The time period required for a divorce depends upon whether you and your spouse already live separately and whether you have children together as a result of your marriage. The law requires that parties to a divorce who do not have any children born of their marriage live separately for six months, and that parties who do have children together wait one year before a judgment of divorce will be granted. The divorce petition may be filed when you begin living separately or when you have already lived apart and the required time period has already passed.