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If you have decided, or are even still in the process of deciding, to get a divorce, there are likely to be some strong, and mixed, emotions. You may feel anxious about the road ahead. The technical divorce process alone can be a bit daunting. As such, learning about what goes on in a Florida divorce can be key to assuaging any lingering fear or anxiety about the process. It can also be helpful to get a sense of the timeline of a Florida divorce. Knowing what to expect and when to expect it will hopefully help you prepare mentally and emotionally for what is to come. Here, let’s take a bird’s eye look at a Florida divorce timeline.
Florida Divorce Timeline
How long does getting a divorce take in Florida? Pretty much anyone seeking a divorce in this state has wondered this at one point or another. The truth of the matter is, however, that the timeline of a Florida divorce greatly depends on the nature of the divorce. A divorce could take months to finalize or it could take years. There really is that big of a spread. There are a number of factors that will impact your divorce timeline in Florida.
For instance, one of the biggest things to account for in trying to establish a timeline for your divorce will be whether it is contested or uncontested. In an uncontested divorce, both parties agree on all key issues of the divorce, such as property division and spousal support. In a contested divorce, on the other hand, the parties are locked in opposing positions on at least one key issue incident to the divorce. As you may have guessed, contested divorces can take much longer to complete than uncontested divorces, which can be resolved relatively quickly.
Even contested divorces, however, can widely vary in their timeline depending on different circumstances. How long the discovery process takes in a divorce case, for example, can have a significant impact on the time it takes to wrap up this part of the divorce proceedings. To help speed things along, the parties can be as prepared as possible to disclose things such as extensive and detailed financial records. Coming to the table prepared to produce tax returns, financial account statements, paystubs, and more can help move things forward efficiently and effectively. On the other hand, failure to gather such financial records in a timely manner can easily drag the process out much longer.
Those in contested divorce proceedings must also account for mediation in their Florida divorce timeline. After all, Florida law requires the parties to go to mediation first before any trial can be held. In mediation, the parties and their respective legal representatives sit down with a mediator who is a neutral third party tasked with facilitating a move towards a mutually acceptable agreement on outstanding issues incident to divorce. A mediator’s job is not to choose sides. Instead, a mediator is supposed to guide the parties toward a middle ground. Mediation can prove to be a successful solution to resolving key issues of a divorce before the need for a full-blown trial arises.
Florida Family Law Attorneys
If you have questions or concerns about the Florida divorce process, you can count on the dedicated Florida family law team at Bernal-Mora & Nickolaou for answers. Contact us today.
