What If My Spouse Is Delaying Divorce?
In the state of Florida, you do not have to obtain your spouse’s permission to access a divorce. That said, there are plenty of situations in which one person wants to end the marriage and the other has doubts and worries about embarking on this major life change. If a person does not want to divorce, they may do things to slow down the process, essentially delaying the divorce.
If you are becoming frustrated because you believe your spouse is intentionally delaying divorce, talk to an Orlando divorce lawyer. There are ways to manage delay tactics and make progress on a divorce agreement.
Slowing Negotiations with Outrageous Requests
A common stalling tactic is to be difficult during a negotiation process. An individual may make demands that are outrageous, making it impossible to have a give and take throughout the negotiation process. While you can file papers to divorce without your spouse’s cooperation, it is often best to continue the negotiating process and slowly drill down on their key priorities. Your attorney can have these discussions with your spouse’s attorney, so you will not have to be an active part of each conversation.
Other delay tactics include the following:
- Changing demands and details over and over
- Canceling meetings, or rescheduling them repeatedly
- Failing to look over and sign documents
- Changing legal counsel often
- Avoiding the serving of divorce papers
- Creating a lot of unnecessary paperwork
If your spouse employs a few delay tactics at once, it can be incredibly frustrating. That said, there is always a path forward.
For example, while it is a requirement in the state of Florida for one spouse to serve the other spouse a divorce petition, alternative methods can be pursued when a spouse makes it impossible to do so. They may dodge all attempts to receive the papers knowing it will delay the process. That said, if you can prove to a court of law that you attempted, in good faith, to serve the papers, a different path to satisfying the notification requirement could be attained, such as publishing the notice.
A Compassionate Florida Divorce Lawyer Can Help
One of the many advantages of having a well-versed attorney on your side is that they have experienced a wide range of cases. They are familiar with delay tactics and know exactly how to counter them. When a spouse drags their feet in responding to documents and requests, your Orlando divorce lawyer could take the matter to a judge to explore other finalization possibilities. You do not have to stay married simply because your spouse is unsure if they are ready for a divorce or not.
Is your spouse employing delay tactics while you are focused on getting the divorce finalized? Connect with the seasoned family law attorneys at Donna Hung Law. Our attorneys are committed to providing our clients with solution-focused advice. There are paths to overcoming a spouse’s delays. To have your case reviewed, call 407-999-0099 or contact us online to schedule an initial evaluation.
