Answer: If the parties can reach an agreement on all of the various items that must be resolved in their particular case, they embody the terms of their agreement in a document, which they submit to the court for approval and entry. This document is their Marital Settlement Agreement, also known as “MSA.”
A marital settlement agreement gives the parties a one-time opportunity to author their future as best they can under their particular circumstances. It may be as creative as the parties and their lawyers are imaginative. As long as it conforms to what the law allows, the parties are free to make the shoe fit their individual needs and concerns.
Divorcing spouses are much better off making their own decisions about who should give (or get) what from whom, rather than leaving these personal choices up to a judge who doesn’t know them or their preferences.
Most people prefer to tailor-make their outcome and we hope you will be able to convince your soon-to-be ex-spouse to cooperate with you to get this done smoothly, on time, and on budget.