When many spouses approach divorce in Georgia, one question often seems more important than any other: “How long will this take?” While this is one of the most understandable questions, it is also one of the most difficult to answer. Why? Because the duration of your divorce depends entirely on your unique circumstances. That said, you might establish a better understanding of how long this will take if you learn more about the overall divorce process in Georgia.
Your Spouse Has 30 Days to Respond to the Divorce Papers
In Georgia, you first need to serve your spouse with the “divorce papers.” This begins the process of your divorce, and your ex then has 30 days to respond. If they take the full 30 days to mull things over, this could add to your overall divorce timeline. They may also push back against the divorce filing, especially if you file on fault-based grounds like adultery or desertion. Ideally, your ex will respond quickly.
Georgia Has a 30-Day Waiting Period
After your ex responds, you both need to go through a mandatory 30-day “cooling off” period. The State of Georgia believes that this waiting period is necessary in order to give both spouses a chance to think things over. This might seem frustrating, especially if you are absolutely sure you want a divorce. Keep in mind that waiting periods can be much longer in other jurisdictions.
Your Divorce Will Take Longer if You Go to Court
If you have been keeping count, a divorce in Georgia takes an absolute minimum of about a month, assuming your ex responds to the divorce papers immediately. If they take the full 30 days to respond, your divorce will take a minimum of two months to complete.
However, this short timeframe is based on the assumption that you’ll negotiate a divorce agreement with your ex during the cooling-off period. This is only possible during a so-called “uncontested divorce” in which you and your ex can agree on virtually every aspect of the split in private.
If you reach an impasse during these negotiations and fail to agree on critical subjects like property division, “litigation” may be necessary. As soon as you bring a trial into the equation, your divorce timeline inherently becomes longer. Some divorce trials take years to complete, and this highlights the importance of pursuing uncontested divorces if at all possible. Note that a longer divorce is also a more expensive one.
Can a Divorce Lawyer in Georgia Help Me Speed This Process Up?
A divorce lawyer in Georgia may be able to help you explore strategies to expedite this process. That being said, rushing through your divorce isn’t always the most logical choice. Much is at stake, perhaps more than you realize. With the right approach, it is possible to strike a balance between speedy and effective outcomes. Continue this conversation with Lankford & Moore Law today.
