Texas

Overview In Texas, couples going through divorce have two main options for resolving disputes: mediation or litigation. Mediation is a form of alternative dispute resolution where a neutral third-party mediator helps the spouses reach agreements on issues such as property division, child custody, and support. Litigation, by contrast, involves taking the case to court where…

Recently updated on October 9th, 2025 at 05:20 amOverview In Texas, the time required to finalize a divorce depends on whether the divorce is contested or uncontested, whether children are involved, and how cooperative the spouses are in resolving disputes. State law requires a minimum waiting period of 60 days from the date the petition…

Overview In Texas, an uncontested divorce is a simpler process where both spouses agree on all key issues, including division of property, child custody, child support, and spousal maintenance. Because there are no disputes, the process requires fewer court hearings and can be completed using standard forms provided by the Texas Judicial Branch and other…

Overview In Texas, spousal maintenance (commonly referred to as alimony) is financial support ordered by the court for one spouse after a divorce. Unlike many other states, Texas law strictly limits spousal maintenance. The Texas Family Code allows it only in certain cases where the requesting spouse cannot meet their minimum reasonable needs. For example,…

Recently updated on October 9th, 2025 at 05:41 amOverview In Texas, issues of child custody and visitation are handled under the legal term “conservatorship.” The Texas Family Code sets out rules to determine who will have the right to make important decisions about a child and how much time each parent will spend with the…

Recently updated on October 9th, 2025 at 06:00 am Overview In Texas, divorce cases must address how marital property and debts will be divided. Texas is a community property state, meaning that most assets and debts acquired during marriage are considered jointly owned and must be divided fairly if the couple divorces. This does not…

Overview Understanding the costs of a divorce in Texas is essential before you file. “Cost” here covers direct court expenses (filing fees, service fees), transactional costs (process servers, certified mail), dispute-resolution fees (mediation, arbitration), and the often largest expense — attorney and expert fees. An uncontested, simple divorce (no children, no difficult asset division) can…

Overview Texas law requires that at least one spouse meet specific residency requirements before filing for divorce in the state. These rules establish the court’s jurisdiction and ensure the case is handled in the proper location. Under the Texas Family Code, a spouse must have lived in Texas for at least six months before filing,…

Overview Filing for divorce in Texas requires following specific legal procedures set out by the Texas Family Code and overseen by the state’s courts. Divorce is the legal process of ending a marriage, dividing property, addressing child custody, visitation, and support, and potentially ordering spousal maintenance. Texas law allows both “no-fault” divorces, where the marriage…

Overview The divorce process in Texas is governed by state law and is intended to provide a legal framework for ending a marriage in a fair and orderly way. A divorce, also known as “dissolution of marriage,” may address issues such as property division, child custody, child support, and spousal maintenance. Texas law requires at…