Pennsylvania law allows you to end your marriage for any reason. It also allows you to do so with or without your spouse’s permission. However, this doesn’t necessarily mean that you’ll be able to quickly finalize the divorce. In some cases, the process may stretch on for months or years even if you are on good terms with your significant other.
Divorce can be complicated
If you have children, you’ll need to negotiate a child support and child custody agreement. You will also need to negotiate property division terms and resolve other issues related to ending your marriage per state law. Depending on the circumstances of your case, it may take months to appraise your home, determine the status of an asset or obtain proof of hidden assets. If you must take your case to trial, it could be several months or years before a divorce decree is issued.
Your spouse may hold back
A divorce can proceed even if your spouse doesn’t want to end the relationship. However, this doesn’t mean that your partner will respond to divorce paperwork promptly. It’s also possible that your partner will actively avoid being served to drag out the divorce process as long as possible.
You hesitate to file paperwork
Getting a divorce is an emotional experience even if you are certain that it’s the best course of action. Therefore, you might take a few weeks or months before deciding to file relevant papers with the court. It’s also not uncommon to agree to seek counseling before getting divorced, which may add several months to the marriage termination timeline.
You may be entitled to spousal support, child support and other resources in a divorce settlement. This is typically true regardless of why you are seeking to end your marriage. Bank statements, tax records and other documents may allow you to establish the value of the marital estate and whether a given asset should be included within it.
