After trying your best to make the marriage work for the sake of your children, you may have decided to divorce. Now you’re left wondering how long it will take and if there is anything you can do to make it faster.
Fortunately, there is.
An uncontested divorce
An uncontested divorce may be the quickest and easiest option where you and your ex-spouse have minor children and own property together.
This is applicable when you both agree to get divorced and remain on the same page about important topics such as child custody and separation of property.
The length of time the entire process takes will depend on a number of factors, including the size of your jointly-owned assets and the complexity of separating them. The length of time this takes is, in part, the decision of the divorcing couple. Working with a mediator can make this process faster and less burdensome.
It may be possible to work through a simple uncontested divorce in a few months, but it is likely that it will take longer than this to reach a conclusion. There is a required minimum 60-day waiting period before a divorce will be granted if the divorcing couple has no children. Where minor children are involved, this is increased to 90 days.
Contested divorce proceedings take the longest
A contested divorce can take a couple of years to conclude. The time it takes will depend on the complexity of the issues that need to be resolved and the level of conflict between the parties. If there is a need for there to be a trial, this can take a few months in itself if there are many issues to adjudicate on.
Understanding your options and estimated timescales for divorce can be made much simpler with the assistance of an experienced legal professional.