Discover How Long an Uncontested California Divorce Generally Takes
Posted on: January 16, 2020
If you and your spouse are in agreement about the fact that you should get divorced, you agree about how property should be split, and you agree about any alimony, child custody, or child support necessary, then you would assume your divorce would go fairly quickly. At Law Office of Michael L. Fell when we work with people in this position, it is often the case that their first question is how long this process will take.
The Facts About Uncontested Divorces and How Long They Take
First of all, you do not have to agree with your spouse about all aspects of your divorce in order to qualify for an uncontested divorce. In the event that they do not respond to the respondent at all, this can also be considered an uncontested divorce. Generally speaking, you can expect the average uncontested divorce to take about six months. They are also generally easier than more complicated divorces because the attorney can handle the paperwork and all communication can be done via mail with the courthouse.
A Divorce That Begins as Uncontested Will Not Always Continue That Way
It is entirely possible that a divorce begins as uncontested and later gets more complicated. This can happen in divorce mediation too. It may be that one party initially agrees to terms but later decides that they are not in their favor after all. If a serious, formal disagreement happens then the case can become more complicated. For this reason, we suggest working with a mediator.
A Faster Divorce is Not Always the Best Option
It can be tempting to assume that the faster you can get the process over with, the better. This is not always the case. If you simply move through it as fast as possible, with expediency as your only goal, you could end up left with agreements that you are not happy with. You would then either have to live with them or go through the process of modifications, which takes more time and money.
We strongly recommend that you work with your attorney to find the best way to move forward and be willing for it to take more time if necessary. Again, if you and your spouse can agree on the major issues like custody and support, then it can be quick. If not, take the time needed to get a divorce agreement you can live with.
The next step toward doing that is to contact a divorce attorney. Reach out to Law Office of Michael L. Fell at (949) 585-9055 and we can get started right away.
