Understandably, divorce is a rather unpleasant process you likely want over with as soon as possible. However, certain mandatory steps need to be taken, and overall, certain issues must not be glossed over for the sake of rushing to the finish line. With that being said, continue reading to learn when your divorce may be finalized and how an experienced Bergen County divorce attorney at McNerney & McAuliffe can help expedite this timeline.
When will my divorce be finalized in New Jersey?
Your divorce may be initiated on the date you or your spouse file the Complaint for Divorce and accompanying documents with the New Jersey family court. Then, your divorce may be considered finalized on the date you and your spouse get your Final Judgment of Divorce from the court. Therefore, on average, couples receive their final judgment anywhere from three months to one year after their initial filing date. However, at the end of the day, every couple has a different experience with the divorce process.
What factors determine how long my divorce process is going to take?
Simply put, the specific issues you and your spouse deal with during your divorce may determine whether you will experience a shortened or extended version of this process.
For example, say that you and your spouse have remained amicable since you decided to part ways. This may allow you to be more agreeable and open to compromise when settling your outstanding divorce-related issues (i.e., child custody, child support, spousal support, and property division). This may even allow you to undergo alternative divorce proceedings (i.e., mediation, collaboration, or arbitration) instead of litigated divorce proceedings, which may be undoubtedly speedier. So in a case like this, it is rather possible to get your divorce finalized within three to six months.
As another example, though, say that you and your spouse share complex marital assets. For example, you may own and operate businesses together; have built an expensive artwork collection; and have purchased multiple real estate properties throughout your marriage. What’s more, say that you or your spouse accuses the other of being an unfit parent. This may make your child custody and parenting time schedules all the more complicated to flesh out.
Lastly, say that you or your spouse cite fault grounds for divorce accusing the other of being responsible for a negative economic situation. A specific illustration of this is if you accuse your spouse of having a gambling addiction that caused you to incur significant marital debts. Well, arguing fault grounds like this may problematize your spousal support settlement. This is all to say that complex divorce-related issues may drag your proceedings closer to the one-year mark.
If you have any further questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact a skilled Bergen County family law attorney. Schedule your initial consultation with McNerney & McAuliffe today.