An absolute divorce ends a marriage and extinguishes all of the rights and obligations between spouses except those rights and obligations that are preserved by:
- an agreement, such as a separation agreement;
- a pending claim filed with the court; or
- a court order.
Upon divorce, all property owned under the doctrine of tenancies by the entirety is immediately transformed into ownership under tenancy in common. Additionally, all estate claims immediately become null and void, and all rights to alimony and equitable distribution are forever lost unless those claims are pending in a court action or previously resolved by a private agreement.
