Have you heard of the kitchen table divorce? It's not a real type of divorce but is more a method of getting things straight before you file. This is actually a new and trendy name for something that many couples have done – working things out without a judge. Read on to find out if your kitchen table could yield more than just a meal.

A Kitchen Table Divorce is Not for Everyone

Many divorcing couples are at a place where they acknowledge the need to part ways and know they don't want to have a judge make personal decisions for them. Other couples are not as lucky and working things out at the kitchen table or anywhere else must be avoided. If you find yourself in one of the below situations, forget about kitchen table divorce discussions:

• Your spouse is mentally ill (or just seems to be mentally ill).
• Your spouse is abusing drugs and/or alcohol.
• Your spouse has anger issues.
• You are the victim of abuse by your spouse.
• Your spouse is manipulative and/or controlling.
• You suspect your spouse of hiding marital assets.

If you believe that your ability to agree on anything with your spouse is questionable, speak to your divorce attorney about hearings and orders to protect yourself, your children, and your financial interests.

Kitchen Table Divorce Issues

There are several major issues that can be food for thought during the discussion. The more you can decide upon now, the easier things will be later on. You might even be able to entirely avoid anything but the briefest appearance before a judge to seal the deal. Consult with each other about the following issues:

1. Who pays what marital debts (joint credit card and other debts).
2. Who gets what marital property (home, cars, etc).
3. Who gets physical custody of the minor children.
4. Making out a visitation plan for the non-custodial parent.
5. The issues of child support and spousal support.

Next Steps

Whether you totally agree on every issue or are stuck on a few issues, a trip to speak to a divorce attorney is vital before you file. Attorneys are skilled at bringing parties together and resolving issues that slow down the process. Any agreement you manage to pull together should be evaluated for legality and fairness and then filed with the court by your attorney.

Consult with one of the local divorce attorneys to find out more about making your own kitchen table divorce.