After a time of denial and bargaining, you reach the point when you accept that you’re getting a divorce. You may be overwhelmed with fear and anxiety, having questions on how much it will cost and how long it will take.
You probably have heard stressful stories of divorce, that took longer than previously anticipated. You may think the same thing could happen to you as well. While some divorce cases can take a longer period of time, that is not the norm.
These difficult divorce stories most likely went through a grueling court battle, instead of couples opting for a mediation or a collaborative divorce. Most divorces, however, can be completed in four months to a year, depending on the attitude, cooperation, and the amount of complex issues regarding the divorce. In a nutshell, you wouldn’t want to make the same mistakes other couples made that resulted in a drawn out divorce battle.
Taking the divorce to court will extend the time length.
Going to court takes time. You will need to file a complaint, taken under the power of a judge, and be placed in their docket. Judges could be busy with other cases, so it might take a few months for you to step inside the courtroom. In addition to these, you will need to pay for every time your lawyer represents you and for every motion filed. You will be paying for their services and time. Keep in mind that for every time you sue your spouse, there is that likely chance they will get back at you.
It is best to begin with mediation.
Despite your bad feelings towards your spouse, you need to focus now on your long-term interest and goals post-divorce. It would be best to opt for mediation through a third-party professional mediator who will assist both parties in dealing with the issues and help provide solutions instead of dragging issues through a long and expensive court battle.
You may also have your lawyers during a collaborative divorce process in which you will meet with a financial adviser and a divorce coach to settle amicably on the divorce issues. This is a groundwork for emotional healing and big-picture insight with empowerment as its goal. With these two options, your divorce might take months instead of years.
Court is your last option.
Court should not be your first option. This option should be last on your list. You can go to court if your spouse is adversarial, uncooperative, abusive, or hiding assets. In heated custody battles where you cannot agree on the best way to take care of the welfare of the child or in cases in which you cannot agree on fairly splitting the marital estate with a spouse who also tactically conceals assets and properties, it is time to go to court and fight for your rights.
While it is everyone’s goal to have a quick divorce, you also need to make sure you are not rushing things just to get it over with. You want to take the time to make sure your goals are met. By hiring the right attorney, you can keep your case moving forward while working towards your goals. get started today by scheduling your consultation.
