The amount of time it takes to finalize a divorce varies widely depending on the circumstances of the parties. Uncontested divorce proceedings can be resolved in a matter of several months, while highly contested cases may take up to a year or more. Whether there are children born to the marriage and the amount of property that the couple owned are factors that may affect the length and complexity of the divorce proceeding. The more parties are willing to work together to reconcile their differences, the less time and money will be expended resolving such disagreements in court.