Getting Cold Feet During a Divorce

Divorce is a significant life event, often accompanied by a myriad of emotions and uncertainties. Whether at the outset of your divorce case or towards the end, you may become overwhelmed with the situation. Fortunately, in many cases, there is substantial time available to process, reflect, and work towards a final decision of divorce or reconciliation. Time can often be of the essence, so communicating with your attorney is of the utmost importance.

Navigating the Divorce Timeline

In King County, the court provides an automatically generated case schedule once a divorce petition is filed. This schedule outlines important dates and deadlines leading up to the trial. In most other counties, there is no specific case schedule that outlines every deadline or trial date. However, understanding even timelines for divorce is crucial for ensuring that your case progresses smoothly.

• Filing and Service: Upon filing for divorce, you’ll need to serve the case to get it started. It’s okay to delay filing and service in many situations to determine if this is truly the best step for your life.
  
  
• Discovery and Motions: There is a discovery deadline in many counties that requires you to complete information exchange by a certain date. Fortunately, in many scenarios that deadline is often far off giving ample time to discuss options for your divorce.
  
  
• Extensions and Continuances: If you find that you need more time at any stage, it's possible to request extensions or continuances. However, these requests must be made in accordance with court rules and justified adequately.

Moving Forward or Reconciliation

Eventually, you will need to decide about moving forward with the divorce or working towards reconciliation. This decision should be based on careful consideration of your circumstances, emotional readiness, and the best interests of any children involved. Either way, communicating with your attorney is very important. Your attorney understands the deadlines of your case and the best practice to achieve the best results. Ignoring your attorney’s attempted communication or failing to describe your needs is a surefire way to create obstacles in your case.

Hiring an Attorney for Your Divorce

At Magnuson Lowell, P.S., we are here to support you through every phase of your divorce. Our free telephone evaluation is designed to help you understand your options and determine if we are the right fit for your needs. Remember, it's okay to have cold feet during this process, but being aware of the necessary timelines and legal requirements will help you navigate your divorce more effectively. Whether you move forward or work towards reconciliation, we are here to guide you every step of the way.

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