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Divorce 101

Divorce

DIVORCE 101: Everything You Need to Know About Divorce in Texas

You’ve reached the decision that your marriage is over. What’s next? How do you end your marriage legally? For most people, the answer is to get a divorce. But, where do you start? Well, the first thing you need to do is find a good family or divorce lawyer to guide you through the process.

The actual procedural steps to legally end your marriage, in their most basic form, are below:

1. File a Petition for Divorce

2. Obtain Service of Process on your spouse or have your spouse sign a Waiver of Citation; and

3. Once you’ve obtained Service of Process on your spouse, or your spouse has signed the Waiver of Citation, AND at least 60 days have passed since you filed your Petition for Divorce, you may seek to have the Court grant your divorce and sign a Final Decree of Divorce.

Most Divorces do NOT End in Only Three Steps

Unfortunately, most divorce actions are not this simple, nor this uncomplicated. Between Step 1 and Step 3, many other actions may take place.

Some of these actions may include one or more hearings for temporary orders, the exchange of discovery, attendance at mediation, a request to evaluate the mental and/or physical health of either or both parties, a request for a lawyer for the children to be appointed, an expert to counsel the children and investigate claims brought by either party or the children or to find out the children’s desires, or myriads of other possible motions, requests for relief on your behalf or on behalf of your spouse.

In more complicated actions, other experts may be needed to determine the value of assets or to determine whether an asset is community property or separate property.

The family law attorneys of Orsinger, Nelson, Downing and Anderson, LLP work through the steps with you while partnering with the experts needed to help ensure your divorce is as calm as possible.

Going through a divorce isn’t easy.

We’re here to advocate for you during what could be the hardest time of your life.

You don’t have to be stressed, scared or worried about how your divorce will proceed.

Work with the divorce attorneys at ONDA to strategize and take the next step forward to your new life.

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