How Long Does the Divorce Process Take?

Once you have decided to file for divorce, or been served divorce papers from your spouse, you may know that you need to retain a lawyer straight away. However, you may not know what the process looks like from here. What’s more, you may be hesitant about how much these proceedings will consume your life for the foreseeable future. Well, in this case, read on to discover how long the divorce process takes to finalize and how one of the seasoned Clarksville divorce lawyers at Fendley and Etson can walk you through every step.

What does the divorce process look like in the state of Tennessee?

Understanding what you are getting into may help alleviate some of the stress of your divorce. So, in the state of Tennessee, the usual sequence of events read as follows:

1. One spouse may file a Complaint for Divorce in the Tennessee county where they reside.
2. The respondent spouse must be served with the divorce papers by a process server, a sheriff, or certified mail.
3. The respondent spouse must respond to the divorce papers within 30 days of being served, by selecting contested or uncontested proceedings.
4. The Tennessee Family Court may issue temporary orders on disputes over interim child custody, child support, spousal support, or property division.
5. Both spouses may submit and exchange information about their assets and debts during the discovery phase of the divorce proceedings.
6. The Tennessee family judge may listen to arguments, review evidence, and settle decisions on child custody, child support, spousal support, and property division.
7. The Tennessee family judge may issue a Final Judgment of Divorce that officially terminates the marriage.

How long does the divorce process take to finalize in the state of Tennessee?

As you may have likely concluded, seeing the divorce process through is rather time-consuming. What’s more, it is rather impossible to bypass any of the steps mentioned above. Instead, each step must be dealt with carefully, if you even want the slightest chance at a favorable final judgment.

With all things considered, you may expect your divorce process to take between two months to two years to be finalized. This is a drastic range because some divorces are peacefully uncontested while others are hotly contested. What’s more, some divorces deal with little to no divorce-related issues (i.e., no children, minimal marital assets and debts, etc)., while others deal with complex issues (i.e., shared businesses, high-value assets, etc). It may also make a difference if there exists a prenuptial agreement.

We understand that you likely want your divorce proceedings to fall on the shorter end of this range. So if you have any further questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact one of the competent Clarksville family lawyers. Schedule your initial consultation with Fendley and Etson today.