How Long Will My Divorce Take?

 Posted on August 20, 2019 in Divorce

Making the decision to get divorced is never easy and the process of ending a marriage can be painful and tedious. Understandably, many spouses want their divorce to be over as soon as possible. If you have decided to end your marriage in Illinois, you may be wondering, “How long will it take for my divorce to be finalized?” The answer will depend on a wide variety of factors including the married couple’s life circumstances, wealth, and ability to cooperate during the divorce process.

Complex Assets and High Net-Worth Will Complicate Property Division

Illinois divides marital property according to equitable division laws. Instead of property being split exactly evenly with each spouse receiving 50 percent of the marital estate, property is divided according to what is fair or equitable. The more property and debt a couple has accumulated during marriage, the more work it will take to divide this property and debt during divorce. The amount of time it will take for property division decisions to be finalized will largely depend on how well the couple cooperates, the value of their assets, and the type of property owned. Complex assets like retirement plans, pensions, and stock options can be harder to valuate and divide than other assets. If the couple has other complex investments such as a family business, the divorce process will likely take longer than average.

Disagreements Will Lengthen Your Divorce

When two people get married, it is not only a romantic union, but also a financial union. Spouses share assets, property, funds, and make joint purchases together. When disagreements about property division arise, this can extend the divorce process. Another way that a divorce becomes much more complex is when spouses disagree about how to share custody of children. Child custody is called the allocation of parental responsibilities in Illinois.

Parents who wish to share parental responsibilities must agree to a parenting plan or parenting agreement which details their custody schedule and how decisions about the child’s upbringing will be made. When parents have significantly different ideas about how they will raise their child or who will spend the majority of time caring for the child, the divorce process becomes much more complex. Fortunately, mediation and collaborative divorce offer divorcing couples affordable and effective ways to come to an agreement about issues of child custody, child support, property division, and more.  

Contact a Naperville Property Division Attorney

For help with a wide range of divorce issues, contact the experienced DuPage County divorce lawyers at Pesce Law Group P.C. We can help you design a divorce strategy which is personalized according to your unique circumstances and needs. Call us at 630-352-2240 to schedule a free consultation.

Sources:

http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/ilcs5.asp?ActID=2086

https://www.ourfamilywizard.com/blog/3-factors-can-impact-length-divorce