Photo by Max Bender on Unsplash

The decision to file for divorce is not one to be taken lightly, however, if you come to the decision to move forward with your life, then it is best at this point in the year to file sooner rather than later.  The divorce process is intentionally designed by the Michigan Legislature to be a slow process.  This is because it is our State's official public policy to encourage couples to get married and to discourage divorce.  This blog is written to generally address the question of whether one should file for divorce now that the the holidays are over or wait until spring, summer or some other date.  If you have any particular questions, please do not hesitate to contact us to schedule a consultation by clicking on this link or calling (248) 608-4123.

Should I File For Divorce Now That The Holidays Are Over?

The frank answer is yes, you should file for divorce as soon as possible at this point particularly if you have children or own your home.  There is a sixty-day waiting period between the date you file a complaint for divorce with the court and the date a divorce can be granted in all family law cases in Michigan.  In cases that involve children, there is a six-month waiting period before a judge is technically allowed to grant a judgment of divorce.  Aside from those statutory waiting periods, most divorces do take at least six months to a year or more if the case is complicated or goes to trial.

If you have children you will want to get divorced before the end of the summer so that you can get new housing and have the children situated for school to start in fall.  If you own your own home, in most cases, the home is not put on the market for sale until after the divorce is finalized.  Typically the housing market is more active during the spring and summer months so you would want to file as soon as possible in order to get the house on the market in that time-frame.  Finally, as a practical matter, January through March are the more miserable months to be living in Michigan due to the weather, so it makes sense to take care of the divorce during these months so that you are free to move on with your life come summertime.

This blog was written to very generally address when to file for divorce, however, it is not a decision that should be taken lightly.  If you have questions or concerns about your own situation, please contact us to schedule a consultation by clicking on this link or calling (248) 608-4123.