When spouses come to the realization that their marriage is over, many are eager to get the divorce process over with so that they can move on to what many hope will be a happier future. If you and your spouse have decided to divorce, you may wonder “how long will it take to get a divorce?”
The answer to that question depends on various factors, but generally speaking, contentious divorce cases, or those involving complex assets, take more time when compared to cases where couples agree on most everything and have fewer assets to divide.
The Uncontested Divorce
Spouses who agree on the terms of their divorce are in for a much faster resolution because they are able to work together and resolve various issues. This is often the case for couples who have not been married for a long duration, who have accumulated fewer assets, and do not have kids. In an uncontested divorce, a skilled divorce lawyer can help you find points of agreement and address any remaining disagreements to help you finalize your divorce more quickly.
What Factors Increase the Duration of a Divorce Case?
Complex Assets in a Divorce
Even in cases where couples agree on most issues, complicated finances may increase the complexity and therefore the duration of a case. For example, couples who have assets such as stocks and stock options, business interests, certain high value collectibles such as art or other complex property may need to have these assets professionally valued. For couples with separate retirement accounts, a QDRO will have to be created to divide the retirement funds. When there are complex assets to divide in a divorce, working with an experienced attorney is key.
Children and Divorce
If you have children, there are decisions you and your spouse must make that require thoughtful consideration. In Illinois, parents must create a parenting plan that will address the allocation of parenting time and parental responsibilities. Parenting time arrangements cover a myriad of issues from where a child will spend certain holidays or summer breaks, and even how they will get there, to whether a new romantic interest will be present during parenting time visits.
Parental responsibility involves who will make important decisions for the child such as what medical care a child will receive, where they will be educated, or what religion they will follow. Parents may decide that they will share in all decisions, split responsibilities, or allow one parent to make decisions because they spend more time with a child.
The more detail included in the parenting plan will help you to avoid disagreements in the future, so careful consideration is key. An experienced child custody lawyer can more readily identify pertinent issues to include in a parenting agreement to streamline the process.
Contact an Experienced Illinois Divorce Lawyer for Help
When you and your spouse are considering divorce, it is important to get all the information you need to be able to make informed decisions for you and your family. Contact the Lake county Illinois family law offices of Ronald L. Bell & Associates to schedule a consultation at 847-495-6000. Attorney Ronald L. Bell and his team have been helping clients achieve the most favorable outcomes in family law matters for over thirty years and we welcome the opportunity to help you too.