How long does the Divorce process take?

Realistically it can take around one year to obtain a divorce.  Where there are contested or complex financial issues it is not advisable to conclude divorce proceedings until these are negotiated and agreed.

To commence divorce proceedings, you must be married for at least one year. Since April 22, you no longer need to have a party to blame and only need to agree that the relationship has irretrievably broken down.

How can I speed up the divorce process?

Obtain a copy of your marriage certificate – Your solicitor can do this for you, but it will save time and costs if you have one already.

Any previous legal agreements should be shared with your solicitor at the beginning.

Don’t delay when asked for paperwork by your solicitor and check the accuracy – Inaccurate or poorly completed documents can be returned by the court sending any new submission to the back of the queue.

The courts online portal allows much speedier lodging of applications and response times.

Agree on financial and child arrangements – Often these conflicts can delay the process and elevate the costs and stress involved.

Common reasons for delays in the divorce process

• Poor communication between parties and an inability to agree.
• Some people want their day in court regardless of cost and stress.
• Inability to come to an agreement on finances or child arrangements.
• One party might be unrepresented or deliberately delaying in reply or simply refusing to return the court papers.
• The pressures on the court system itself and the continued backlog from COVID-19.

You should always take specialist family law advice before embarking on divorce to ensure that your financial interests and those of any children of the family are taken into consideration. Speak to Maguire today.