How Long Does it Take to Get Divorced in Colorado?
Many of our clients want to know what the divorce timeline looks like. How long is this process going to take? There’s no way we can give you a firm answer because every case is different. Yes, we know that sounds cliché, but it’s true. For instance, if you and your spouse have children together or, say, have accumulated a lot of assets during your marriage, your divorce could take longer than a couple who doesn’t have kids or has minimal assets. Now, with that said, the soonest your divorce can be finalized in this state is 92 days—that’s if everything falls perfectly into place for you.
So, is there a way to speed things up, you ask? Maybe. In this article, we’ll touch on how you can at least not hinder your divorce’s progress.
Get a Better Idea About Your Divorce Timeline
While our experienced family law attorneys cannot promise when you’ll receive your divorce decree, they will strive to ensure there are as few delays as possible if a speedy divorce is your end goal. Call 303-688-0944 to begin a case assessment.
How Fast Can I Get Divorced in Colorado?
No Sooner Than 92 Days
Colorado has a statutory 91-day cooling-off period. That means that a court cannot legally issue you a divorce decree during that time. Now, the so-called cooling-off period does not mean you must wait around to move forward with your divorce. In fact, the first three months after you file a petition for divorce will be quite busy.
Do We Have to Wait Even if We Both Agree to the Divorce?
Yes. Even if you and your spouse file a joint petition for divorce, agree on the parenting plan, agree on how you’ll divide your assets, even agree to remain friends, it does not matter. The court cannot deviate from the statutory 91-day waiting period.
Factors that Affect a Divorce Timeline
An Unwillingness to be Compromise
“You want the house and all of the 401(k)? Works for me!”
Look, no one here is suggesting that you make unreasonable concessions (like the example above) to get the divorce process to move faster. However, if you won’t budge on any issue, you should expect a less-than-speedy divorce timeline.
Divorce makes reasonable people do unreasonable things sometimes. We understand that. Your divorce attorney can help you decide which issues are important enough to you to draw a hard line in the sand and which ones you’re willing to make some concessions.
The more cooperative you are and the more that the two of you agree on how to finalize your marriage, the faster it can happen.
The Court’s Docket
While you have some control over how your assets will be divided and your parenting time shared, you don’t have any control over the court’s calendar, also called a docket.
Events like mediation and court hearings for temporary and final orders are up to what’s available on the court’s calendar. So the court gets a big say in how long it takes to get a divorce decree.
How Can I Speed Up My Divorce?
Get Your Paperwork Going
Fill Out Your Financial Disclosures
In Colorado, at the beginning of every divorce case, you’re required to make a minimum amount of financial disclosures. Not only does this provide the framework for how the marital property will be divided, but it also protects parties from spouses who try to hide assets.
Financial disclosures generally take about six weeks to accomplish. Sometimes the courts give us slightly longer, and sometimes we can get it done quicker.
You and your attorney cannot negotiate a divorce settlement until you know what has to be divided. So get going on the financial disclosures!
Get Help With Your Colorado Divorce
Robinson & Henry divorce attorneys cannot promise if you’ll be issued a decree in three months’ time. However, we do pledge to do everything in our legal power to achieve the swiftest resolution in your matter. Call 303-688-0944 to begin your case assessment.
