How quickly can my divorce go?

Divorce is generally not an enjoyable process, so it is natural that most people want to get the process over with as quickly as possible. However, in California there are some laws that address the minimum amount of time a divorce must take.

This may be frustrating, but there are good reasons for these laws to exist. According to Psychology Today, divorce in California has to take a minimum of six months plus one day.

Why is there a mandated delay?

The reason why the state of California mandates this delay is to give couples time to think about whether or not they really wish to divorce. Sometimes, couples resort to divorce prior to attempting to work out their issues. This mandated cooling off period does help some couples decide that divorce is not actually the right solution for them.

Even if you are absolutely positive that divorce is the right course of action for you, having a mandatory waiting period means that you will not rush through the process.

Why should I take my time?

It is more likely that you will make poor decisions if you rush through divorce. Since divorce is such an emotional process in addition to being a legal process, it is possible that negative emotions will affect your decision-making. For instance, most people report feeling various types of negative emotions during their divorce, such as grief, anger, sadness and depression.

These feelings are natural, but it is best to give yourself the time to be emotionally stable so you can make rational decisions regarding things like custody of your children and your financial future.