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What is the Fastest Way to Get Unhitched?
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Sep 2008
What do you do if that looming divorce just keeps dragging? Perhaps the two of you can't agree on child support or the division of property. Maybe it's alimony that's causing the eternal delay. At some point, being considered "married" in the eyes of the law can start to interfere with moving on.
That's exactly why it might be time to explore an option like out-of-state divorce. Or even out-of-country divorce. Or follow in the footsteps of Les Moonves, CBS network head and Viacom co-president, who petitioned the court to speed things up.
In December 2004, Moonves appeared in a Los Angeles court. His request? Not to contest a parking ticket but to dissolve his marital status. Moonves' divorce from his spouse of 24 years, Nancy, had been dragging on for nearly two years. He wanted marital status to be separated from the rest of the issues and decided on in isolation.
Tired of waiting, Moonves' motion cited a "desire to return to the status of being single." Moonves foresaw a lengthy trial to settle the property and other issues. He argued that "terminating the marital status will aid in promoting settlement of this matter," and the judge gave his request the stamp of approval.
But, his desire for the swinging, single life didn't last long. Thirteen days after his court appearance, Moonves, 55, married 34-year old CBS anchor Julie Chen. Their quickie wedding ceremony took place in Acapulco on December 23, 2004.
The good news is you don't have to be a billionaire or head of a TV network to do the same thing. Your marriage might have left you with complex issues. For this very reason, many states will enter a judgment of dissolution as to marital status. This means you and your former spouse can work out remaining issues at a later date. And perhaps some high emotions might be calmed by then.
However, seeking a dissolution judgment shouldn't necessarily be a first step. This separation of issues only tends to speed things up for those who are expecting an unusually complicated and lengthy divorce. Most states have relatively long "cooling off" periods, ranging from three to six months. This means the earliest a court could dissolve marital status would be after the required waiting period.
But appearing in court wasn't Moonves' only speedy option. He could have rushed the process earlier by divorcing outside of California. While most states have residency requirements or long cooling-off periods, a few states offer a quick out.
Nevada isn't just the home of the drive-through wedding chapel. It's also the best state for a quickie divorce. When both parties agree on all the issues and file a joint petition, a Nevada divorce can be granted in as little as a week. The only glitch? Nevada does require in-state residency for at least six weeks prior to filing.
In the 1950's, a number of Hollywood movie stars popularized Nevada dude ranches to party and vacation while waiting out a quickie divorce. So, a six-week Vegas vacation could be just the choice to hurry up your divorce and celebrate singlehood all at once.
If six weeks is still too long, there are other options for the more adventurous divorce-seeker. Quickie divorces are available to U.S. citizens in a number of countries, including Guam and the Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic has no residency requirements. However, one party is required to attend the divorce hearing. A Dominican divorce can be processed start-to-finish in as little as 24 hours. The main reason couples don't explore this option? Many states may not recognize Dominican divorces.
Guam could be the overseas divorce paradise. If both parties agree and sign a "consent to jurisdiction" form, a Guam divorce can be finalized in a few days. An added bonus is neither party has to leave the states. Guam technically has a 90-day residency requirement. But thanks to loopholes, this requirement can usually be avoided. The best part is that Guam falls under U.S. jurisdiction. This means your divorce will be recognized as valid in any of the fifty states.
Foreign countries like Mexico and Haiti are no longer ideal for divorce. Mexico used to be a jump across the border for divorce. Now, Mexico enforces strict residency requirements. And Haiti, a once-popular quickie divorce spot, has been crossed from the list. One of the parties must appear in court to obtain a Haitian divorce. And in today's political climate, traveling to that part of the world is too dangerous.
So, getting unhitched doesn't have to unhitch your life. There's no reason to be trapped by your state's due process. And disagreements between you and your spouse don't have to keep you from settling marital status separately. A quickie divorce only means trying to legally reflect what has already happened in your life.
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Comments
Submitted by on Feb 25, 2010 - 8:19AM
My husband and I separated 14 years ago after 21 years of
marriage. I am not interested in re-marrying, however, I would like to be able to move on with my life. He is a
Vietnam Veteran with many mental problems. Recently, he told me he would never consent to a divorce. Is there any
place (preferably the United States) where I can divorce him
without his signature or knowledge?
Submitted by on May 17, 2010 - 4:28PM
how much and how fast can i get a uncontested guam divorce
Submitted by on May 27, 2010 - 10:43AM
Hi Pamela, we do offer uncontested Divorce documents, but unfortunately at this time we only offer them in the 50 US states. You may wish to contact an attorney in your area to assist you.
Submitted by on Jun 1, 2010 - 11:42AM
I married in New Zealand. Married for almost 5 yr. We both lived in Texas together for about i yr. He is a New Zealander and lives there I am here in Texas. I want to file here. Can I file for a divorce in Texas since I was married in New Zealand??
Submitted by on Jun 16, 2010 - 5:26PM
Hi Mary, that’s a great question. Please note that while we can't advise you on your situation, we do offer Uncontested Divorce documents on our web site. To learn more about this service, please refer to the following link: http://www.legalzoom.com/legal-divorce/divorce-overview.html. If you would prefer to search for an attorney, we can help you find an attorney to assist and advise you. Simply refer to http://attorneyconnect.legalzoom.com
Submitted by on Dec 19, 2010 - 7:04PM
My husband and i entered into a covenant marriage in Louisiana. After 6 weeks i realized that this marriage was over. While i realize that i could get an annullment, i do not want to embarrass him. How can i get divorced without waiting 2 years?
Submitted by on Jan 7, 2011 - 11:24AM
Hello, thanks for your question. Do keep in mind that LegalZoom is not a law firm thus cannot give you legal advice, however we offer uncontested divorces where both spouses are in agreement. For more information, please give us a call (1-800-773-0888, 6am-7pm PST, M-F) or send us an email (psinfo@legalzoom.com) if you have questions. To search for an attorney for legal guidance, you may refer to http://attorneyconnect.legalzoom.com
Submitted by on Jan 28, 2011 - 3:28PM
I got married over 5 years ago while in the navy, after just two years I had had enough. We have been separated for over 3 years. I would like to know if there is any way that I can get the divorce without her, and me not leaving the states because she doesn't want the divorce.
Submitted by on Feb 6, 2011 - 11:28AM
I am wanting to get a divorce. when we got married he was incarcerated and i was pressured to do so because I had now where else to go. During that time I consummated our marriage with another man. I asked for an annulment but I think that it is to late for that now. After about 3 years he came home we tried to make it work but it didn't last 2 months I left him in fear of my life. Had to get an exparte on him from his threats and had to log everything. after living in fear for so long I left the state so I could have some sanity, and he got locked back up. Now he is out again and I am ready to move on with my life. We are both now in separate states how do we start this? He said he would grant it to me but won't file, I have never done this and I don't even know where to start. I need some guidance in making this happen quickly. I am in love and we are wanting to get married as soon as possible.......Help!!!!!
Submitted by on Feb 22, 2011 - 12:54PM
Could Legal Zoom assist me in getting a quick divorce in Guam? If so how much would it cost for an uncontested divorce there? I currently live in North Carolina and my spouse and I would like to be divorced. In North Carolina you have to live separate for 1 full year before you can even file for divorce. We really don't want to wait that long. Thank you for your assistance.
Submitted by on Apr 2, 2011 - 6:21PM
If a Haitian born was married in Haiti and then moves to the US and becomes a US citizen, can they get a divorce in the US?
Submitted by on Apr 20, 2011 - 7:32AM
Hi Jean, this is a great question! As long as the person is a U.S. resident, LegalZoom can assist in preparing all the documents one would need to file for an uncontested divorce in their local county court. To obtain more info. about the general divorce process through LegalZoom, you may refer to http://www.legalzoom.com/divorce-guide/divorce-introduction.htmlYou may also give us a call (1-800-773-0888, 6am-7pm PST, M-F) or send us an email (psinfo@legalzoom.com) if you have more questions.
Submitted by on Dec 1, 2011 - 7:26AM
I live in S.C and would like to know how long after a divorce,am I still responsable for bills if my exwife go in a home care facility?
Submitted by on Dec 12, 2011 - 12:56PM
I was married in August of 2002 in California and have been separated since December of 2002. My ex has been out of the U.S. since July of 2003 and has since been living with a woman and has a child with her in his country. Can I get an annulment? Should I get an annulment or a divorce? I have no contact with him or know his exact whereabouts...
Submitted by on Feb 4, 2012 - 11:54AM
I live in Canada, but am a United States citizen, Landed Immigrant here.Been in Sask. for over 30 years
Have not slept together for 20 plus years, seperate bedrooms.
No children at home, no arguement about assets, how quickly can I get a divorce?
Submitted by on Feb 23, 2012 - 7:07AM
Thanks for contacting LegalZoom. LegalZoom makes creating legal documents easy and affordable, but since we're not a law firm, we can't give specific legal advice regarding your divorce. However, you can get free legal advice on the LegalZoom Facebook page every Friday and Tuesday. Check out Free Joe: http://zoo.mn/FreeJoe. If you would like more information on our divorce documents, you may also wish to visit https://www.legalzoom.com/legal-divorce/divorce-overview.html or give one of our agents a call at 1-800-962-7490.
Submitted by on Jul 2, 2012 - 10:59AM
I have been reading your documents and replies, but I want to make sure this is all up to date. I currently reside in California and want to divorce as soon as possible and pursue marriage with a woman from Greece. What is my best option to get this divorce as soon as possible. I have not slept with my wife for nearly 10 years. My life is awful. Please help if you can? Also, I don't have unlimited funds, but I would entertain all my options.
Submitted by on Jul 13, 2012 - 1:57PM
Thank you for contact LegalZoom! Currently LegalZoom assists with uncontested divorces. Feel free to give us a call (1-800-773-0888, 6am-7pm PST, M-F) or send us an email (psinfo@legalzoom.com) for more details. You can also get more information or start the process by visiting: http://www.legalzoom.com/legal-divorce/divorce-overview.html
Submitted by on Jul 10, 2012 - 3:07AM
My husband and I are serving in Kenya but wish for a quick uncontested divorce through Guam. Can you help with the paperwork and process? We own nothing together and have no children together. If so, what is the cost and steps?
Submitted by on Jul 18, 2012 - 12:15PM
Thank you for contacting LegalZoom. While we make creating legal documents easy and affordable, we unfortunately do not offer divorce services in Guam. However, feel free to get free legal advice on the LegalZoom Facebook page every Tuesday and Friday. Check out Free Joe: http://zoo.mn/FreeJoe.
Submitted by on Aug 3, 2012 - 6:40PM
Hi, my wife has pretty much abandoned me and my 3 year old. We've been split up for 8 months now. She is in a nearby town going to Job Corps. She only went there to get away from our beautiful daughter and have a free place to stay(which my taxes pay for btw) but I know she wont admit that in court. Its been 8 months and she has not called and talked to her daughter at all in 8 months. She has seen her since then a few times, but thats only because she was visiting her parents and her parents wanted to see her. Im afraid to get the divorce because what if she changes her mind and wants custody after all this? Im sure that all she has to say is that she went to Job Corps and changed, or just deny abandoning our daughter. I live in a state where they always take the womans side. What should I do?
Submitted by on Aug 10, 2012 - 7:57AM
Hi Josh - Thank you for contacting LegalZoom. While we cannot offer legal advice on this matter, we may be able to help you find an attorney who can assist and advise you through our Legal Advantage Plus plan! Please visit https://www.legalzoom.com/attorneys-lawyers/legal-plans/personal.html for more details.
Submitted by on Jan 4, 2013 - 7:18AM
Do you recommend a divorce or annulment for an 18 year old female that married, lived with him for only a week and both parties are wanting to dissolve the marriage? There is no property or children involved.
Submitted by on Jan 16, 2013 - 5:11PM
we juat want to be divorced. we have childsupport and cuatody already figured out just want to make it official. help!!!!
Please note that we can’t answer legal questions in the article comments. If you have a specific legal question, click here to connect with an attorney.