Burlington County Divorce Attorney Q&A: Can Anyone Get a “Quickie Divorce” Like Tom Cruise & Katie Holmes

By Jamie Galemba, Esq.

Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes were divorced so fast.  You might ask, “Can I get a “quickie divorce”? I just want to get it over with.”  Although it is certainly possible to obtain a swift divorce, divorces frequently take much longer before they are finalized.  The Burlington County divorce attorneys at Adinolfi & Lieberman regularly represent clients who initially think a “quickly divorce” is for them, only to realize that rushing through the process may not be the best situation for them.

Why Was the Cruise-Holmes Finalized Divorce so Fast?

One likely reason Tom and Katie were divorced so quickly is that they had a prenuptial agreement.  Neither party apparently challenged it, and it is likely that the agreement addressed most, if not all, divorce issues between Tom and Katie.  While it may not be romantic, a properly drafted and executed prenuptial agreement should alleviate common divorce issues, particularly when individuals come into a marriage with significant and complex assets.  However, most people do not have the time or inclination to obtain a prenuptial agreement prior to marriage.  In these cases, every issue could be in dispute.  If both parties are reasonable and are informed as to all assets and debt and income in their matter, a divorce can be resolved pretty quickly.  Sometimes, parties can develop an agreement before any pleadings are even filed, so the filing becomes a formality.  In those cases, parties can be divorced within a matter of weeks.

However, in the vast majority of cases, at least some discovery is required before a settlement can be reached. Discovery is the process through which each party gathers the information he or she desires to provide to the Court, in the event of a trial.  So, parties can ask each other questions, to be answered under oath, and parties can be demand that each other produce various documents (bank account statements, for example).  Often, without this information, litigants do not have the knowledge as to whether any potential agreement is a good deal or a bad deal.  While it may seem easier at the time to try to resolve a divorce as quickly as possible, it is important to ensure that you are comfortable with the disclosures being made and the discovery exchanged.  After all, if you only get one bite at the proverbial apple, you want that bite to be as big as possible.  It is often well worth the time and investment to get that bite, rather than resolve the divorce simply to “get it over with.”

Call the Burlington County Divorce Attorneys at Adinolfi & Lieberman to Discuss the Issues that Will Arise in Your Divorce

The Burlington County divorce attorneys at Adinolfi & Lieberman understand that when you are contemplating a divorce, you want it over and done with as soon as possible. Unfortunately, a “quickie divorce” is not always the best option. Sometimes, slow, deliberate investigation, discovery and negotiations will work to your advantage and may be worth the time invested. Call our team of divorce attorneys to discuss the best way to proceed with your divorce proceedings. With our office located in Haddonfield, New Jersey, our attorneys handle family law matters throughout South Jersey, including Burlington County, Camden County, Gloucester County, Salem County, Atlantic County, Cumberland County, Cherry Hill, Moorestown, Mt. Holly, Medford, Mt. Laurel, Voorhees, Haddon Township and Haddon Heights. Call us at 856-428-8334 or contact us online.