How long does a divorce take?

It depends on what the issues are, how much fighting there is between the parties, whether there are kids, etc. Some divorces, where everyone agrees, can be resolved within a matter of weeks. Most divorces take about 9 to 18 months to resolve, but that is not a rule, just how things usually work out. I hope this helps. 

You cannot get divorced until 6 months and one day from the filing of the Petition.

Beyond that, it just depends on the cooperation of the parties.

In my experience, the average contested divorce takes 18 months from filing of the Petition to entry of Judgment.  While in California, a divorce may be finalized 6 months and one day after service of the Petition (California Family Code, section 2339), when there are disputed issues such as custody, property and support, it can take longer to finalize the divorce as the parties work to resolve their differences.  As a caveat, this 18 month figure is an anecdotal average based on my caseload experience. This number can vary greatly depending on whether the divorce is being mediated or litigated in a county with significant court congestion. 

At a minimum, it will take six months before a Judge can legally dissolve your marriage.  For an uncontested divorce where you and your spouse reach an agreement, the agreement can be submitted to the Court before that six month period is up.  However, the Court will list your official date of divorce in the future to a time after that six month date.  For a contested divorce, it generally takes between 1-2 years to resolve everything.