Divorces can go smoothly if both spouses are driven to make that happen and willing to work with each other to get the process over with as soon as possible. However, many times that’s not the case, which can often lead to divorces dragging on for months or even years. In some instances, the reason a divorce takes longer than it should is because one spouse is delaying the divorce on purpose. Spouses can attempt to delay divorces for a variety of reasons, including:
- They don’t want a divorce. Sometimes a spouse tries to delay a divorce because they hope to win their ex back.
- They are hurting financially or want to hurt their spouse financially. A spouse may delay a divorce because they aren’t ready to make support payments yet or they want to drag out the divorce process, so that their spouse must waste extra money on attorney fees.
- They are controlling and bitter. In some instances, a spouse delays a divorce because they want to force their ex to suffer through a long and painful divorce process. They want to exert one last act of control over their spouse and/or hurt them because they are hurting themselves.
Whatever reason a person has for delaying a divorce, there are ways that their spouse can fight back and get the divorce process on track again.
How Can I Prevent My Spouse from Delaying Our Divorce in California?
If your spouse is attempting to delay your divorce, it can be incredibly frustrating. Suddenly, instead of getting through one of the toughest times in your life quickly, so that you can begin the healing process and move on with your life, you’re stuck reliving the worst parts of your marriage. When a divorce is delayed or contentious, it is known as a contested divorce. In California, working with an experienced divorce attorney who knows how to manage a contested divorce is the best option for combating potential delays.
While a contested divorce can take longer than an uncontested divorce, contested divorces can be finalized more quickly than people realize.
Here are the steps of a contested divorce in California:
- Divorce papers served to spouse
- Spouse responds to divorce papers
- Discovery
- Settlement negotiations
- Trial (if the parties don’t reach a settlement)
- Post-trial motions
- Appeals
Need Help with a Contested Divorce? Contact Us Today
Divorces are difficult situations. However, if exes work together, a divorce can at least be friendly, quick, and efficient, which helps divorcing couples avoid making things worse before they get better. Unfortunately, ugly divorces are a fact of life. These are emotionally charged situations involving two people who are often not on the same page. This is especially true when it comes to contested divorces, which can involve one person who wants to get the divorce over with and another who is content to drag it out.
Our experienced divorce lawyers at Arnold Law Group, APC understand what it takes to navigate the divorce process. Our legal team has over 30 years of combined experience. We understand what securing a contested divorce involves and have helped clients successfully get it done time and time again.
For more information about contested divorce in California, or to talk with our experienced divorce attorneys about your situation, call us at (559) 900-1263 or contact us online.