When You Need a Quick Divorce
If you are headed for divorce and want things to happen quickly, you may be happy to learn that the process can be expedited under certain circumstances. Typically there is a 30 day waiting period from the time the petition for divorce is filed, but most divorces take much longer than that to be finalized. What can you do to speed things up?
Uncontested Divorces Move More Quickly
Obviously, when a divorce is contentious, it tends to plod along as lawyers and/or mediators trudge through disagreements trying to find a compromise that will suit both parties. Those situations often involve additional issues around the possibility of one spouse hiding assets, one spouse resisting shared custody, or serious conflicts related to the division of property. When couples agree to all aspects of the split, they can present their own plan for the terms of the divorce, and there won’t be hearing after hearing to get things done.
Summary Dissolution
For couples who have not been married for very long, summary dissolution may be an option. Usually, marriages that have lasted for just a short time have less complications. In Missouri there are certain criteria that must be met in order to pursue summary dissolution:
- One or both spouses must have resided in Missouri for 90+ days.
- The grounds must state that the marriage is irretrievably broken.
- The petition must be filled out to address issues such as property division, child custody and support, and so forth, and the other spouse must respond to the petition within 30 days.
Assuming both spouses agree to the terms, the dissolution of marriage can be finalized quite quickly—within 30 days in most cases. If there are concerns related to any of the issues related to the split, that time will be extended to accommodate additional hearings.
Emergency Expedited Divorce
In some situations, one partner may require physical protection and/or financial support. That might be the case when families are experiencing domestic violence, child abuse, or even other types of criminal activity. Individuals wishing to expedite their divorce in these circumstances will need to include documentation and evidence of the dangerous setting in a court filing. Their spouse will have 21 days to respond, when a formal hearing will give both parties an opportunity to plead their case. It’s possible this hearing can mutate into the formal divorce hearing, and the judge may grant the divorce petition on the spot. To a large extent, that will depend on the veracity and strength of the evidence and the degree to which the judge believes there is a real danger in having the couple remain married.
Move Things Along
The experienced Springfield divorce attorneys at Courtney & Mills understand that you want to move things along, and will help you get through your divorce as quickly as possible. To discuss, schedule a confidential consultation today.
Source:
courts.mo.gov/page.jsp?id=10580
