If you are contemplating filing for divorce or have recently been served with divorce papers by your spouse, you may be wondering, “Just how long will this take?” The answer is – it depends. Each individual case is different, and the length of time it takes to get divorced will depend upon the individual circumstances of your case and how well you and your spouse get along.

Once the divorce is filed, the Administrative Office of the Courts in New Jersey mandates that divorce proceedings should be concluded within 12 months from the filing date, unless there are complex or exceptional circumstances. Most cases do conclude within this period, but not all.

Some of the major factors that determine how long a divorce will take are:

• Contested issues. If many issues are contested, your divorce will take a lot longer. If you and your spouse can agree on most terms, you can work with a mediator and come to an expeditious resolution. This can save both parties a lot of money.
• The mentality of the parties. If one or both spouses want to make the other person “pay,” the divorce process will become combative and it will take a lot longer to complete.
• Where the case is filed. Some counties in New Jersey move cases along more quickly and have more resources and personnel than others have.
• The facts of the case. Some issues, just by their nature, will take longer to resolve, such as child custody, owning a business, and owning significant assets.

As you can see, there is a wide variety in the length of time a divorce will take in New Jersey. Some divorces will conclude in a few months and others in a few years. Consequently, there is a wide variety in how much each divorce will cost.

If you are considering filing for divorce, you should consult with a knowledgeable New Jersey divorce lawyer to help protect your rights, even if you are expecting the process to go quickly with few disputes – because you just never know.