Divorce is not easy, but you will want to be prepared once you decide it’s time to end your marriage and begin filing for divorce. A divorce can take several months or even years to finalize, depending on the specifics of your situation. This may involve child custody issues, support payments, and other concerns like dividing assets. Some couples can work together through mediation or collaboration to resolve these issues without court intervention.
In addition to child support or custody issues and dividing property, you must also meet some legal requirements before you can begin divorcing in Florida.
Making the Right Decision
The decision to file for divorce is difficult, regardless of how often you have thought about it. You need to be sure that you are ready to start the process and move forward. It can take some time before you decide to file for divorce because many people want to give their marriage a chance before deciding that it’s over.
If this sounds like you, then there are things that you should consider before making your final decision:
- are both parties in agreement? Do both parties feel like they have exhausted every possible solution?
- is there any hope left for reconciliation? If so, try again! Other options may still be available if only given more time or resources.
- has there been physical abuse (emotional or physical), substance abuse issues (drugs/alcohol), adultery, or cheating on either party? Are these issues interfering significantly with daily life, or has this behavior been going on since before filing divorce papers?
Begin the Process
You may be wondering how to prepare for filing for divorce. Before you decide to file, you should ensure that this is the right decision for you and your family. After identifying marital problems and deciding on a course of action, it’s essential to understand what to expect when filing for divorce. You’ll want to know:
- how long the process will take?
- what documents are required?
- how much it will cost?
Filing for a Divorce
When you file for divorce, you’re entering into a process that can take several months or even years to finalize. This is because divorces are complicated and involve many legal issues that must be resolved before the court can finalize the divorce. Some problems can be resolved through mediation or collaboration (an alternative dispute resolution process), while others require court intervention.
Timeline of a Divorce
A divorce is a process, and the length of that process depends on several different factors. First, you’ll need to decide whether to file jointly or separately. If you file jointly, your spouse will have to be present at all hearings and give their consent before proceeding. It could considerably slow down the process if they don’t consent or can’t make it to court.
If you’re filing separately and have minor children together (under 18 years old), you’ll have to go through “parenting time” negotiations before your case can proceed further. These are just meetings with a mediator who helps both parties work out their custody issues so they can settle them outside of court if possible; however, these meetings can take months or even years depending on how amicable both parties want things between themselves—and how stubbornly determined either party may be about getting what they want out of life!
So yes: Divorce does take time! And as we said earlier–it depends on many factors beyond just how long each couple has been married.
Other Concerns
Divorce often involves child custody issues, support payments, and other concerns. For example, you may have to divide assets like your home or retirement accounts. If your marriage was long and you had seen both parties work hard for their money, many things will have been earned together and may need to be divided.
While some couples choose to split everything down the middle and go their separate ways with no regard for who worked harder than the other during their marriage, this can lead to arguments over who should get what in terms of assets during the divorce process.
No Court Intervention
Mediation and collaboration are two options many couples opt for when working through a divorce. These processes allow the parties to work together and resolve their issues without court intervention, which can be cheaper, faster, and less stressful than litigation. In some cases, mediation or collaborative divorce can also help you avoid exposing your finances in a public forum. If you decide this is the best option for you, it’s essential to find an experienced mediator or collaborative attorney with experience with these cases.
Legal Requirements
In addition to child support or custody issues and dividing property, you must also meet some legal requirements before you can begin divorcing in Florida. These include:
- you must have lived in Florida for at least six months.
- you must prove that your marriage is irretrievably broken, which is done by providing proof of one or more of the following factors: adultery; impotence; abuse; abandonment; imprisonment for at least three years without the spouse’s consent (if the spouse does not know about confinement); or habitual drunkenness or drug use that makes spouse unable to carry out duties as a parent.
Before Filling for a Divorce, It’s Important to Know What to Expect
Divorce is a long process. While some divorces can be finalized in a few months or weeks, other cases take years. The length of time depends on the case’s complexity and whether children are involved. In addition to deciding if your marriage should end, you’ll also want to consider how long it will take before your divorce is final—and if that’s something you can afford.
Divorce can be difficult emotionally and financially. If your spouse has been cheating or abusing you, filing for divorce may seem like an obvious choice—but it might not be suitable for everyone, depending on their situation and goals after marriage (such as remarriage). Before deciding whether or not filing for divorce is ideal for you and your family, talk with friends who have gone through this experience to help guide your decision-making toward what might work best based on their own experiences during this period which may differ; significantly from yours!
Here at Cobb Cole, Attorneys at Law, we understand that this time can be difficult for anyone, and our attorneys are here to make the situation go as smoothly as possible. If you need an experienced divorce attorney, contact us today! We have been servicing the community of Deland for over 90 years and are ready to help you!
