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Badanes Law Office

Why Does a Divorce Take So Long?

David P. Badanes, Esq.

Unfortunately, your divorce can take anywhere from 6 months to 3 years (or in extreme cases, even longer) before it is completed. The simple reason is that the New York Courts have a very heavy case load and very few Judges to go through that case load.

Even in a “simple” uncontested divorce, there are several documents that are submitted to the Court. The Court needs to review each of the documents before it will grant you a divorce. This is the type of case that may take as little time as 6 months.

In a contested divorce, there are several stages that usually have to be completed before the divorce is finalized. After the case is filed, your spouse has to be served and then your spouse has at least 20 days to respond to your complaint. Once your spouse responds, there is an initial court conference (called a preliminary conference). Typically, the next stage is to conduct discovery. Discovery is when documents are exchanged and reviewed. After the documents are exchanged and reviewed, the parties get to take a deposition. Discovery and depositions can take anywhere from 1 to 8 months (or longer). By the time discovery is completed, your divorce may have been going on for 10 months (or longer).

After discovery and depositions are complete, there may be further items that need to be completed. If you have children, there may be a forensic psychiatrist review. This could take at least 3 months.

The Court will also most likely want several court conferences. At some point the Court will finally schedule a trial. Trials can last from 1 day to several weeks, depending on several factors.

So, unfortunately, divorces can take a long time. However, David Badanes and the Badanes Law Office will handle your case as quickly and efficiently as possible. If you are thinking of getting a divorce and live in Suffolk County, Nassau County or New York City and need a divorce (matrimonial) lawyer, then call David Badanes and the Badanes Law Office at (631) 430-4445, email at david@dbnylaw.com or visit our web site: www.dbnylaw.com. The Badanes Law Office has offices in Northport, Garden City, Brooklyn and Manhattan.

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Why Does a Divorce Take So Long?
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