This is the next article in my series on the question of “Can I get a quick divorce in Las Vegas, Nevada?” My last article discussed Nevada’s residency requirements for divorce. It also stressed the need to speak with an attorney as soon as possible if you are considering ending a marriage. It is important to understand that how your case is handled can have a major impact on your financial future. Having qualified counsel can be crucial. In this article I will be addressing the question of how long an uncontested divorce may take. If you are in need of assistance then contact my office today to speak with a lawyer.
Uncontested Nevada divorces can sometimes be completed in a week or less
I have previously discussed the benefits of Nevada’s uncontested divorce process. This process is somewhat unique to our state in that it allows for a streamlined marriage dissolution. As long as the state’s residency and jurisdictional requirements are met, and there is agreement on all issues, the parties may file a Joint Petition for Divorce. This is a document in which the parties will state the settlement which they have reached. It must include specifics regarding the division of property, specifics regarding spousal support, a child custody plan (if there are children), provisions for child support, etc. This Petition, along with an Affidavit of Residency, will be filed and submitted to Chambers along with a proposed Divorce Decree. If children are involved then the Court will also require proof that a mandatory parenting class was attended. The Court will often sign the Decree without a hearing and it may be filed with the Court. This process can typically be handled very quickly. It should be noted, however, that there may be instances which can delay the process and/or result in the Court requiring a “prove up” hearing.
An important point to note is that the uncontested divorce process requires that the parties be in agreement on all issues. If there is disagreement on any single matter, no matter how seemingly small it may be, then the parties will be ineligible for the uncontested divorce process. They will, instead, need to go through the contested process, which can take significantly longer and can also carry significant legal fees. If one and their spouse agree that they wish to go their separate ways, but cannot agree on all issues, then immediately filing for a contested divorce may not be the best option. Instead, it may be better for the parties to see if they can resolve their differences and then opt for the uncontested process. This can result in the saving of both time and money.
Consider the following example. Jack and Jill wish to end their marriage and are able to agree on all issues other than spousal support. Jill believes that she should receive $1,000 per month for a period of one year while Jack is only willing to pay $500. If the parties were to file for a contested divorce then, jointly, they may well incur legal fees ranging from $10,000 to $50,000 over what is essentially a $6,000 disagreement ($500 per month * 12). It would also cause their divorce to take substantial time. If the parties had, instead, calmly discussed their differences then they would have realized it was in their best interest to compromise and complete the uncontested process.
Contact a Las Vegas lawyer regarding an uncontested Nevada divorce
If you are ending a marriage then it is strongly suggested that you retain an attorney to assist you. If your matter is handled incorrectly then you may have to return to Court for a variety of reasons. These can include issues being omitted from the Divorce Decree, ambiguities in the documents, and more. Having to litigate issues, after a case is seemingly completed, can take substantial time and can also cost a substantial amount of money. Having counsel to assist you with the handling of your documents, and the completion of the process, can prevent these potential problems.
If you are in need of assistance then contact my office today to speak with a Las Vegas uncontested divorce lawyer. My firm is dedicated exclusively to the handling of family law matters and we will give your case the attention it both needs and deserves. We pride ourselves on providing a high level of representation and we look forward to speaking with you.