If you’re thinking about getting a divorce, or are in the beginning stages of getting a divorce, then you might be wondering how long it will take until it is finalized. Most people who are getting a divorce desire the process to end as quickly as possible, but unfortunately, getting a divorce might take longer than you think.
The reality is that divorces can take anywhere from 3 to 24 months, and the average divorce takes about 12 months from start to finish. There are a variety of things that will determine the length of your divorce including:
Where You Live – the state and county you live in will have an effect on your divorce, as laws, court times and judges differ from state to state and county to county. If you and your spouse live in different places you also have to take that into account as one of you may need to travel during the divorce proceedings. Additionally, if your local courts are busy it may take longer to get your divorce finalized.
Spouse Participation – When a divorce happens, both spouses need to participate to the best of their ability to get things moving smoothly. This means signing legal documents in a timely manner, attending all meetings and providing information as it is needed. If one or both spouses are choosing not to participate, it will drag out the process. This also means that there may have to be some compromise between the two parties to sort things out.
Assets and Property – If a couple owns a lot of property or assets together it will cause the divorce to be more complicated and take longer. Owning a business is also something that can cause hang-ups in the divorce process as well. You will need to divide up the assets and come to an agreement on how you want to do that.
If You Have Children – When children are involved, divorces become a lot messier. There is the issue of custody and child support to take into account. You will want to make things the easiest for your children while still having their best interest in mind and that doesn’t always happen quickly.
Prenuptial Agreements – One thing that can often make a divorce go much faster is the presence of a prenuptial agreement. When you have a prenup, at least a portion of your decisions are already made and legally binding.
Regardless of where you are in the divorce process or what hurdles lie ahead, the easiest way to ensure a quick and painless divorce is with the right divorce attorney. They will help you get things done right and ensure you the best outcome possible.
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