The 3 Factors at Play in the Length of Divorce Proceedings

When many people are heading for divorce, they just want to get the process over with as soon as possible. If this is the situation you have found yourself in, you may be wondering how long your divorce proceedings will take. It really depends on a host of factors and is different for every couple. The following are three factors that may play a role in the length of your divorce.

  1. The State You Live In

Every state has different time periods for which you have to wait before getting a divorce. Something known as the “cooling off” period is required in many states including Idaho, Pennsylvania, and California, while Montana, New Hampshire, and Georgia don’t have any type of cooling off period. Its intent is for the couple to reconcile before the divorce is final, though many couples do not get back together and do end up finalizing the divorce.

  1. The Complexity of Your Divorce

In many cases the longer you have been married, the more complex your divorce will be, though that’s not always the case. Items that make your case more complex include assets, finances, children, and communication issues. For example, it’s possible you have been married for some time and have obtained multiple properties, vacation homes, 401ks and other financial holdings along the way. All of those assets will take time to sort through and figure out who gets what. If one of the spouses hides an asset, it will also take longer to figure all of that out as well.

  1. The Support Sought

If you have children, one of the spouses will typically be the custodial parent, while the other will be noncustodial. In a typical arrangement, the noncustodial parent will owe the other a certain amount of child support. If the two parents cannot work this agreement out on their own, it could make the case last longer.

If one of the spouses depended on the other for financial support, it’s possible alimony will be required as well. This could be paid in situations both with and without children in the mix. For example, if a woman was a stay-at-home mom for the last 16 years, her former spouse may have to pay alimony so she can go back to school to earn a degree and get a job. If a man was unable to work due to physical limitations, he may be entitled to alimony from his former wife who supported him financially during their marriage.

Getting Help from a Lawyer

As you can see, the length of your divorce proceedings will largely depend on the factors at play. Contact a divorce lawyer, today to get help with your case.