Can you get divorced at a single hearing?

Here is my answer to a reader’s question: can you get divorced at a single hearing?

Yes, but it requires preparation and depends on the circumstances and the court’s assessment. Below are two common situations.

The first situation concerns spouses who have no minor children together and jointly request a divorce without a finding of fault. This may reduce the scope of evidence, but the court still examines whether the marriage has broken down completely and permanently and whether there are any obstacles to granting a divorce. In appropriate circumstances, the court may limit the evidence to hearing the parties. The court decides whether witness testimony is needed and what it should cover; it is not merely a formality.

The second situation concerns spouses who have minor children together. Agreement on fault and arrangements concerning parental authority, where the children will live, contact and their upkeep can help proceedings run more smoothly. A written parental agreement is useful. The court takes it into account if it serves the children’s best interests, but an agreement does not guarantee a divorce at a single hearing. Further evidence may be needed, including testimony from a witness familiar with the family’s circumstances. The evidence should be tailored to the individual case.

Author: Katarzyna Gorgol Pryczynicz, advocate