How Long Do Divorces Take?
One question many people have when it comes to deciding whether to divorce is how long the divorce process will take. This can be a difficult question to answer because the length of the divorce depends on several factors. Whether you and your spouse agree on certain terms and whether children are involved can make a difference. If you have any questions, reach out to an Oklahoma City family attorney for answers.
Typical Wait Times for an Oklahoma Divorce
An Oklahoma divorce can take anywhere between 10 days and a little over six months depending on your circumstances. The amount of time your divorce will take depends on various factors like:
- Whether you have children who are minors
- How much you and your spouse agree on the divorce terms
- Division of property
- Grounds for divorce
- If you meet the residency requirements
- Accusations of abuse or domestic violence
Disagreements, having minor children, not meeting residency requirements, and accusations can all slow down the divorce process. This is because family courts take 
these factors very seriously and will examine the issues thoroughly before making a final decision. Lawyers, guardian ad litems, and mediators may become involved.
Some divorces can be finalized within about 10 days if you do not have children and there are no disagreements. When you do have minor children, even if you and your spouse agree on everything, the courts will place you in a 90-day waiting period. Then your divorce can be finalized.
Not meeting the residency requirement is what can slow down your divorce the most. If you are not a resident of Oklahoma, you may not be able to request a divorce until you are. This could take up to six months alone.
Different grounds for filing a divorce come with different wait times. Grounds related to insanity require insanity that has lasted five years. Whereas grounds for adultery only require the one instance where a spouse was unfaithful. Abandonment grounds require at least a year of abandonment.
Ways to Speed Up Your Divorce
You can speed up your divorce by making sure you meet the divorce eligibility requirements first. Make sure you are a resident n Oklahoma, meaning you have lived there for at least six months. Double-check that your grounds for your divorce are justified and meet all the requirements.
Consider contacting an Oklahoma City divorce lawyer about all the paperwork you need to file depending on your situation. A lawyer can speed this process up for you. When your spouse disagrees with you, your lawyer might be able to help you reach a quick and fair compromise with your spouse. This can save you a lot of time that could be spent in a lengthy divorce trial.
Divorce Attorney in Oklahoma City
Going through the tedious divorce process alone can be draining. Feel free to ask an Oklahoma family lawyer for guidance. Call the Putnam Law Office at (405)-849-9149 for a consultation today. We might be able to help you save time by speeding up the divorce process. Mr. Putnam is an experienced attorney in Oklahoma City, OK who can help you fight for the divorce outcomes you want.
