Divorce can make you feel like you’re living in limbo, which is plenty hard enough on your own. However, if you have children involved, waiting for a resolution could feel excruciating for all of you. Disrupted routines, uncertainties about the future, and everything else, along with it, hurt kids and the family unit as a whole. If that’s your reality, you’re likely looking for an answer to, “How long will divorce take with children involved?” Unfortunately, there’s no correct answer to that question. Here’s why.
The Factors
Since every divorce is unique, each case takes a different amount of time to resolve fully. The total time it takes primarily depends on what you’re trying to achieve as you work through the court system. Here’s a look at the main factors that influence the total amount of time it takes to get divorced.
Custody Arrangement
During a divorce, custody takes the longest time to figure out, especially if both spouses do not agree on the arrangement. If you’re asking for sole legal or physical custody, for example, then the courts are going to take their time to determine if that choice is in the best interest of the children. In most cases, joint 50/50 custody takes the least amount of time to hash out, but only if both parents have already agreed on the terms. Otherwise, the court will need to help create proper arrangements for the care of all kids involved.
Visitation Requests
Beyond custody, establishing visitation terms has a significant impact on how long the divorce takes. Attempts to deny the other parent visitation take the longest to resolve since you must prove there’s a good reason to make that move. Supervised visitation requests are a close second, as the courts have to understand why you’re making that request and review the evidence backing your claims.
Parental Fitness
When assisting with custody and visitation arrangements, courts must confirm that both parents are fit to care for their children. If either parent claims the other is unfit, the court must dig into that claim to verify that it’s true.
Reasons parents are deemed unfit include:
- Alcohol and drug abuse
- History of abuse against the child
- Psychiatric illnesses that make care impossible
If any issues go against the child’s best interest, the court may deem that parent unfit for custody, visitation, or both.
In addition to these factors, the court’s caseload influences how long the divorce will take with children involved. If there are many cases ahead of yours, then you’ll have to wait until space opens up.
How to Start Moving Forward with Your Divorce
For help navigating your divorce, please feel free to reach out to Mohajer Law Firm at 626-596-5200. With representation from a skilled divorce attorney, you can move through the process as quickly as possible without compromising on getting great results. If that sounds like just what you need, reach out today to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation appointment.
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