Ask almost anyone who has been through it and they will say “too long!” Joking aside, it can feel like a long process, and the justice system is not exactly known for its speed, even at the best of times.

The hardest part of a divorce is coming up with the terms of divorce, especially as it relates to custody, property division and support payments. This can be done through negotiation, or a judge can make the decision.

A negotiated settlement is almost always faster than waiting for the court to order the terms of your divorce. So, what exactly takes so long with court?

Unless there has been adultery or physical or mental cruelty in the marriage, you must be separated for one year before you can get divorced. If you cannot come to agreement, then time it takes is out of your control. Court time is in high demand and many courts are booking dates several months out. Exactly how long it takes depends on things like the complexity of interim motions, any adjournments, and how complicated your case is. If you have a multi day trial with expert witnesses and complicated submissions it can take a very long time to get trial date. Finally, once a divorce decree has been granted, it is not finalized for another 31 days to allow time for one of the parties to file an appeal.

How can I speed things along?

The best thing you can do is to try to stay out of court by negotiating your own agreement. Any issues that need a judge to decide them will take longer. Take advantage of the court services that promote settlement such as conciliation and Settlement Conferences.

Couples who are able to settle the terms of their divorce can make a Joint Application for Divorce and save time and money with because this procedure doesn’t require any court appearances.

If you have any questions about divorce you can call us at (902) 826-3070 or email us at info@highlanderlaw.ca to set up a meeting with one of our lawyers at our Tantallon law firm. You can also schedule a no commitment Issue Review Consult for $500+HST where you have the opportunity to explain your situation to a lawyer and get basic advice before deciding whether or not you'd like to retain us.  

By: Dianna M. Rievaj, MBA, LLB - Founding Lawyer

The information and materials on this blog are provided for general informational purposes only and are not intended to be legal advice. Nothing contained on this blog is legal advice or constitutes a legal opinion. While it is our goal to provide information which is current, legislative changes and court decisions, among other matters, may result in some information no longer being current or accurate. You should consult a lawyer before relying on any information. The views expressed herein by individual contributing lawyers posting entries to the blog are solely those of the authors and should not necessarily be attributed to or considered representative of the firm of Highlander Law Group Lawyers