How Long Does A Divorce Take?

When meeting with a divorce attorney, it helps to remember that divorce is a process, not a one-time action. While you might think an immediate outcome is ideal, there are reasons why the courts prolong the process of legal separation.

Divorces Differ From State To State

Having a divorce attorney who understands the system and state laws might be able to move the process along more quickly, but only to a certain degree. In reality, states vary significantly in the lengths of their divorce proceedings.

In California, a divorce application takes a minimum of 360 days to process. Also, California is one of the states in which property is divided on a community basis, meaning all property and assets are split 50/50. Filing can be expensive, with California courts charging fees of $395.

In contrast, Idaho residents filing for divorce experience a faster process—just 62 days. Also, the filing fee is only $129.

New Hampshire has the fastest filing time of any state in the USA. Most splitting couples wait less than one day to get their divorces processed. Renewing a New Hampshire driver’s license might take more time than it does for a divorce attorney to file their paperwork with the court.

The Divorce Process

Despite the state-by-state variations, most divorce proceedings have some things in common. Before filing, spouses must list all joint and individual assets. They must also assign financial value to their investments, retirement funds, and possessions, which can be a slow and tedious process. Keep in mind that the values of these assets can fluctuate significantly throughout the process.

Spouses must also determine custody arrangements if there are children from the marriage. Negotiations include schedules for visitation, child support, and other shared responsibilities. Anticipating school schedules, vacation times, and holidays may get more complex and complicated with each passing year until the children turn 18.

Divorce Attorneys in Cincinnati

For these and any other legal questions, our Donnellon, Donnellon, & Miller team includes experienced divorce attorneys ready to assist you. If you are considering divorce, call us at 513-891-7087 or complete the contact form below to schedule a consultation. We are located at 9079 Montgomery Road in Cincinnati, and we also serve the tri-state area.