Many are interested in the concept of a collaborative divorce. But an initial question many have is how long a collaborative divorce will take.

“Can a collaborative divorce be done in weeks or months, or will it take longer than that?” Many consider this question at length when they debate whether to entertain a collaborative divorce.

How Does A Collaborative Divorce Work?

A collaborative divorce entails both parties having a lawyer trained in collaborative divorce. Parties also typically have a financial neutral and a divorce coach to assist.

To complete a collaborative divorce, the reality is that parties have to enter a comprehensive settlement on all issues in the divorce. The more complicated the case, the more sessions might become necessary.

For example, are there kids or no kids? If there are kids in the marriage, the reality is that a collaborative divorce can become more complex.

What is the net worth of the parties? The truth is that the more assets the parties have, the more complex the divorce can become. With more assets, there is more at stake.

How Long Will A Collaborative Divorce Take?

Going back to the initial question about how long a collaborative divorce can take, it all comes back to how quickly the parties can enter a comprehensive settlement. The quicker parties can enter a comprehensive settlement, the less time it can take. On the other hand, the longer it takes for parties to enter a comprehensive settlement, the longer it can take.

Where there are kids, it can be more complex. Where there are lots of assets, the more complicated it can become.

But in some cases, a collaborative divorce can be resolved in a small number of sessions. In other cases, it could take weeks or even months for parties to reach an agreement. After reaching an agreement, settlement paperwork must be drafted and signed. A judge then has to sign off on the settlement paperwork.

Typically speaking, the process can take months in some cases. In other cases, it can take much longer. While it is not uncommon, the whole process could take more than a year if lots of negotiation is necessary.