Divorce is a legal process that, without exception, must pass through the New Jersey courts at some point. This fact alone means that it takes some time and is not generally a speedy process.
That said, you can get a divorce in New Jersey in as little as six to eight weeks.
No two divorces are the same and even divorces that start as “uncontested” can develop issues that slow down proceedings.
How long your divorce will take is a question complicated by several factors. how well prepared you are, how far apart you and your spouse are in your expectations, how you deal with issues, how well you communicate and, if necessary, the quality of professional help you enlist to facilitate your divorce.
If you remain on good terms with your ex and agree on the key matters involved in the divorce, the process will almost certainly be much quicker than if you are adversarial, refuse to collaborate and end up at trial with a judge deciding on all the key matters.
Let’s take a closer look at how long divorces take in New Jersey.
Divorce is a legal process that must pass through the New Jersey courts and be approved by a judge, but litigation is generally the last resort for divorcing couples.
No-fault divorces are based on “irreconcilable differences,” meaning that there is no need to prove fault for the marriage breakdown. This can diffuse issues and make litigation less likely.
Maintaining civility and keeping the lines of communication open can help to ensure you don’t end up in court. Most divorce matters can be resolved through calm and respectful discussions.
Collaborative divorces are where each spouse hires a lawyer to facilitate a mutually beneficial agreement. A series of meetings between the four individuals may be scheduled to negotiate on the main outstanding matters.
In mediation, a trained mediator facilitates discussions between the couple with the aim of reaching a fair resolution. The final decision remains with the couple and proceedings remain private rather than public (as in court).
