This article is being written to conclude and recap my series on the issue of how long it may take to get divorced in the state of Arkansas. I felt it was necessary to write on this topic as it is a common question among those who are considering ending a marriage. While individuals are often looking for a specific answer as to how long a case will take, the fact of the matter is that the time involved will depend on one’s situation. The goal of my recent articles has been to provide information which will help people to better understand their situation. It has also been my goal to provide information which will assist with the selection of an attorney. If you or a family member are in need of assistance then contact my office today to speak with a lawyer.
I addressed multiple topics over my recent articles. Issues which I analyzed include:
- How long an uncontested divorce may take
- The time which a contested divorce may take
- Issues which can make a divorce take longer
I addressed these three topics for multiple reasons. First, if the spouses are in agreement on all issues then the uncontested process can be completed in as little as thirty days. It must be understood, however, that establishing grounds for a divorce can be more difficult in Arkansas than in other states. A spouse must either agree to fault, or the spouses must have lived separately for at least eighteen months in order to go through the uncontested process. Second, a contested divorce can take over a year depending on the nature of the disagreements as well as the types of issues to be litigated. Taking the advice of your counsel can help to ensure that you do not spend time and money litigating issues which have a reasonably foreseeable outcome. Third, understanding the way in which financial and child custody issues can prolong a case is important to ensuring that your divorce does not take longer than necessary.
One point I stressed in each of these articles is the importance of retaining an experienced attorney to assist you if you are considering ending a marriage. Spouses often go into a case with unrealistic expectations. This can result in the case taking longer, and costing more, than is necessary. To make matters worse, parties will often endure this extra cost and expense only to reach the same resolution they would have obtained through a settlement. By taking the advice of counsel you can help to ensure that your matter is concluded in as efficient a manner as possible.
If you or a family member are in need of assistance then contact my office today to speak with a Little Rock divorce lawyer. I understand that this is an important time in your life and my office will give your case the attention it deserves. We pride ourselves on providing quality representation and we look forward to speaking with you. We also handle matters in Fayetteville, Fort Smith, Springdale, Jonesboro, North Little Rock, Conway, Rogers, Pine Bluff, and throughout the rest of Arkansas.