Las Vegas Injury Attorney Blog
It doesn’t take long to get a divorce in Nevada, and U.S. Census statistics confirm it. According to the U.S. Census, Nevada has the highest divorce rate in the country at 6.7 divorces per every 1,000 people as of 2009. While the divorce rate indicates that it does not take long to get a divorce in Nevada, the actual length of a divorce case varies because it depends on how many issues are involved and the time it takes to resolve them.
So, if you and your soon-to-be-former spouse agree on all points of the divorce, your divorce should go quickly. However, if you both have disputes over certain issues, it’s possible that the official dissolution of your marriage may be delayed.
Following are four top issues that can put the brakes on getting a quick divorce:
Child custody
For some couples, negotiating child custody is the most difficult and intense part of the divorce. Splitting bank accounts, dividing property, and deciding who takes the furniture are not nearly as complicated as negotiating a shared parenting agreement. You and your spouse must agree on specifics regarding your minor children, such as living arrangements, visitation and child support payments for the non-custodial parent before divorce proceedings can move forward.
Child Support
While many parents are willing to financially support their children, the main problem is the amount of money they are expected to pay on a monthly basis. The more minor children that are involved, the more emotional the arguments become, particularly by the parent who is ordered to make the monthly payments.
Spousal Support
Just as a parent asks for child support, a spouse may ask for financial support from the other spouse. While a husband may ask for spousal support, it’s usually the wife who asks for money until she can get on her feet financially after the divorce. A judge may order the spouse who has the highest income to pay alimony; in many cases, it’s on a temporary basis. For instance, a wife who is a stay-at-home mother may need time to go back to school to learn a skill or to refresh her skills in order to enter the workforce. What may delay the divorce proceeding is working out a spousal support agreement that satisfies both parties.
When a Spouse Can’t Be Found
There are times when a spouse cannot be served with a divorce summons because he or she has moved out of town without leaving a forwarding address. Nevada divorce laws require the plaintiff (the spouse filing for divorce) to serve papers on his or her spouse. The law further requires plaintiffs who cannot find their spouses to serve them notice by publishing the summons of divorce in a local newspaper of general circulation for at least four weeks as well as sending the notice by mail to the defendant’s last-known address. This action shows the court that plaintiffs did what they could to track down their spouses in order to notify them about the divorce.
Divorces in Nevada can move along quickly but when you’re going through an emotionally charged time in your life, you want to feel as if you are more than just another number added to the state’s divorce rate. The family law attorneys at Hofland & Tomsheck understand what you are going through and will give you the time and attention that your case deserves. Our experienced Nevada divorce attorneys will help you work through every issue in your divorce and ensure that your rights are protected in all aspects of the divorce proceedings.
Initial consultations with our divorce attorneys are free. Contact us today to discover how we can help you.