It is often not easy to decide to put an end to one’s marriage, but once Texas residents make the decision they may want the whole process to be over as soon as possible so they can begin to move on. Therefore, their first question may be about the estimated time it will take for their divorce to become final.
Unfortunately, there is no clear-cut answer to this question. A number of divorce legal issues affect the time it takes to finalize a divorce, the most important being the couple’s relationship with one another. If the divorcing couple are ending the marriage relatively amicably and can manage to agree on the terms of their divorce, the divorce can be finalized in a matter of a few months. The better the relationship the couple has with one another, the faster and smoother the process will go.
However, as is often the case, couples do not end their marriage on a high note and are unable to agree to terms of their settlement. In these situations, it may take the couple longer. Once a divorce petition is filed with the court, the other spouse has to respond to it within a fixed period of time and then the two parties have to exchange documents and other information relating to income and property so child custody and property division decisions can be made. If the two parties have not reached a settlement, the case goes to trial and the judge decides unresolved issues, such as child custody and visitation and property division. This can take a lot of time, as once the judge gives a divorce decree, either party can appeal the decision as well.
It is often in the best interests of both parties to try to come to a settlement amongst themselves and work together to create a plan that suits both parties. An experienced attorney can be of assistance in this regard and can guide the divorcing couple through the process as quickly as possible.
Source: FindLaw, “A divorce timeline,” Accessed March 30, 2015