Divorce has become common among American households. The 2024 American Community Survey shows that nearly 1.87 million people divorced in the U.S. that year. Of those, 986,810 were women, and the remainder were men.
A divorce in which both parties agree on asset division, financial details, and child custody terms is often faster than a divorce in which these matters are in contention.
The cost of a no-contest divorce is different from one state to another, but when cases are simple, filing costs are generally between $200 and $400. Mediation and legal fees may apply in addition to the filing fee. An online service will incur an additional fee.
In most cases, divorces are not finalized until the court has authorized all of the necessary paperwork. The requirements for finalizing a divorce, like divorce costs, can vary by court and state.
Let's take a look at how long a no-contest divorce can take and what factors may affect the timeline.
Why Even an Agreed Divorce Isn't Instant
Most states impose a waiting period even in cases where both married individuals agree to divorce immediately.
In Oklahoma, an agreed divorce with no children takes at least 10 days, but the first court appearance is often more than 30 days after the attorneys send the documents to the court. A divorce attorney in OKC will inform clients of this timeline. Trying to notify opposing counsel, schedule, and confirm availability of all attorneys and the court consumes a majority of the next free 30-day period.
Children in the Picture Extend the Timeline Further
If there are minors in the divorce, the waiting period is usually longer than in divorces without minors. This process can take 90 days or longer after the divorce case is filed, regardless of how cordial and peaceful the parties are towards each other.
The Paperwork Still Has to Be Complete and Correct
Even a no-contest divorce must go through the complete process of filing a petition, a marital settlement agreement, and a financial disclosure statement. A parenting plan and a child support worksheet are required if the divorcing parties have children.
Incomplete documentation is one of the most frequent problems that may result in a simple divorce becoming much more challenging for both parties than anticipated.
Court Scheduling Is Often the Real Bottleneck
Even after all forms are filled out and there is no wait time, the case still needs to be scheduled for a hearing. Court schedules can vary widely based on the workload of the court where the action is being pursued.
These requirements mean that two exact copies of an uncontested divorce, whether filed in the same or different locations, can have varying resolution timelines.
Why Cost and Timeline Tend to Move Together
In any case, an uncontested divorce is often cheaper. Knowing the timeline involved is important both in terms of finances and emotions. The price of a no-fault divorce in California, for example, is often different since it depends on various aspects. These aspects include the court filing fee, document preparation, mediation, etc. In case spouses come to an agreement faster, they might have to pay less for all of the necessary services.
What Can Turn a Simple Case Into a Longer One
A case that initially proceeds uncontested may face delay when new information comes up. The discovery of an unknown asset, a dispute about the language used in the parenting agreement, and questions raised by the judge concerning the fairness of the agreement are some scenarios that can prolong the case.
These issues will not make the case a totally contested one but may add weeks or months onto what would normally be an easy process.
Setting Realistic Expectations From the Start
What a divorcing couple should aim for when pursuing a no-contest divorce is to take the minimum time frame of the proceedings as a base rather than an absolute deadline.
The key to getting the no-contest divorce done quickly is to complete the paperwork, achieve understanding about all of the necessary items, and have reasonable expectations about how long it may take.
A no-fault divorce case is usually faster and more economical than a contested divorce case, but the process does not always occur automatically. Some of the reasons for the delay in this process include waiting time, paperwork, and the presence of children.
To prevent any possible delays in the divorce process, one should take the correct steps, including making a proper agreement and filling out the necessary forms. It is also important to know your state's requirements regarding the divorce procedure.
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