce is not the result of the fault of either party but of "irreconcilable differences," which constitute the basis for a no fault divorce in under New Hampshire law.

As part of the divorce process, the court will ultimately issue a final decree. The final decree provides for the distribution of marital assets, deals with issues relating to children (as contained in a Parenting Plan), as well as other financial issues arising as a result of the divorce.

Both parties may decide on the outcome of a divorce, in which case the final decree can be accomplished by agreement. The divorce agreement is then approved by the court and entered as a court order. Alternatively, in the event the parties cannot reach an agreement, the judge will decide any or all of the issues under dispute in a divorce. This is generally a much more expensive and drawn out divorce process, and can result in an outcome that neither party really wants.