People going through divorce for the first time are often
shocked to find that a contested divorce can take as long as two years.
Extending the divorce process can be emotionally very difficult. It
also can create practical problems as each spouse makes an attempt to
move forward with their life. Even individuals who did not want the
divorce to happen generally reach the point of agreeing that, if the
divorce is inevitable, quicker resolution is best.
Litigated proceedings take longer for two reasons:
- Because it is more difficult to reach an agreement
through the adversarial process, there will be delays.
- Because they involve the court system, you must wait
for available court dates that are outside your control and outside
the control of your attorney.
Alternate methods allow you to control the process. If
you can reach a swift agreement, you can complete the entire process
within a few months, sometimes even within a few weeks. On the other
hand, if you and your spouse prefer delays - to allow certain things
to occur - you have complete control to slow down the process if you
choose.
