How Long Does a Divorce in Missouri Take?
In Missouri, no dissolution of marriage can be granted until at least 30 days after the petition is filed. That’s the minimum. Other time limits may affect your case depending on the facts and circumstances.
Perhaps the biggest influence on how long your divorce takes is how much you and your soon-to-be ex-spouse agree. Suffice it to say, the more you disagree, the longer it takes, so try to work things out ahead of time if at all possible.
In our experience, an uncontested divorce usually takes about 90 days. A contested divorce can take 18 months or more. During that time, we’ll be working to help you settle custody, visitation, support, and property. Like anything in life, the more people can agree, the faster it goes. It’s the divorces where the parties fight all the time that take forever.
What Affects How Long Your Divorce Takes
- Contested or uncontested. If you agree on everything, the case can be wrapped up soon after the 30-day waiting period. Every disagreement adds time.
- Children. Custody, visitation, and support take the most work to resolve, and the court has to approve a parenting plan.
- Property and debts. The more there is to value and divide, like a house, a business, or retirement accounts, the longer it takes.
- Paperwork. Both spouses have to exchange financial information early in the case. See Mandatory Document Exchange. Getting yours together promptly keeps things moving.
- Negotiation and mediation. Settling through negotiation or mediation is almost always faster than waiting for a trial date.
- The court’s calendar. Busy dockets and available hearing dates are out of everyone’s control.
In most cases, nobody wins a divorce. They’re emotional, lengthy, expensive, and usually frustrating beyond all expectations. Most of the issues people fight hardest about can be, and should have been, worked out in advance by reasonable people wanting what’s fair. For an estimate based on your situation, call me at 636-486-1093 for a free consultation.
Markwell Law, LLC
1600 Heritage Landing, Ste. 202B
St. Peters, MO 63303
Phone: 636-486-1093
Fax: 636-634-3462
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