How long does it take to get a divorce?
A very reasonable question for someone who has never gone through it. That’s just one of the many questions I am asked from clients about the length and detail of divorce. A divorce could be settled in 30 days, or it could last as long as 6-7 years. No one divorce is the same, nor are the people involved. It all depends on the issues at stake, for example finances or custody, and how quickly they can be resolved.
What is a contested vs. an uncontested divorce?
Let’s start with the easier of the two. An uncontested divorce is where both spouses agree on all the issues pertaining to their divorce, including, but not limited to, their finances, division of property, child support and maintenance.
Now clearly not everyone’s marriage can end that smoothly, and therefore there is such a thing as a contested divorce. In this case, the spouses cannot agree on their issues and must go to a judge to make the decisions for them. It doesn’t matter if it’s one issue, or 10, if there is something in the divorce that cannot be agreed upon it is considered contested. A contested divorce is complicated and time consuming. There is a lot of paperwork, deadlines, and always the chance that if a settlement can’t be reached the case will then go to a trial.
How long does it take for a divorce to become final?
Once the settlement agreement is signed or a judge makes a decision after trial, a Judgment of Divorce packet is submitted to the court. After the submission, it could take approximately anywhere from 30 days to 6 months for the Judgment of Divorce to be signed. In the interim, your stipulation or decision by a judge after trial is in effect.
There are so many questions surrounding divorce. We are here to help guide you.
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