Pros and Cons of a Long Divorce in Arizona: How Case Length Affects Your Future

Pros and Cons of a Long Divorce in Arizona: How Case Length Affects Your Future

When your Arizona divorce seems to drag on, it is natural to wonder whether more time is helping you or just making everything harder. Understanding the pros and cons of a long divorce can help you sort out what is within your control, what is not, and how case length can affect your money, your children, and your ability to move forward.

What Is Considered a “Long Divorce” in Arizona?

In Arizona, every divorce has a built‑in delay, because the court cannot finalize your case until at least 60 days after your spouse is served. Many simple, uncontested divorces are finished within a few months after that point. When a case continues well beyond this basic window, most people begin to feel like they are in a “long divorce.”

As a general guide, a divorce that is still going six months or more after filing is often considered long for Arizona families, especially when the issues are not very complex. When a case stretches past a year, it usually means there are serious disputes over property, spousal maintenance, or child custody and parenting time. Those are the kinds of cases where the pros and cons of getting a divorce through full litigation become very real.

A long divorce is not only about the calendar. It also reflects how much energy, money, and attention the case is pulling from your daily life. Two cases may have the same filing date, yet the one still juggling frequent court dates, temporary orders, and ongoing discovery a year later is clearly in a long, drawn‑out process that touches almost every part of the divorce experience.

Arizona Divorce Timeline: How Long Cases Usually Take

Every Arizona divorce follows a general rhythm, although no two families are exactly alike. After one spouse files and the other is served, there is a mandatory 60 day waiting period before the court can sign a final decree. That is the legal minimum; however, very few divorces actually finish that quickly.

For many couples with no children and straightforward property issues, an uncontested divorce may wrap up in about three to four months. This often happens when both sides exchange basic financial information, agree on terms, and sign a written settlement without fighting over the details.

When spouses disagree about parenting time, child support, or how to divide a house, retirement accounts, or a business, the timeline stretches. Contested cases often run six months to a year, and high conflict divorces can last even longer if there are many hearings, evaluations, or disputes over temporary orders.

The path you choose in your divorce shapes how long the process takes and how the pros and cons of getting a divorce show up in daily life. Mediation, early settlement talks, and focused negotiations tend to shorten the process, while full litigation and trial usually lead to a longer, more demanding Arizona divorce timeline.

Potential Pros of a Long Divorce in Arizona

It can feel unusual to talk about any “pros” of a long divorce, because most people want the process to be over as soon as possible. Still, in some Arizona cases, taking more time can help you reach a more stable and informed outcome. A longer case can give you and your lawyer room to fully understand your spouse’s income, debts, and property, especially when there are businesses, rental homes, or complicated retirement accounts involved. With more time to request records, take depositions, and work with financial experts, you may be better able to protect your share under Arizona’s community property rules.

A long divorce can also help when there are serious questions about child custody and parenting time. Extra months allow you to gather school records, counseling reports, and witness statements that show how each parent handles daily care, homework, and medical needs. This can make it easier for the court, or for both parents in settlement talks, to design a parenting plan that reflects how your children actually live and what they need.

Emotionally, a slower pace can sometimes be a benefit as well. When the decision to end a marriage is fresh, people may react from anger or fear and agree to things they later regret. A longer process can give you space to adjust to the idea of divorce, talk with a counselor if you choose, and think through the long-term pros and cons of getting a divorce before signing final papers.

Finally, a drawn-out case can, in some situations, create leverage for settlement. As both sides see the true cost, stress, and time involved, they may become more willing to compromise. That shift can open the door to a carefully negotiated agreement that feels fair and durable, rather than a rushed decision made in the heat of the moment.

Serious Cons of a Drawn-Out Divorce Process

While a long divorce may have some potential upsides, the downsides are real and can reach into almost every part of your life. One of the biggest cons is the financial cost of a prolonged divorce. In Arizona, every extra month often means more attorney’s fees, more expert costs, and more missed work for court dates. Even smaller tasks, such as responding to extra discovery requests or preparing for another status conference, begin to add up. By the time a case has been going for a year or more, some families find that tens of thousands of dollars have gone into the case instead of into savings, college funds, or a new home.

The emotional toll of a long divorce can be just as heavy. It is hard to heal when you keep getting new court papers, hearing dates, or tense emails from your spouse. Many people report ongoing stress and anxiety, trouble sleeping, and difficulty staying focused at work because the case never seems to end. That stress can also affect friendships and support systems, since it becomes harder to talk about anything other than the divorce.

A lengthy divorce can affect children in powerful ways as well. When parents stay locked in conflict, kids may feel like they are stuck in the middle. They might face more schedule changes, questions about where they will live, or worry that loving one parent will upset the other. Over time, this uncertainty can show up as school problems, changes in behavior, or physical symptoms such as headaches or stomachaches.

Finally, a drawn-out divorce keeps you from fully stepping into the next chapter of your life. It may delay decisions about where you will live, whether you can buy a home, or how you will arrange your work schedule around a new parenting plan. When you think about the overall pros and cons of getting a divorce, the length and weight of the process itself is an important factor to consider.

Common Reasons Arizona Divorces Take So Long

When an Arizona divorce drags on, it is usually because there are real problems to untangle, not because the court wants to make life harder. One common reason is high conflict between spouses. If you and your spouse cannot agree on basic issues such as legal decision-making, parenting time, or who gets to stay in the home, every step can require motions, hearings, and back-and-forth proposals.

Complex property can also slow cases down. Arizona is a community property state, so the court must decide what belongs to the community and what is separate. That process takes time when there are businesses, multiple homes, investment accounts, or questions about hidden assets. Valuing a closely held company or sorting out retirement benefits often requires experts and extra discovery.

Delays may also come from the system itself. Family court calendars are crowded, so it can take months to get a trial date or even a longer hearing. If someone changes lawyers in the middle of the case, misses deadlines, or tries to handle a contested divorce without legal help, the timeline can stretch even further.

All of these factors add layers of cost and stress, and they shape how the pros and cons of getting a divorce feel in your day-to-day life.

When a Longer Divorce May Be Worth It

Even with the stress and cost, there are times when staying in a longer divorce process may be in your best interest. In Arizona, this is often true when safety and stability are major concerns. If there are serious issues such as domestic violence, substance abuse, or neglect, taking more time can allow the court to gather detailed information, order evaluations, and put stronger protections in place for you and your children.

A longer divorce can also be worth it when your financial picture is complex. If you believe your spouse is hiding income, moving money, or undervaluing a business, you may need extra months for subpoenas, depositions, and expert reports. That work can be slow, yet it often matters a great deal when dividing community property and deciding spousal maintenance.

In these situations, the question is not only how fast you can finish, but whether you are getting a fair and lasting result. Sometimes, accepting a longer timeline is the tradeoff that leads to a more secure future after divorce.

When It Makes Sense to Settle Your Arizona Divorce Sooner

Not every divorce needs to turn into a long court battle. In many Arizona cases, settling sooner makes more sense than staying in a drawn-out process. This is especially true when you and your spouse agree on the basics, such as where the children will live, how parenting time will work, and how to divide most of your property. If there are no serious safety concerns or signs of hidden assets, the extra time and money spent fighting may not change the outcome.

Settling early can also be wise when the cost of litigation would eat up much of what you are arguing about. For example, if the difference between two property proposals is a few thousand dollars, yet a trial would cost much more than that, pushing forward may not be worth it. A quicker settlement lets you control more of the terms, lower the level of stress, and start rebuilding your life sooner.

When you weigh the pros and cons of getting a divorce, peace of mind and stability often have real value.

How to Avoid an Unnecessarily Long Divorce in Arizona

You cannot control everything about your Arizona divorce timeline, but you can take steps to lower the risk of a case dragging on. One of the most effective way is to get organized early. Gather bank statements, tax returns, pay stubs, mortgage information, and retirement account records before they are requested. When both spouses provide full and honest financial disclosure, there is less need for extra discovery and fewer delays.

It also helps to focus on your main priorities instead of every small disagreement. If you and your spouse can agree on basic parenting time, legal decision-making, and a general approach to dividing property, you are already closer to settlement. Mediation or other forms of alternative dispute resolution can turn those outlines into a detailed agreement without months of extra court hearings.

Finally, work to manage conflict outside the courtroom. Limit arguments by text or social media, and consider counseling or a parenting app to keep communication calm. When you stay focused on your goals, you are more likely to reach a resolution that balances the pros and cons of getting a divorce without an unnecessarily long, stressful process.

How Strong Law Helps You Balance Speed and Fairness

When you work with Strong Law on an Arizona divorce, the goal is not simply to finish as fast as possible or to fight over every point. The team helps you understand how different choices, such as mediation, settlement conferences, or full litigation, can change the length of your case and the final outcome. In early strategy meetings, you can review your main priorities, your financial picture, and any concerns about your children, so you can decide where extra time and effort will truly matter.

Strong Law also helps you stay organized, which can reduce delays. Clear guidance on gathering financial documents, answering discovery, and preparing for hearings can keep your case moving, even when there are contested issues. At the same time, the attorneys explain the likely pros and cons of getting a divorce through a longer process compared with a quicker settlement.

With that information, you are better able to choose a path that balances the need for a fair result with your desire to move forward with your life.

Frequently Asked Questions About Long Divorces in Arizona

1. How long is “too long” for a divorce in Arizona?

There is no strict legal rule for what counts as “too long.” However, if your case has been open for more than a year with little progress, it is reasonable to treat it as a long divorce and to look closely at why it is taking so much time.

2. Does a longer divorce usually mean a better outcome?

Not necessarily. Extra time can sometimes help when there are complex finances or serious parenting concerns that need to be sorted out. But simply spending more months in court does not guarantee a better result. Longer cases often mean higher legal fees, more stress, and more uncertainty. It is important to talk with a lawyer about whether the extra time is truly helping your case.

3. Can I do anything to speed up a slow divorce?

Often, yes. You may be able to move things along by:

• Responding to court and attorney requests on time
• Staying open to settlement talks or mediation
• Focusing on the main issues instead of side disputes

These steps can sometimes shorten the process and reduce conflict.

4. How does a long divorce affect children?

Many parents worry about this, and for good reason. Children usually do better when:

• They have clear routines
• There is less conflict between parents

If your divorce has turned into a long, tense process, it may be time to review your options and weigh the pros and cons of continuing litigation versus finding a way to resolve the case more quickly.