Divorce with children is rarely fast. Custody, time-sharing, parenting plans, school transitions — it all adds emotional and legal complexity. If you’re wondering how long it takes, here’s a realistic, court-backed breakdown of what to expect and how to speed it up.
The Fastest It Can Go (Uncontested)
- Filing + Service: 2–3 weeks
- 30-day waiting period (varies by state)
- Parenting class completion
- Uncontested final hearing or judgment: 1–3 months total
If you and your co-parent agree on all terms — including custody — and file clean paperwork, the process can move quickly. But that’s rare.
The More Common Timeline (Contested)
- Petition Filed: 0–1 week
- Service + Response: 1–4 weeks
- Mandatory Parenting Class: within 45 days
- Financial Disclosures: within 45 days of service
- Mediation or Case Management: 2–6 months after filing
- Temporary Custody Hearings (if needed): varies by urgency
- Trial Scheduled: often 6–12 months after filing
- Final Judgment: 8–18 months depending on delays, complexity, and court backlog
What Slows It Down
- Disagreements over custody, holidays, school schedules
- Failure to submit financials on time
- Multiple attorneys, motions, or changes in representation
- High-conflict co-parenting behavior
What Speeds It Up
- Structured evidence: use the Splitifi Custody Log
- Clean, complete filings: use the AI assistant to draft and track everything
- Avoid drama in messages — stay boring and consistent
- Document missed exchanges, school issues, or false claims neutrally
The Emotional Timeline Is Different
Even after the final judgment, co-parenting tension, transitions, and emotional fallout continue. Give yourself grace — and give your child stability. That’s the timeline that matters most.
Splitifi stays with you before, during, and after the judgment — because timelines don’t end when the papers are signed. They reset.
