How Long Contested Divorce Take?

The average cost of a contested divorce is $5,000 per spouse, and takes about 6 months. Some contested divorces can cost $15,000 or more per spouse and take 12 months or longer. Here is the basic process of a contested divorce. One spouse hires a divorce lawyer to file divorce documents with the court to open the case.

How can I speed up my contested divorce?

Speeding it Up
  1. Waive Mandatory Waiting Period. In some states, couples may petition the court to have the waiting period waived. ...
  2. Act Early. Preparation is a key way to speeding up the divorce process. ...
  3. Cooperate. Cooperating with your spouse and also go a long way towards speeding up the process. ...
  4. Pursue Mediation.

Why does a contested divorce take so long?

Contested Issues

Ultimately, if a couple cannot resolve contested issues, they will have to continue to trial and let the judge make final decisions. As a result, outstanding contested issues will cause a longer divorce. ... In turn, if each spouse files motions, the divorce process will most likely be delayed.

Sophia Al-Mansoor

Sophia Al-Mansoor

Global Business & E-Commerce Reporter

Sophia analyzes international trade, startup ecosystems, retail transformation, and supply chain logistics for modern digital publications.