The moment you believe that divorce is right for you, you may want to know what you can expect from the process. You may have invested a lot of time into building up your marriage and now that you are receiving a divorce, you may wonder how you can guide the process as smoothly as possible. You may even wonder how you can speed up the divorce process. Divorce is meant to be a tedious process and a good lawyer will want to help you do it right. However, there are ways to guide things along as smoothly as possible and still gain time.
First of all, there are many reasons why a divorce proceeding may be time-consuming in the first place. For one, there may be custody issues involved because one party doesn’t want to cooperate on matters or expects too much, or property division issues when somebody wants to instigate claims and drag out proceedings. On top of that, there are typically mandatory waiting periods for divorce while couples tend to work in the direction of counseling and try to solve their disputes if applicable. The amount of conflict involved may also play a large part, as it could get in the way of resolving matters. So how do you speed up the process?
Ways to “Speed Up” Divorce
Mandatory Waiting Periods: As mentioned, mandatory waiting periods involved with divorce can become a barrier if you are looking to be divorced as quickly as possible. The waiting period is put into place so you have time to “cool off” and think about your decision so that all problems can be addressed. During this time, some people realize they may not actually want a divorce; meanwhile, others believe they still want it as quickly as possible. Some states do not have a waiting period and others do, and this is just the way it works. In many states, however, you may be able to waive the waiting period. However, there must be good reasons for this to happen. For instance, somebody in the military may have the waiting period waived because they may not be returning to the states for some time and want the divorce finalized before they leave. It is also considered sometimes in cases of abuse. You will have to check the provisions in your specific state to find out if you can have your divorce waived.
Preparation: Having documents in-hand is one of your best bets for moving the process along smoothly. Papers filed with the court require information on children, property, assets, and many other marriage connections. By staying organized, you are not only helping yourself but also helping the courts. You will need personal records like marriage certificate information, financial documents and property records, business documents, and more. Gathering them as soon as possible can make the process much less stressful.
Cooperation: Cooperation with your spouse can go a long way, though this doesn’t mean giving them everything they demand. If you choose to make more agreements together, they will probably last longer as well as not be challenged later. If you come into the divorce with a negative attitude, you should expect negative results and a slower process when agreements are not met. You must consider how division of assets can help both parties in the long run.
Mediation: Mediated divorce is always an option, too! This is a type of divorce settlement that is solved with a mediator. You will never see the inside of a courtroom and have a judge make your decisions for you. These divorces may not only save you time but they may also be less expensive since court litigation is not involved. Some factors can affect how long the mediation takes, including how many assets you have, what issues are in question, child custody, and how willing both parties are to compromise.
If you are coming to terms with a divorce and hope to move the process along at a decent pace, you will want an attorney on your side to answer your questions and understand your specific situation. Call The Law Office of Soheila Azizi & Associates today to find out where you should start in the divorce process.