An uncontested divorce in Virginia will generally take much less time to complete than a contested divorce. When a divorce is contested, the spouses usually have to work through their attorneys and the court to reach a final outcome. When couples fight over issues such as property, child support, custody and spousal support, it can take years and multiple court appearances to reach a ruling. Many times that ruling can be appealed, which can extend the duration and cost even further.
Uncontested divorces can be completed quickly and efficiently because the couple is in agreement on the issues, there is no back-and-forth between attorneys, and there are no court hearings. In many cases, an uncontested divorce can be completed in a matter of weeks, provided that the parties have met the statutory periods of separation which are one (1) year for all couples with minor children; and six (6) months if there are no minor children and the parties have signed a Separation and Property Settlement Agreement.
Once all of the paperwork has been signed and notarized by the parties and their witness, it is ready to be filed with the court. After all of the required documents have been filed with the court, it typically takes the court approximately four (4) to six (6) weeks to process and review your case and for a judge to sign the Final Order of Divorce.
