How long does it take to get divorced?
The goal is for a couple to be divorced within one year of the filing of the Complaint for Divorce. The reality is that many divorces take longer than a year to complete. In the end, the parties will directly affect how long it takes to get divorced. The more amicable and reasonable a couple is, the faster they will get divorced. Couples that can set aside their emotions and negotiate a settlement can be divorced in a very brief period of time. A couple that is unable to reach an agreement, for whatever reason, must wait to have their dispute resolved by a Judge at a trial.
This is really a two-part question. Most states require a certain period of time to pass between the filing of the initial paperwork and the issuance of a Judgment of Dissolution (the “official” document signed by the judge stating that you are now divorced). The period varies from six weeks to six months. However, these time periods are assuming that you and your spouse completely agree on all issues including child support, spousal support and the divisions of assets and debts. The fact that you are getting divorced usually indicates that you will not be agreeing on all of the issues. So “How long does it take to get divorced?” really depends upon the time period required in your state and how long you decide to fight with your spouse over the issues mentioned above.
The state of Texas requires a 60 day cooling off period before your divorce can be finalized. So, after the Original Petition for Divorce is filed, you have to wait 60 days before the divorce is final. This doesn’t mean that the divorce has do be done on the 61st day. It just means that you can’t get divorced any faster than that. The divorce can be finalized any time after that (within reason.) If nothing happens for 6 months or so, the courts will sometimes dismiss the case.
