Divorce is an expensive and long, drawn-out process. The state apparently wants you to suffer in a loveless, soul-sucking marriage rather than separate and have a chance to find happiness.

What sort of divorces have you seen?? If a divorce only takes one or two days, then either that couple had very little property and no children, or one person agreed to walk away from everything. Divorce alone takes months, and having kids usually adds even longer.

Depends on where you are. Even with no assets or kids, California has a mandatory 6 month waiting period from the time you file until it is finalized.

While I agree that OP's mom was in the wrong, I have to disagree with the idea they shouldn't have anything to do with the process. They deserve to know why their parents are splitting up, what each parent is going to have asset wise, and who is relocating, and where. They deserve to be informed enough to give their opinion to the judge about who they would prefer to stay with.