The Difference Between Divorce & Dissolution
What’s the difference between divorce and the dissolution of a marriage? Legally speaking, there’s no difference. A dissolution of a marriage results in a divorce, making you legally unmarried. However, the difference may lie in how you perceive the process. I’m Katherine Miller, and I’ve been a divorce attorney in New York City and New York State for over 30 years. When people distinguish between divorce and dissolution, they’re often referring to the nature of the process itself.
A divorce can feel very lawyer-heavy, often evoking images of courtrooms, trials, and a judge—an impartial third party—making crucial decisions that will impact you, your children, and your family. In contrast, dissolution might seem more like a negotiated, mediated process with less emphasis on legal proceedings and more on discussion and mutual agreement.
When you’re considering divorce, it’s essential to think about how you want the process to unfold. How will you make the necessary decisions to become legally unmarried? What arrangements will you make regarding your children’s schedules, finances, bill payments, asset division, and living arrangements? These decisions can be made within the context of a lawyer-driven process or through mediation or a more collaborative, people-focused approach. Choosing the right process for your divorce is a crucial decision.
Another important factor is the time involved. How long will it take to finalize your divorce, and will the timeline be convenient or disruptive to your life? Additionally, the cost is a significant consideration. You want to ensure that the money you spend on professional fees—whether for legal representation, mediation, or other services—is efficient and value-driven, rather than process-driven.
What do I mean by that? While you’ll need to invest in legal or professional fees, it’s important that these fees are focused on reaching a resolution that you can live with and that makes sense to you, rather than just rushing to the end in a manner that suits someone else’s agenda but may not be right for you.