Of course, there’s the time it takes to get on the schedule for a mediator, arbitrator, or a judge. Add in the time it takes to complete discovery. How long it takes for you to get a divorce depends largely on whether you and your former spouse can communicate well enough to take deal with the necessities.
In every state, the standard is to do what is in the best interest of the children. While it seems obvious that many states are “mother friendly,” times have changed. We now see more instances of joint physical and legal custody or at least joint legal custody. We also see in many cases where children over a certain age choose to live with a certain parent or the court awards custody to who they believe is fit.
The legal standard for this is known as the “best interest of the children.” It is no longer presumed that moms are the best parents. Courts look at many factors (including whether the parents can be civil or if either will try to alienate (or stop) a relationship between the children and the other parent).
