Getting Started on the Process of Divorce

While no one ever wants to answer the question "How do you file for divorce in Texas?", sometimes it is needed when certain situations don’t work out. Luckily, the process of filing for divorce is the same for almost every situation. Whether or not you have kids, are wealthy, or can afford an attorney, the process is the same.

The only hard requirement of filing for divorce is that you need to have lived in Texas for 6 months or more as well as determine the county you and your spouse, plus any children if you have them, have

lived in for 90 days.

Then the process can begin.

The Action Items for a Divorce:

• File a petition for divorce: The petition shares your side of the story for the divorce filing and determines who gets custody of any children, if the divorce is the fault of someone or just a mutual parting of ways, and if any other property other than a house will need to be disputed between the spouses. Then the spouse must be informed and either sign a service waiver (if it is a no-fault divorce) or is given a citation.
• Accept and follow temporary orders: For a divorce that is not agreed upon by the spouses, temporary child support, child custody, and discussion of how bills will be paid will be set.
• Settlement negotiations and a trial: Both spouses and their attorneys will negotiate, mediate, and try to reach a settlement that is agreeable to both sides for the division of property and child custody. If this is not successful, the case will go to trial before a judge.

The Aftermath

Once a settlement is reached, the closing documents will be given to set up withholding for child support from the supporter’s paycheck, as well as dividing other property among both you and your spouse.

About Author

Nunneley Family Law has been helping families in the Fort Worth and Mid-Cities area resolve complicated family law issues for over 35 years. Their team of professionals provides the clarity and focus you need to break through the turmoil and reach equitable and fair closure.