In general, the expectation pre-Covid was that most family law matters in St. Louis County and St. Louis City would be finalized within a year from the date of the filing, either by settlement or through a contested trial. However, the courts are still working through the backlog that occurred during the pandemic. In our experience, it is more accurate to expect that most matters are resolved within eighteen months of filing, although this can vary widely; the fewer contested issues, the faster cases are resolved. Certain cases may take longer to resolve – for example, contested custody matters, cases involving jurisdictional issues, or those involving the division of complex assets. Resolution of cases may also take longer when judges are reassigned due to court docketing changes or when one or both spouses change attorneys during the case.
