How long does it take to go to court?

Question

I have one for a real estate dispute ($10K in damages) but my lawyer is super slow on setting a court date. He is trying to settle but the guy I am suing is not responding. Is it normal for claims to take months or should I get another lawyer.

Answer 1

It can take a long time depending on the complexity of the case.

Answer 2

Settling your claim in a few months would be an abnormality.   Usually takes more than a year unless the opposing party is willing to settle.  For criminal trials you have a right to a speedy trial, but not in a civil case so many times civil cases get pushed to the back burner, and discovery can take a great amount of time.

I am not a lawyer and this is not legal advice.

Answer 3

Normal is a couple of years.  There's real time, and there's legal time

tick

tick

tick.... it's slower than cold molasses.

Answer 4

some take years and years.

2-3 years is not unusual at all.

Lawyers LOVE to draw them out.

Answer 5

Months is not unusual, especially if the other party either does not cooperate, or deliberately delays.

Richard

Answer 6

months, years, decades.  There is no standard answer.  In general, settlement is better than a trial.  Going to trial without adequate preparation is the worst option.  

Answer 7

My attorney took 8 months to even begin talks - so it's normal.

If you trust your attorney, please stick with him (or her)

Answer 8

I would call a few different attorneys, pick their brains, and see where I stand.  Yes, some attorney are like snails, but if you trust this guy, then by all mean stay with him, sometime a bird in the hand...