It may have taken you months, even years, to make the decision to end your marriage. Now that the decision has been been made, however, you may want the divorce to be over as quickly as possible. Because there are so many factors that impact the time it takes to get through a divorce, you should consult with an experienced attorney before you begin the process. To give you an idea of what to expect, however, a Murfreesboro divorce lawyer at Bennett | Michael | Hornsby discusses how to get through the divorce process quickly.
Top 5 Tips for a Quick Divorce
There are no guarantees when it comes to the time it takes to get through a divorce. A seemingly amicable split can turn
into a contentious and time-consuming divorce overnight. Conversely, a couple who spent most of their time arguing while together can manage to get through the divorce process quickly and civilly. If your goal is to get your divorce over and done with expeditiously, consider the following five tips:
- Talk things through with your spouse before you start the divorce process. The way in which a divorce begins often sets the tone for the entire divorce process. If your spouse is unexpectedly served with divorce papers, he or she will likely feel a variety of negative emotions. Those negative emotions may cause a knee-jerk reaction that starts the divorce off on adversarial grounds. To get your divorce started on the right foot, let your spouse know you plan to initiate the process and try to sit down and discuss the issues involved in the divorce before you formally start the process.
- Do not allege fault grounds when you file for divorce. Tennessee is one of several states that allows the party filing for divorce to file a “no-fault” divorce or to allege fault on the part of the other party. A no-fault divorce is exactly what it sounds like-neither party was at fault in the breakdown of the marriage. A fault divorce requires the party alleging fault to prove the allegation. For example, if you file for divorce and allege adultery, you must prove that your spouse committed adultery. Not surprisingly, no-fault divorces usually take far less time to complete.
- Prioritize what you need out of the divorce. Take some time to consider what you need and want out of the divorce. All assets and debts of the marriage must be divided. Which assets truly matter to you? Which debts can you afford to pay, and which ones do you feel you should pay? If you have children, are you willing to share custody or is it crucial to you that you be the primary residential parent? The more flexible you can be and the more you are willing to compromise, the easier the divorce process is likely to be.
- Understand the law. Make sure you have a clear understanding of what happens during a divorce, what rights you have, and what the law is likely to allow if the divorce becomes contentious. For example, it is unlikely that you will walk away with all the marital assets. Conversely, it is unlikely that you will walk away with none of the assets. If you are asking for alimony, make sure you know if you qualify to receive alimony. Understanding what a judge would do if issues remained in dispute can help you to look at issues realistically.
- Focus on the children (if applicable). Issues related to children are among the most common reasons for a divorce to become contentious. The more contentious a divorce is, the longer it will take to get through. If you have a legitimate reason to fight over custody or parenting time, do so. If, however, there is no legitimate reason to prevent your spouse from continuing to be part of the children’s lives post-divorce, then focus on what is best for the children and try to leave your negative emotions out of the process. Ultimately, the children will be happier, and your divorce will not end up dragging out indefinitely.
Contact a Murfreesboro Divorce Lawyer
If you have questions or concerns about divorce, contact a Murfreesboro divorce lawyer to discuss your legal options. Contact the team at Bennett | Michael | Hornsby as soon as possible by calling 615-898-1560 to schedule your free appointment.
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