How Long Does it Take to Get Divorced in Florida?

5. Exchange of Financial Information

The next stage of divorce is a period of mandatory disclosure of financial information. You and your spouse will both be required to exchange bank records, tax returns, 401(k)s and other financial statements. As a result, the attorneys representing both sides will have an opportunity to get a full and accurate picture of each spouse’s financial situation in order to pursue action for equitable distribution and payment of child support and alimony. This can also be seen as the "discovery" phase, where a financial affidavit must be filed within 45 days of the original divorce petition. Hidden assets may also be uncovered during this phase, usually with the help of an experienced attorney.

6. Alternative Dispute Resolution

Once everything has been laid out in the open, you and your spouse will most likely be required to attend mediation in an attempt to avoid a contested divorce in the courtroom. In mediation, you and your spouse will meet with a neutral third party whose role is to facilitate discussion, rather than to advocate for either party and to assist you and your spouse in the pursuit of an amicable resolution. Mediation has been shown to not only assist in negotiation, but to save couples time and money by avoiding a court hearing. Mediation is not required for those who are victims of domestic violence.

7. Litigation

In the event that you are unable to resolve the issues in your divorce through mediation or other out-of-court negotiation strategies, it will be necessary to go to court for a trial. This is called a contested final hearing, where both parties will have the opportunity to introduce evidence and witnesses to convince the judge to rule in their favor. If applicable, parenting plans will be approved or created by the judge if minor children are involved. While you and your spouse can create a parenting plan prior to the trial, the court will ultimately decide on what is in the best interests of the child. Some aspects that a parenting plan must include are:

• how each parent will share daily tasks involved in raising the child(ren)
• a schedule that details time-sharing
• who will be the primary decision maker for issues regarding healthcare, schooling, religion, etc.
• how the parents will communicate with the children and tend to their needs
• proof of attendance for parenting class if minor children are involved (Florida law requirement)

The Minimum Amount of Time Spent in the FL Divorce Process

The absolute minimum period of time that a divorce may take is 20 days, but this only occurs when the parties bring a fully prepared settlement agreement along with the petition for dissolution, as in an uncontested divorce, or when one party wins summary judgment against the other. This is called a "cooling off period", and it's the state's way of giving each spouse time to reconcile. Most states average a 60-day waiting period, which doesn't give Florida residents much time to decide on a final decision.

How You Can Speed Up The Process

There is no way to predict with accuracy exactly how long your divorce will take, given that some divorces are more complex than others. One of the most important factors that will influence the duration of your divorce is your engagement with the process and the decisions you make along the way.

In many cases, the divorce will take much longer. You can greatly improve your chances of a swift divorce with a minimum of stress by hiring an experienced divorce lawyer from Anne E. Raduns, P.A.

To schedule a confidential consultation regarding your divorce concerns, call us at (352) 310-8235. We represent clients in Ocala, and throughout Sumter, Marion, and Citrus counties.