Quick response, Y: I know some states have community property laws, which mean there isn't a question of contesting the division of property. It's a 50:50 split. (Which is why some very rich people - well, mostly very rich men
- utilise pre-nuptial agreements and/or get their divorces somewhere which isn't a community property state.
As ML said, very few divorces are contested in that way any more - since it's possible to get a divorce on the grounds of separation, it's not necessary. I
think - and lawyers and anyone who knows more than I do feel free to correct me - that the granting of the divorce is settled first and then any division of assets/alimony/whatever is decided afterwards. Or negotiated between lawyers or whatever. And if it takes a lot of negotiation and a lot of lawyer time there might not be a lot left to divide...
Wendy
