Nelson & Booth| FAQs

Nelson & Booth
attorneys at law

How long does a divorce action take?

An "uncontested divorce" (a matter in which all issues are agreed between the parties before the divorce is filed) can usually be accomplished in sixty to eighty days from the date on which the petition was filed (or sooner if the Court agrees there is an "emergency" which justifies shortening the required 60-day waiting period).

A "contested divorce" (a matter in which there is any item, such as property division, support or child custody upon which the parties don't agree) can delay the final hearing for many weeks or months, because more time must be reserved on the Court's calendar for presentation of the evidence. A contested action may not be heard for three to twelve months from the date the petition was filed.

The length of time any domestic relations action takes depends heavily on the emotional and psychological status of both parties. There are times when a divorce may take months even though the parties have little, if any, disputes between them because one or both parties need time to feel comfortable with their decision. There are other times when, though significant disputes exist, the parties are able to present those issues for decision by a court relatively quickly.

NELSON & BOOTH is a law firm engaged exclusively in a family law practice emphasizing complex domestic relations actions, including divorce and determination of parentage, property division, child custody, parenting time, spousal and child support and representation of parents in cases of international child abduction.

The attorneys at NELSON & BOOTH are licensed to practice only in the
states of Kansas or Missouri.

E-mail: Ronald W. Nelson or Joseph W. Booth

nelson & booth

attorneys at law

Last updated 11/6/2003