Top 5 things to consider before you sign a Consent Order

A consent order refers to a court order that details the terms that have been amicably agreed on by the parties involved in a divorce proceeding. Consent orders are mainly used to determine the financial settlement in a divorce case. If you get a consent order from the lawyers of your former husband or wife, or during mediation regarding terms of the settlement, there are factors that you should consider before you sign. Here are a few factors to keep in mind before you agree to or sign a consent order.

Get a full financial picture

You should never sign a consent order before getting the full financial picture of your spouse. Knowing what your wife or husband is worth before you agree to the terms is important. Financial disclosure will include bank statements and wage slips for at least 6 to 12 months, and valuations of everything, including pension money transfer values. If you do not have all these documents together, you should at least get an idea of the capital, pension, and total income for each of you, and make a comparison of them.

Establish emotional and physical space

It is important that you establish both physical and emotional space from your ex-wife or ex-husband before agreeing to a consent order. You need to give yourself adequate time to reflect and consider the viable options. You should never allow guilt to burden you with a financial weight that you cannot afford, or give in because that is what you have always done. You can consult a therapist or counselor to ensure that your emotional issues d not affect your ability to make sensible decisions.

Seek legal advice

You should never agree to consent orders up until you actually know what you are entitled to. Spending an hour with a family lawyer is a great investment, especially if you need advice regarding your divorce. This is important, especially when the amount of money in dispute is significant. Even if you know the type of advice that your lawyer will give you, having the peace of mind knowing that you are on the right track is priceless. For the best Consent Order quote click here.  

Never sign anything if you are in doubt

A consent order is undoubtedly the most essential document that stems from your divorce. This is why the document should be as correct as possible. If in doubt, you should take the documents to a legal representative so that he/she can help you understand whatever you are signing before you do. Your attorney will charge you for drafting this legal document. However, this will be money well spent given the expense and time of unraveling agreements that have not been well-structured.

50/50 may not be a fair settlement

Most spouses believe that 50/50 is a fair settlement when separating. However, this is never the case. In some circumstances, a 50/50 settlement may not be right. In many marriages, partners have different earning capabilities, health problems, childcare responsibilities, inherited assets, varying contributions, housing opportunities, and many more. Therefore, if you feel that a 50/50 share is not fair, you should seek advice so that you can end up with a fair settlement.

Before you agree to anything, you should carefully look at the outcomes of the consent order for all parties involved. Determine whether you will both afford a house, who will handle the financial burdens of childcare, and who will be better off in their old age. This is crucial because the judge will look at some of these issues, and the lawyer will also ask questions based on the proposed agreement. If the outcomes appear unfair to you, then you will have to re-visit the terms.