Going through the divorce process can feel like forever, but it is especially lengthy for those attempting to get a divorce in Los Angeles County. Backlogs affecting California superior courts are causing divorce cases to last up to six months or longer, according to the Daily Journal.

Delays are affecting divorcing couples who have already agreed to a settlement or are awaiting a stipulated judgment.

Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, Sacramento, San Luis Obispo and San Mateo counties are being hit the hardest with lag time. In Los Angeles, divorce cases are taking about three months or more to be finalized. Divorces in Sacramento County are dragging on for more than four months, with about 1,200 stipulated judgments that have yet to be entered. Couples in Santa Barbara and San Mateo counties are experiencing lag time of more than six months to get a divorce.

What Does This Mean for Your Divorce Case?

Court congestion in California will cause your divorce case to lag and prevent you from taking the steps necessary to move on with your life. Although the lengthy delays will likely not directly affect the outcome of your case, they can impact your personal life, business and finances.

If you are waiting for your divorce to be finalized, you will be unable to refinance your home or finalize a home loan. The delays are also preventing people from moving out of state with their children until a final judgment is made. If you legally changed your name, you will be unable to remove your spouse’s last name until your divorce is final, which can be troublesome for those holding professional licenses.

The wait is also causing workloads to pile up for family law attorneys and causing their clients to grow frustrated. However, an experienced divorce lawyer will be able to look for ways to resolve your case quickly while still obtaining the best possible outcome.

Can You Speed Up the Divorce Process?

The divorce process is frustrating, and delays only make going through a divorce more stressful. While there are some opportunities to speed up your divorce, the backlog of cases is greatly reducing the chances of getting a quick divorce.

In Santa Barbara, clerks will grant requests to expedite the divorce process. Divorcing couples in Sacramento can pay their attorneys to attend an expedited hearing to speed up their divorce. The court will also respond quicker to people that claim they are broke. However, the Los Angeles court makes it nearly impossible to get a timely divorce.

The court in Los Angeles will rarely honor requests to speed up the process, a stark contrast from three years ago when the court would grant expedited judgments about 90 percent of the time.

Don’t Wait to Start Your Divorce in Los Angeles

The delayed divorce process may cause you to hold off on your divorce. However, the best solution is to get started with your divorce case immediately. At Wallin & Klarich, our knowledgeable family law attorneys have been helping our clients obtain the best result possible in their family law cases for over 30 years. We have the experience necessary to help you prepare for the divorce process so you can get a speedy resolution.

Our offices are located in Orange County, San Bernardino, Los Angeles, Torrance, Riverside, West Covina, Victorville, Ventura, San Diego and Sherman Oaks so that our skilled divorce attorneys can help you no matter where you work or live.

Call our offices at (888) 749-7428 for a free phone consultation. We will be there when you call.