What is a Marital Settlement Agreement?

by | Sep 13, 2013 | Firm News |

In Sacramento family law cases, the divorce case is traditionally completed after the parties set the case for trial on the issues or participate in drafting and signing a martial settlement agreement (or MSA).

MSAs are an extremely cost effective and positive way to end the Sacramento divorce process without spending time, money and emotional energy arguing a case before a judge at trial.  Trial can take days or even weeks to completely and legal fees can really spike to very high levels throughout.  MSAs are specially negotiated and drafted legal documents that resolve all contested issues in Sacramento divorces cases.  An MSA can resolve the divorce, custody, child support, spousal support, tax consequences, name changes to restore the Wife’s former name, division of property and debts, etc.  The MSA process can accomplish this much faster than a case will take through the family court system.

In order to begin preparing an MSA, the parties must first complete their preliminary declarations of disclosure (or PDDs).  These are complicated statements of the parties separate property assets, community property assets, income, expenses, and business/investment opportunities.  Once each party has completed their PDD and served it properly upon the other party, and the proper proofs of service are filed with the Sacramento family court, the parties can begin the MSA negotiation and preparation process.

If you are involved in a Sacramento divorce and need assistance negotiating and preparing your MSA, please give our office a call.  We offer a free half hour consultation and would be happy to meet with you and discuss how we can help you in your case.