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How long does a divorce take in Texas?

On Behalf of | Jun 8, 2021 | Divorce

If you’re starting the process of divorcing, one of the main questions you may have is how long it’s going to take. In Texas, your divorce won’t be finalized for at least 60 days following your divorce petition being filed. This is just one aspect of the process, though, that you do need to consider.

Getting a divorce can be a lengthy process. At the very least, it will take the 60 days between your first petition and the court approving your divorce. However, for most people, it takes at least six months, up to a year or longer, to finalize a divorce. This is because there are many issues to discuss and any disputes may hold up the process.

What makes a divorce take longer?

There are several factors that may make your divorce take longer. The first is how willing you both are to work together. You need to negotiate and to be able to separate your assets. If you can do that without disputes, then you may be able to divorce faster than others who do have disputes.

Some of the common divorce issues that create disputes include:

  • Child custody
  • Property division
  • Pet custody
  • Spousal support

Realizing this, if you and your spouse can sit down and discuss these issues and work out your own agreement, then that will help you move forward faster. If you cannot, then you may want to consider alternative methods of dispute resolution. Failing ADR, you will need to wait for a judge to make a decision on those issues, which takes the control out of your hands and drags out the length of the divorce.

If speed is a priority, negotiate

If you want your marriage to end the fastest way possible, you need to be willing to negotiate and be flexible. If either you or your spouse takes a firm stance and can’t come to an agreement on how to separate property or split time with your kids, then you may be in for a longer divorce timeline. This is something to consider and discuss with your attorneys, so you can plan for what comes next.