Susan Hais – How Long Will My Divorce Take?
April 14, 2011
One of the most commonly asked questions by divorcing clients is “How long will this take?” Missouri’s law requires that the divorce petition be on file for at least thirty days before a divorce may be granted. Additionally, your petition is not deemed “filed” pursuant to Missouri Supreme Court Rule 53.01 until either: (1) a summons is issued; (2) a verified entry of appearance is filed; or (3) an attorney files an entry of appearance on behalf of a nonfiling party. In other words, a divorce cannot be final until 30 days after your spouse has been served with process by the sheriff or a process server, your spouse has waived formal service, or your spouse’s attorney has filed a motion before the court.
The timetable on a divorce varies greatly depending on the issues in the divorce. When spouses have little property, or can agree to the division of the assets, divorces can be over in as early as 31 days. On the other hand, if a case is hotly contested and involves issues of custody, child support, maintenance, or large amounts of property, the case will assuredly take longer to resolve itself. Cases involving the division of retirement assets and valuing business interests will also take a much longer amount of time to resolve.
Technically, under Missouri Supreme Court Rule 17, 50% of all domestic relations cases are to be disposed of within four months of filing, 90% within ten months of filing, and 95% within fourteen months of filing. The purpose of the rule is to provide litigants with time frames during which they, with reasonable certainty, can expect to have their case decided by the court or otherwise resolved. However, not all Missouri counties abide by these standards. The average length of time for a domestic relations case to be resolved in Missouri is 200 days, or approximately 6 months. In St. Louis City, however, the average amount of time to resolve a domestic relations case is 780 days.
If you have a need to resolve a divorce quickly, be sure to let your lawyer know at the beginning of the case, so that your lawyer may seek to “fast track” your case, and to try to cut off any attempts by the opposing party to engage in stall tactics or delay.
If you wish to schedule an appointment to speak with me or one of HHGC’s other family law attorneys, you may contact our office at the contact information below.
| St. Louis County Office: 222 S. Central Ave. Suite 600 St. Louis, MO 63105(314) 862-1300 |
Contact St. Louis family lawyer Susan M. Hais.
Family lawyer Susan M. Hais serves clients in St. Louis, Clayton, Ladue, Chesterfield, Town and Country, Frontenac, Wildwood, Creve Coeur, Des Peres, Manchester, Brentwood, Rock Hill, Fenton, Webster Groves, Kirkwood, University City, Maplewood, Shrewsbury, Affton, Eureka, Mehlville, Valley Park, Maryland Heights, Richmond Heights, Hazelwood, Florissant, Ballwin, Crestwood, Ellisville, Glendale, Central West End, Soulard, Dogtown, The Hill, Delmar Loop, Saint Charles, O’Fallon, Lake Saint Louis, St. Louis County, St. Louis City, and St. Charles County.
The choice of an attorney is an important decision and is not to be made solely on the basis of advertising. Accessing or the use of this website does not create an attorney-client relationship with Hais, Hais, Goldberger & Coyne P.C. Confidential or time sensitive information should not be sent through the use of this website. This website is intended to provide the reader with a general understanding about select legal topics, not to provide legal advice or opinion. You should consult with an attorney before using any information contained on this site. The images contained on this website are intended to provide graphical representation of family law issues, and do not depict actual clients or parties. Please be aware that the facts and circumstances of your case may differ from those of the cases from which these results and testimonials have been drawn. Not all cases handled by HHGC are included in these results and not all clients have provided testimonials. The results and testimonials provided herein are not necessarily representative of all clients’ results or of the experience of all clients of the HHGC Law Firm. Each case is different, and every case must be evaluated and handled on its own merits.
Susan Hais – St. Louis Divorce and Family Lawyer
April 14, 2011
Divorce can be one of life’s most emotionally devastating experiences. An AARP poll found that divorce causes more distress than job loss and is approximately equal in effect to a major illness.
Divorce is also a time when people are at their most vulnerable. The decisions you make early on in the divorce process can affect your money, your property, and the time with your children.
Practice Dedicated Solely To Family Law:
Susan Hais’s law practice is devoted exclusively to divorce and family law matters and serves primarily St. Louis City and St. Louis County cases. Divorce can be a very complicated matter depending on the involvement of child custody disputes, real property, and business holdings. When you have so much at stake, it is important to trust your situation with the most experienced, focused divorce lawyer available. Your spouse will almost certainly hire one of the best attorneys he or she can find, why shouldn’t you?
How a St. Louis Divorce Attorney Can Help
When considering divorce, the choice of an attorney is a difficult decision and it may be initially difficult to find an attorney who you feel comfortable with. At my firm, my staff and I work hard to take the time to pinpoint each client’s unique needs and concerns in order to be a better advocate for our clients. We can also help you understand what you can expect in a divorce, and what actions you may need to take to best represent your interests.
Family Law & Divorce Cases We Handle
Divorce and the dissolution process can be very complicated depending on factors involving assets, property, and of course, the custody and visitation of children. My firm handles all aspects of family law and divorce related matters throughout the St. Louis Metropolitan area including the following:
A common mistake many people make is to select a general-practice attorney to handle their divorce. When important matters such as child custody and property division are at stake, you should only be represented by an attorney who exclusively practices family law.
The practice of family law is a difficult and dynamic practice where the law changes frequently. Even small mistakes on the part of an attorney could lead to drastic consequences both in money and in child custody. General practice lawyers who infrequently handle divorce cases often lack the knowledge and experience needed to help you navigate a contested divorce.
If you wish to schedule an appointment to speak with me or one of HHGC’s other family law attorneys, you may contact our office at the contact information below.
| St. Louis County Office: 222 S. Central Ave. Suite 600 St. Louis, MO 63105 (314) 862-1300 |
Contact St. Louis family lawyer Susan M. Hais.
Family lawyer Susan M. Hais serves clients in St. Louis, Clayton, Ladue, Chesterfield, Town and Country, Frontenac, Wildwood, Creve Coeur, Des Peres, Manchester, Brentwood, Rock Hill, Fenton, Webster Groves, Kirkwood, University City, Maplewood, Shrewsbury, Affton, Eureka, Mehlville, Valley Park, Maryland Heights, Richmond Heights, Hazelwood, Florissant, Ballwin, Crestwood, Ellisville, Glendale, Central West End, Soulard, Dogtown, The Hill, Delmar Loop, Saint Charles, O’Fallon, Lake Saint Louis, St. Louis County, St. Louis City, and St. Charles County.
The choice of an attorney is an important decision and is not to be made solely on the basis of advertising. Accessing or the use of this website does not create an attorney-client relationship with Hais, Hais, Goldberger & Coyne P.C. Confidential or time sensitive information should not be sent through the use of this website. This website is intended to provide the reader with a general understanding about select legal topics, not to provide legal advice or opinion. You should consult with an attorney before using any information contained on this site. The images contained on this website are intended to provide graphical representation of family law issues, and do not depict actual clients or parties. Please be aware that the facts and circumstances of your case may differ from those of the cases from which these results and testimonials have been drawn. Not all cases handled by HHGC are included in these results and not all clients have provided testimonials. The results and testimonials provided herein are not necessarily representative of all clients’ results or of the experience of all clients of the HHGC Law Firm. Each case is different, and every case must be evaluated and handled on its own merits.
Susan Hais 