How long will this divorce take? That is probably the question posed most often to matrimonial attorneys by potential clients that are eager to “get this over with.” As with most matters that involve people and human nature, the answer is more often than not, “it depends.”
It took two people to get married and now it will need the cooperation of those same two people to disengage from that relationship. It sounds easier than it usually is when those people are now generally at a place where they no longer see eye to eye on most things. The bottom line is that you and your spouse are generally in control of how long this process takes and how much it will cost each of you. If you both make efforts and are willing to compromise, the process can be faster for you as there are less issues for the Court to be asked to resolve.
However, if you do need the Courts to resolve some disputes, with the assistance of knowledgeable counsel, you have that right also. Sometimes, there are issues that people simply cannot settle on their own and that’s ok too. New Jersey courts try very hard to get your case completed within one year. That may not always work out, depending on how other cases are also proceeding, and how complex the issues are in your own matter that need to be addressed. The divorce process, much like the grieving process, has its own stages with issues that each side needs to work through before it can be finalized. With the help of your attorney, you will be able to manage that process, whether it takes you six months or twelve months, and come through it ready to enter the next phase of your life. Posted by Elizabeth A. Calandrillo, Esq.
