How Long Does It Take To Get Divorced In Florida?

Written By: Lenorae C. Atter, Attorney
Wood, Atter & Wolf, P.A.

As a Jacksonville divorce lawyer, I am often asked how long a divorce will take. The time for a divorce is based on a number of factors including whether there issues involving children; marital assets; alimony; personal businesses; etc. In addition to the issues surrounding the divorce, the court also has a calendar that it uses in scheduling hearing dates and trials. No matter how quickly a divorce agreement can be reached, you are still at the mercy of the Judge’s calendar to go for a final hearing.
If you and your spouse agree on things, then a consent agreement may be reached at the very beginning and the divorce can be done rather quickly. However, if there are fights along the way regarding all matter surrounding the divorce, then the process can take anywhere from 6 months to 6 years. Parties are required to attend mediation and with a divorce surrounding multiple issues like children; business divisions; division of other marital property; then the parties may agree to attend more than one mediation session to work through all of the issues instead of leaving the ultimate decision to the Judge. Hopefully, understanding the process will lead to a faster resolution to the divorce.
If you are going through a divorce, it is good to speak with a family law attorney about your rights and options so you understand what you are fighting for and over.