How Long Does it Take to Get a Divorce Decree with an Uncontested Divorce?
A standard question that a divorce attorney receives from their client is, “How long does an uncontested divorce take?” An uncontested divorce is one in which both parties can agree on all aspects of the issues that will make up the divorce judgment such as division of marital property, child support, custody, and visitation.
An uncontested divorce is usually the easiest way to end your marriage. With an uncontested divorce in Calhoun County, your case won’t need to be dragged through the expensive and unnecessarily effortful court system. It’s almost always the most ideal way to legally separate from your spouse. An uncontested divorce is faster, more private, less expensive, and more likely to produce an amicable outcome between you and your spouse.
An uncontested divorce is a much quicker process than a contested divorce. Once the initial paperwork has been filed, Alabama has a waiting period of 30 days before the divorce can be finalized. Beyond the waiting period, the amount of time it will take to get your easy divorce in Shelby County usually depends on how quickly you can submit the required paperwork, and how busy the courts are in the county where you file for divorce.
An uncontested divorce is a much quicker process than a contested divorce which can sometimes take years to complete. Divorce proceedings can last a very long time before the final divorce papers are signed. If a couple cannot agree on important parts of the divorce a judge will have the final say and this can be a very lengthy process. An online divorce can skip much of the debate and conflict. If both parties can agree on all of the important terms of the divorce before filing, then the divorce process can take just a few weeks from start to finish in many cases.
Usually, the first step in the process of an uncontested divorce is to draft a marital settlement agreement that divides the couple’s debt, property, and assets. This will include child support arrangements and child custody if children are involved. Once the marital settlement arrangement is agreed upon one of the spouses must file for divorce with the court in the county where they reside. Once the complaint is filed with the court, the papers must be served to the other spouse. The process of serving can occur relatively quickly, within days or a few weeks of filing the required documents. If there are no objections to the filing for divorce, an uncontested divorce can be scheduled and usually conclude relatively quickly.
It’s a common misconception that all divorce cases drag out for years and involve contention and lengthy litigation. On the contrary, statistics show that in Alabama most divorce cases are resolved through uncontested divorces with minimum intervention from the court. The extent of court involvement is usually to approve the spouses’ settlement agreement and to sign the Judgement of Divorce. Divorces do not have to take an excessive amount of time. Our experienced divorce attorneys in Birmingham can expedite your divorce to complete it as quickly and easily as possible.
Attorney Steven A. Harris regularly blogs in the areas of family law, bankruptcy, probate, and real estate closings on this website. Mr. Harris tries to provide informative information to the public in easily digestible formats. Hopefully you enjoyed this article and feel free to supply feedback. We appreciate our readers & love to hear from you!
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