Appellant filed a counter-motion seeking the return of the case to the trial calendar for pretrial and trial. Because appellant objected to some of the terms in respondent s proposed judgment and decree, the court gave the parties 40 days to resolve their differences and continued the hearing to determine the final terms of the judgment and decree. The final judgment and decree was filed on August 4, 1999. This appeal followed. Appellant initially argues that the parties never entered a valid stipulation because there was no meeting of the minds.
Courts favor stipulations in dissolution cases because they simplify and expedite litigation.
Stipulations are treated like binding contracts . And like contracts, stipulations require a meeting of the parties minds regarding their essential elements in order to be valid. Western Insulation Servs. A party who signs a contract is bound by it unless the other party has reason to know that the party signing the contract did not read or understand its content . Appellant s use of the words rescind and revocation in her appellate brief belie her argument that the parties did not reach a contractual agreement.