Divorce and dissolution are two terms often used interchangeably that can describe the ending of your marriage. Although they both end in the termination of a marriage, divorce and dissolution are two different processes.
According to the American Psychological Association, approximately 40 to 50% of marriages in the U.S. eventually end in divorce. While some of these marriages go through the dissolution process, others go through the divorce process.
Divorce
When you get a divorce, the court system oversees the end of your marriage. During this process, a judge will review supporting evidence to make a decision on divorce-related issues, like child custody, property division, child support, spousal support, etc. Even though you may not have a complete say in your divorce settlement, divorce can be a good option if you and your spouse cannot work together to solve issues.
Dissolution
During the dissolution process, you and your spouse work together to resolve divorce-related issues without the intervention of a judge. A mediator can help you and your spouse with this process, so you can have more of a say in your final divorce settlement and work through issues on your own timeline, instead of the court’s.
If you decide to go through with the dissolution process, you can still file for divorce to terminate your marriage later on. The decision to go through with the dissolution or divorce process depends on many factors, and you should make this decision carefully once you and your spouse decide to end your marriage.
