Note that answers given in this section cannot take the place of independent legal or financial advise. Please read our disclaimer.

"If I just want a divorce, do I have to go to court?"

In a word: Yes. Marriage is a legal contract between two people. The only one who can break that contract and end a marriage is a judge. That having been said, it is often very helpful to use a mediator to help you and your spouse decide on the terms of your divorce, including establishing a reasonable parenting schedule, setting the appropriate amount of support, and fairly dividing the marital assets and debts. Once you have decided on the terms of your settlement and parenting agreements, and have written those terms down, getting a judge to enter the agreements in court as part of your final divorce judgment is usually fairly simple.

Karen A. Covy, J.D. is a divorce attorney and family-law mediator in Chicago, Illinois. She owns and operates Midwest Mediation as well as a successful family-law firm. She can be reached at (312) 236-1670. View her Divorce Magazine profile.

Tuesday, May 15
at 8 pm to 8:30 EST
Out With the Tragedy: Turning Divorce into a meaningful experience
with Allison Pescosolido and Andra Brosh, founders of Divorce Detox
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