What can I expect from a contested divorce?

What can I expect from a contested divorce?

With a contested divorce, spouses will have to go through numerous steps before the divorce is finalized, including: prepare, file, and serve (deliver) the divorce petition (legal paperwork asking for the divorce and stating the grounds for the breakdown of the marriage) respond to the petition.

How long can a contested divorce last?

The average cost of a contested divorce is $5,000 per spouse, and takes about 6 months. Some contested divorces can cost $15,000 or more per spouse and take 12 months or longer. Here is the basic process of a contested divorce. One spouse hires a divorce lawyer to file divorce documents with the court to open the case.

Who pays for a contested divorce?

As a general rule, a wife cannot force her husband to pay for their divorce. Each party in the divorce action pays for his or her attorney fees and costs. However, there are circumstances in which a judge may order a husband to pay the wife’s attorney fees and costs.

Can you refuse divorce?

Refusing to sign divorce papers within the 30-day window in California will result in a default divorce. The judge will grant the petitioner’s divorce request without holding a trial, since the respondent never filed a motion to contest the petition.

What happens if one person doesn’t want to get divorced?

Uncontested Divorce If you properly served the divorce petition and your spouse filed an uncontested response, but won’t sign off on the final divorce papers, courts in some states may allow the case to proceed as though it’s uncontested. You may wait to be assigned a court appearance date.

What can I do if my husband refuses to divorce?

If one of the spouse is not ready to give divorce at any cost, then the remedy for the other spouse is to file a petition for divorce before the court. However, a divorce can only be granted under certain prescribed circumstances under Hindu Law which are described in Section 13 of the Hindu Marriage Act.