Requirements Necessary to File a TX divorce
Although Texas is a no-fault divorce state, misdeeds by one spouse may factor into property division. So, it may be prudent to include issues like adultery, abandonment or cruelty in the initial petition for divorce.
Under Texas law, at least one spouse must have resided in the state for at least six months prior to filing for divorce.
One of the spouses must have resided in the county where the divorce is filed for at least 90 days prior to the filing.
If you and your spouse agree on the terms of the divorce, you may produce an Agreed Decree of divorce to expedite the process.
Grounds for Divorce in Texas
Like most states, Texas allows you to divorce your spouse purely on the grounds of insupportability. In other words, you and your spouse’s inability to resolve conflicts is a sufficient cause to grant a divorce.
Although fault is not a consideration in granting a divorce, it may still play a role in the division of property.
Step 1: Starting your divorce in Texas
A divorce proceeding in Texas begins with the filing of a completed Original Petition for Divorce with the Clerk of Court’s office in the county where you reside. You can receive these forms by using an online divorce service or search for the necessary filing paperwork needed on local Government sites like txcourts.gov.
When you file the petition, you may also ask for a Temporary Restraining Order that freezes marital assets and requires spouses to act civilly toward one another. If a tro is issued, a hearing within 14 days will be scheduled. If you and your spouse are on the same page regarding the divorce, there typically is no reason to file a TR.
Make at least two copies of all submitted documents. You must file the Petition and supporting documents with the Clerk’s Office of the county court in the county of residence. You must also pay the appropriate fees at the time of filing.
Step 2: Notifying your spouse
Under Texas law, you must provide copies of all documents related to the divorce to your spouse. You should obtain a Service of Process form from a district clerk prior to using one of the following methods to serve your spouse with the Original Petition for Divorce and the Citation:
In person—You must use the process service offered by your county sheriff to serve your divorce papers on your spouse. You cannot serve your spouse yourself. You must pay a fee for the process service. Upon completion of service, you will receive a notice from the process server which you must file with the court.
By mail—you may use certified or registered mail to serve your spouse if you cannot serve your spouse through your local sheriff’s office. You may need to get approval from the court first to use service by mail.
If you are unable to reach your spouse, you may still be able to provide Service by Publication. You should only use this method if you do not know the location of your spouse and cannot find it. You must obtain approval from the court first and, upon approval, publish a notice in a local newspaper.
Once your spouse has been served, they must respond to the Petition within 20 days. These responses are classified as
Default
If your spouse does not provide any response to the divorce petition, then the judge will assume that the Respondent has abdicated any right to participate in the case. The judge will probably grant many or all of the requests by the petitioner regarding child custody, spousal support and property distribution in the Original Petition for Divorce.
Uncontested
If your spouse files an Answer with the court but agrees with all of the details in the Complaint, this is considered an uncontested dissolution of marriage. You and your spouse must formulate and sign a settlement agreement which must be filed within 60 days of serving notice.
Contested
If your spouse files an Answer that disputes aspects of equitable distribution, custody, or alimony found in the Original Petition for Divorce, then the court will likely have to step in and make decisions regarding contested issues. The court will issue summons to both parties to attend a hearing, which will identify disputed issues, and if you and your spouse cannot come to an agreement, you will proceed to a trial.
Step 3: Contested or Uncontested divorce?
Contested Divorce (High Cost $8k+)
If you and your spouse cannot agree on the major issues in how your marriage should be dissolved, you will probably need to hire an attorney to represent you in this complex divorce proceeding.
In contested divorce cases, you must attend a hearing where the judge will determine the format of the trial, including major issues litigated and what evidence is admissible.
Contested divorces usually involve attorneys for both parties.
Most divorce attorneys will charge substantial legal fees in a contested divorce procedure due to the length of time and effort of participating in a trial. In a protracted legal case, many lawyers will charge you by the hour.
Attorneys are likely to engage in discovery where they will investigate you and your spouse’s claims. This long and costly process may include document requests, subpoenas and witness interviews.
Contested divorces may cost several thousands of dollars or more in court and attorney fees, depending on the number and complexity of disputes.
Uncontested Divorce (Low Cost $500+)
When filing a divorce in Texas, there are low-cost alternatives to a contested divorce.
If you and your spouse can amicably settle your marital issues, you may submit to the court the Settlement Agreement attesting to your final resolution.
After the papers are filed, the judge will schedule a final hearing, which you and your spouse must attend. You or your spouse may be asked to confirm details of the Settlement Agreement at this hearing.
The judge will schedule a hearing to finalize the divorce at least 60 days following the initial filing.
In many cases, an uncontested divorce is considerably more inexpensive because there is no need to hire an attorney or complete a trial. Many people are capable of filling out the paperwork for an uncontested divorce without legal assistance.
Step 4: DIY or attorney assisted divorce?
Self-Representation (Lowest Cost)
If you and your spouse can agree to a settlement prior to going to trial, it will dramatically reduce the cost related to the divorce and minimize stress to you and your family. That is why you should do everything you can to resolve any major conflicts with your spouse prior to beginning the divorce process. Using a service like 3StepDivorce is typically the best route to go because they make the paperwork part a lot easier with minimal cost and effort (Read our review here).
Also, using online divorce paper service to help file your divorce in Texas will reduce your time and you will have someone to review your paperwork to make sure everything was filled out correctly.
Mediation (Medium Cost)
The state of Texas encourages couples who are considering a divorce to use mediation services, and, in many cases, may require couples to meet with a mediator prior to completing a divorce. Mediators are independent, conflict resolution professionals with expertise in resolving personal issues. Although they may not have the legal authority to force a couple to remain married, mediators often produce compromises that minimize animosity and expedite the divorce process (Top reason to use a mediator).
Divorce Trial (Highest Cost)
In cases where you and your spouse cannot agree on major issues, the judge will schedule a trial that could go on for several days.
Hiring an experienced divorce attorney to defend you is usually in your interest, as your spouse will probably do likewise.
In the discovery phase, both legal teams will investigate the allegations made by each party. This may take weeks or even months to complete.
At the trial, both sides will argue using evidence and testimony. It is highly risky to proceed to trial without an attorney.
Even with highly experienced legal representation, there is no assurance of a successful outcome.
Step 5: Resolving the 3 big issues
The major points of contention in most divorce cases involve issues of property division, child custody or spousal support. If you and your spouse fail to come to an agreement on these issues, you should know how Texas courts often rule.
Property Distribution
Texas bases its property distribution upon the principle of community property, which deems most property obtained during the marriage equally shared. Separate property is not divided and must have been obtained in the following ways:
Owned prior to marriage
Gifted to one spouse
Compensation for injuries to one spouse
Inherited by one spouse
Texas courts prefer to split community property in a way that is “just and right.” The court may consider many factors when dividing marital property (separate property is owned prior to the marriage and is usually not at dispute) including:
Fault for breakup of marriage
Age and health of each spouse
Liabilities and tax consequences
How much either spouse contributed to its acquisition
Income earning potential of both spouses
Custody of children
Alimony allocation
Once the marital property and debts are identified, they are assigned a monetary value, usually by an independent appraiser; they will then be assigned to a party.
Child Custody
As in most states, Texas determines child custody or conservatorship based on the best interests of the child. The courts in Texas prefer to grant Joint Managing Conservatorship with both parents sharing responsibility for raising the child. This does not mean that parents will have equal possession or access to the child. The judge will consider many factors including:
Parent’s ability care for the child
Child’s preferences
Child’s safety
Relationship with parents
Child’s current living situation
Past instances of violence
Ongoing conflicts between parents
If one parent is granted sole custody, the court will decide the other parent’s visitation privileges. The non-custodial parent is usually required to pay child support until the child reaches 18 years of age.
Spousal Support
In Texas, alimony or spousal maintenance may be ordered if the dependent spouse is incapable of providing for their basic needs and one of the following is true:
Spouse is convicted of domestic violence
Dependent spouse is physically or mentally disabled
Has custody of a disabled child
However, spousal support is not mandatory and a judge may award it depending upon several factors:
Future earning capacity of both spouses
Each spouse’s age and health
Marital misconduct
Ability to pay alimony
Length of the marriage
Tax and liability burdens
Property distribution
Education of each spouse
Texas does limit how long alimony must be paid; the longer the marriage, the lengthier the period of spousal support. The monthly alimony may not be more than $5,000 or 20% of the supporting spouse’s monthly income.
Step 6: Finalizing your texas divorce
If a trial is scheduled, then you and your spouse must go to trial to obtain a judgment on any unresolved issues. If there is a settlement agreement, you and your spouse must attend a final hearing. Following these courtroom proceedings, the judge will issue a judgment. If the divorce is uncontested, the court will decide to grant the divorce following a hearing. The judge will question you and your spouse to confirm the details of the divorce agreement and issue the Final Decree of Divorce.