Let me be clear: you can’t rush a divorce in Utah. The law demands you sit tight for 30 days after filing – no if, and, or but about it.
However (and this is where it gets interesting), you might be able to sidestep this waiting game. The court isn’t wholly heartless – if you’ve got a good reason, you can file what’s called a “Motion to Waive Divorce Waiting Period.” Fair warning, though: judges don’t hand these out like candy. You better come prepared with some seriously compelling arguments.
According to Utah code § 30-3-18(1), even in those picture-perfect uncontested divorces, where everyone’s playing nice and agreeing on who gets the coffee maker, you’re still looking at roughly three months from start to finish. That includes your 30-day cooling-off period and all the fun paperwork shuffling behind the scenes.
Bottom line: While the law says 30 days minimum, real life says pack your patience. What is your actual timeline? That’s anyone’s guess – it depends on everything from how backed up the courts are to whether you and your ex can agree on who gets the dog.
