"Approved as to form & Content"

[ifonlyihadknown]

Final settlement and divorce order in my case. It's been over 2 years to get this far.

On the Divorce Order, the STBX's lawyer put a stamp of Approved as to "From & Content" with a place to date and sign.

Any idea what this is?

I'm self-representing if that makes a difference, and the stamp is where my lawyer's name would go if I had one.

Thanks in advance.

[OrleansLawyer]

On the Divorce Order, the STBX's lawyer put a stamp of Approved as to "From & Content" with a place to date and sign.

When a case settles, both parties will approve an order as to "form and content" - meaning they have read over what the judge will sign and acknowledge that this represents their agreement.

With both parties having approved the order it is then sent to the judge to sign off on (after reviewing for irregularities).

[Dumpedatlowestpoint]

I'm self rep and my exs lawyer just asked me to do the same thing. So I guess it's common. I'll be signing that on the consent order tomorrow at TMC.

[Janus]

Just make sure that it says what you think it says.

An experienced lawyer will probably keep the wording true to the ruling, but a new lawyer might think that it would be clever to be "sneaky" and get something by you.

[Tayken]

Just make sure that it says what you think it says.

An experienced lawyer will probably keep the wording true to the ruling, but a new lawyer might think that it would be clever to be "sneaky" and get something by you.

That isn't just "new" lawyers. It is "sneaky" lawyers.

[ifonlyihadknown]

Hmmmmm... If something "sneaky" was to happen, do family law judges typically say, "you snooze, you loose! " or slap down the sneaky party.

Not that it's happening in my case, I'm just curious.

[OrleansLawyer]

If something "sneaky" was to happen, do family law judges typically say, "you snooze, you loose! " or slap down the sneaky party.

Not that it's happening in my case, I'm just curious.

If you came back and argued mistake later, it could be changed - for example, if you signed over equalization of $200,000 instead of $20,000 because you misread the document.

But if people are not working off of an agreement (ie, transcribing minutes of settlement into an order) then the risk of the mistake costing you goes up.

Most people find it to be prudent to avoid signing agreement if you do not agree.