If you have reached the point in your marriage where you are ready to begin the divorce process one question you may have is how long it will take to finalize your divorce. This is one of the most common questions we are asked during a divorce consultation at The Sikorski Law Firm.
Like many aspects of divorce the answer depends on the unique aspects of your case. However, there are some basic statutory timeframes that will give you a picture of how long the process may take.
In Michigan, if there are no minor children involved in a divorce, statutory law allows for a divorce to be entered 60 days from the date the divorce was filed. If there are minor children involved, statute dictates that you need to wait at least 6 months from the date the divorce was filed before entering a judgment. An experienced divorce attorney may be able to help the parties reach an agreement quickly and enter a judgment earlier if there are special circumstances present that can sufficiently persuade the judge assigned to your case.
In order for a divorce to proceed in a timely manner the parties need to work together to resolve the issues of their case. Even if there are no minor children involved, the parties to a divorce need to come up with an agreement dividing property and any debt, along with deciding the issue of spousal support if there is a request for it. If there are minor children present in a divorce, the parties also need to iron out details for custody, parenting time, and child support. Many of these issues are filled with emotion and may be difficult to come to an agreement on which will make the process last longer.
If you have any further questions about the length of a divorce or divorce in general then please contact our office to speak with one of our knowledgeable divorce attorneys at (734) 422-2377.