Even if you and your spouse are on the best of terms, you need to fully understand your legal rights as to property settlement, support, and child sharing. If you waive any marital rights during divorce, you absolutely cannot enforce them later. Once you sign those divorce papers, it's too late to say, "Wait a minute, maybe I shouldn't waive my rights to your retirement account, stock options, real estate, life insurance, business interests, bank accounts, and cash." Keep in mind, working with a lawyer and going to court are not the same thing. You and your spouse always have the power to design your own marital settlement agreement working with a divorce attorney.