When working through child custody issues and developing your parenting plan, you may be concerned about how long your child custody case will take. As your divorce will not yet be finalized until your child custody issues are resolved, prolonging your child custody case will prolong your entire divorce. Our family law attorneys at Advocate Law Firm, P.A. share what you should expect when beginning a child custody case.
No Set Time For Custody Cases
There is no set standard for how long a child custody case will last. The timeline for a child custody case is highly dependent on your family’s individual circumstances, such as the type of divorce you will pursue, the needs of your child, and how you and your soon-to-be-ex-spouse can communicate regarding your child’s custody and parenting plan.
However, your child custody case can be shorter through an uncontested divorce, where divorce agreements are made before filing or within the waiting period.
Uncontested Child Custody Cases
Parents of minor children cannot pursue a simplified divorce due to child custody matters. The quickest divorce involving a child custody case can be finalized through an uncontested divorce. In uncontested child custody cases, the parents already have developed a parenting plan and discussed and agreed upon child custody before filing for divorce.
While an uncontested divorce can take as little as four to five weeks, an uncontested divorce may take several months from filing to finalization after the waiting period or the maximum time allowed for filing each process.
Cases With Contested Custody Issues
Divorces with contested child custody or support issues may take longer than four months, depending on the parents' decision-making. Contested divorces often last anywhere from six to eighteen months from filing to finalization.
Parents with contested custody issues who wish to expedite the custody process may wish to pursue alternative dispute resolution, such as mediation or arbitration, to help resolve the conflict regarding child custody. However, if a divorcing couple is unable to create solutions amicably, they can pursue litigation, where a judge will hear each party’s case on a specific item and then make a final decision the couple will need to follow.
Advocate Law Firm, P.A. Child Custody Attorneys
Our experienced child custody attorneys understand that your family may want a finalized child custody agreement as soon as they can reach an agreement. We can prepare you for mediation, arbitration, litigation, or working out your child custody matter at the kitchen table. If you need extra guidance during this process, our attorneys can meet with you as needed to have the strong representation you deserve.
Are you concerned about how long it is taking to finalize your child custody agreement? Schedule a free case evaluation with our child custody attorneys today by calling (863) 644-5566. Our lines are open 24/7, so you can call us when you feel ready.