Many divorces end amicably, with both parties agreeing that separation is best and working cooperatively through the divorce process. Some divorces are not so friendly. A contested divorce is any divorce where the former spouses are unable to come to an agreement about one or more aspects of the divorce. Contested divorces are longer, more stressful, and more costly than a typical divorce.
A contested divorce is a legal separation proceeding in which one or more issue is being argued over. Issues that may cause a contested divorce include child custody, alimony amount, visitation privileges, asset division, or child support.Â
How long a contested divorce takes to resolve depends on several factors. If both parties are willing to compromise on the issues being contested, then the divorce could take a few months. However, if neither party is willing to concede any ground, the contested divorce could take years to finalize as each issue is exhaustively litigated through either mediation or court decisions.
A contested divorce can cost thousands to tens of thousands of dollars. The factors that impact the costs of a contested divorce include court fees, attorney’s costs, filing fees, and mediation fees. The longer a contested divorce goes on for, the more costly it will be for all parties involved.