Divorce statutes are different in every state, although many relatively mirror each other. However, Mississippi has some of the most unique statutes in the nation. People preparing for divorce in Mississippi may be unsure of what to expect from the process, especially if they only know generic information gleaned from popular media.
They may be unsure about whether they qualify for an uncontested divorce or if they have enough evidence for a fault-based divorce. They may also wonder how much the process costs and how long it takes to legally end a marriage.
Divorce is notorious for lasting far longer than people expect. What is the typical timeline for divorce in Mississippi?
Divorce takes months or longer to complete
There’s no such thing as a weekend divorce in Mississippi. Instead, spouses have to complete a mandatory waiting period before they can move forward with the divorce process. Even in scenarios where both spouses agree on all of the details about the terms of the divorce, they have to wait at least 60 days after filing the paperwork for an uncontested no-fault divorce to finalize the process.
In a fault-based or litigated divorce, the process is likely to take substantially longer. Spouses have to wait for a hearing in family court. The need to present evidence to the courts and to allow a judge to review everything could mean that the divorce process requires more than a year to complete in complex cases.
People generally need to have realistic expectations about what occurs during divorce. Understanding the timeline for a Mississippi divorce can help people temper their expectations. Spouses who cooperate can pursue faster no-fault divorces, while litigation in contested cases is naturally a slower process.