Technically, a divorce in Washington State can be finalized 90 days after the Petition for Dissolution of Marriage is filed and is signed by both spouses (or is signed by one spouse and served to the other spouse). However, many divorces take longer than 90 days to finalize due to a number of different factors.
Here are just a few issues that could delay your divorce process:
- Child custody or child visitation issues
- Child support or spousal support issues
- Divorce of property disagreements
- Domestic violence issues
- An uncooperative spouse
- Divorce after many decades
- Divorce involving complicated finances or a family business
Generally, the fastest divorces are uncontested divorces between amicable couples who do not have complex finances or who do not have children. The slowest divorces take place between acrimonious couples who require multiple court dates and a trial in order to resolve issues like division of property and child custody. On average, an uncontested divorce will take three months, while a contested divorce may take a year or even longer.
Generally, a longer, more complicated divorce is more expensive, while an uncontested divorce or a divorce handled through divorce mediation is shorter and less expensive.
An experienced and knowledgeable attorney will be able to make sure that your divorce is finalized as quickly as possible, keeping in mind any unique circumstances surrounding your divorce. To speak with a Seattle divorce attorney at the Law Offices of Molly B. Kenny, call today: 425-460-0550.
