No one wants their divorce to drag on forever. It can bog you down and prevent you from moving on with your life. However, it is important to understand that it takes time to settle a divorce, and it is best not to rush the process.
Still, it helps to be aware of the things that could delay your divorce and, hopefully, avoid them. Discussed below are some common reasons that can prolong your divorce proceedings.
1. Lack of cooperation
When one spouse is uncooperative or refuses to comply with the court’s orders, it can cause significant delays in the divorce proceedings. This can include failing to provide financial information, not appearing in court, or not complying with custody agreements.
2. Unresolved issues
One of the primary reasons for delays in divorce proceedings is the inability to reach an agreement on important issues such as property division, spousal support, and child custody. When these issues lead to a contest, it can take longer for the divorce to be finalized.
3. Court backlogs
Like all other court processes, your divorce may be delayed by backlogs in the justice system. Courts are often overwhelmed, and you may have to wait for days or weeks if the judge is tied up elsewhere. It can considerably lengthen the time it takes to conclude your divorce. This is especially true now due to all of the judicial delays resulting from COVID closing the courts to most legal cases.
4. Complex financial matters
A high-asset divorce with complex assets may take longer to finalize than one with fewer assets. You should expect delays due to financial issues that require a thorough investigation and evaluation of assets and liabilities.
5. Incorrect or incomplete documentation
Divorce involves filing a lot of legal paperwork. Incorrect or incomplete information can stall the process, especially when the affected paperwork is crucial in settling the divorce. This can include inaccurate information on legal documents, missing signatures or financial information.
What can you do about it?
You probably want to get your divorce over within the shortest time possible. However, there is only so much you can do about issues like case backlogs if your divorce is litigated.
Many of the delays will also increase the financial costs of the divorce, so it is best to avoid the ones that you can control. It all depends on the choices you make from the start. For instance, you can explore the possibility of an uncontested divorce to save you a lot of time. It is best to seek an informed opinion and legal assistance on what you can do to hasten the divorce process and protect your interests while at it.