Texas Simple Divorce Information and FAQ
On the petition of either party to a marriage, the court may grant a
divorce without regard to fault if the marriage has become insupportable
because of discord or conflict of personalities that destroys the
legitimate ends of the marital relationship and prevents any reasonable
expectation of reconciliation. 6.001
General Residency Rule for Divorce Suit A suit for divorce may not be
maintained in this state unless at the time the suit is filed either the
petitioner or the respondent has been:
(1) a domiciliary of this state for the preceding six-month period; and
(2) a resident of the county in which the suit is filed for the preceding
90-day period.
Pleadings (a) A petition in a suit for dissolution of a marriage is
sufficient without the necessity of specifying the underlying evidentiary
facts if the petition alleges the grounds relied on substantially in the
language of the statute. (b) Allegations of grounds for relief, matters of
defense, or facts relied on for a temporary order that are stated in short
and plain terms are not subject to special exceptions because of form or
sufficiency.
(c) The court shall strike an allegation of evidentiary fact from the
pleadings on the motion of a party or on the court's own motion. 6.402
Answer The respondent in a suit for dissolution of a marriage is not
required to answer on oath or affirmation. 6.403 Waiver of Service (a) A
party to a suit for the dissolution of a marriage may waive the issuance
or service of process after the suit is filed by filing with the clerk of
the court in which the suit is filed the waiver of the party acknowledging
receipt of a copy of the filed petition. (b) The waiver must contain the
mailing address of the party who executed the waiver.
(c) The waiver must be sworn but may not be sworn before an attorney in
the suit.
(d) The Texas Rules of Civil Procedure do not apply to a waiver
executed under this section. 6.4035
Statement on Alternate Dispute Resolution (a) A party to a proceeding
under this title shall include in the first pleading filed by the party in
the proceeding the following statement: "I AM AWARE THAT IT IS THE
POLICY OF THE STATE OF TEXAS TO PROMOTE THE AMICABLE AND NONJUDICIAL
SETTLEMENT OF DISPUTES INVOLVING CHILDREN AND FAMILIES. I AM AWARE OF
ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION METHODS, INCLUDING MEDIATION. WHILE I
RECOGNIZE THAT ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION IS AN ALTERNATIVE TO AND NOT
A SUBSTITUTE FOR A TRIAL AND THAT THIS CASE MAY BE TRIED IF IT IS NOT
SETTLED, I REPRESENT TO THE COURT THAT I WILL ATTEMPT IN GOOD FAITH TO
RESOLVE BEFORE FINAL TRIAL CONTESTED ISSUES IN THIS CASE BY ALTERNATIVE
DISPUTE RESOLUTION WITHOUT THE NECESSITY OF COURT INTERVENTION."
(b) The statement prescribed by Subsection (a) must be prominently
displayed in boldfaced type or capital letters or be underlined and be
signed by the party. (c) The statement prescribed by Subsection (a) is not
required for:
(1) a pleading in which citation on all respondents entitled to service
of citation is requested, issued, and given by publication;
(2) a motion or pleading that seeks a protective order as provided by
Title 4; or
(3) a special appearance under Rule 120a, Texas Rules of Civil
Procedure.
» Return to top Service of Citation Citation on the filing of an
original petition in a suit for dissolution of a marriage shall be issued
and served as in other civil cases. Citation may also be served on any
other person who has or who may assert an interest in the suit for
dissolution of the marriage. 6.408 Citation by Publication (a) Citation in
a suit for dissolution of a marriage may be by publication as in other
civil cases, except that notice shall be published one time only.
(b) The notice shall be sufficient if given in substantially the
following form: [see USLF divorce package]
... (d) If the citation is for a suit in which a parent-child
relationship does not exist, service by publication may be completed by
posting the citation at the courthouse door for seven days in the county
in which the suit is filed.
(e) If the petitioner or the petitioner's attorney of record makes an
oath that no child presently under 18 years of age was born or adopted by
the spouses and that no appreciable amount of property was accumulated by
the spouses during the marriage, the court may dispense with the
appointment of an attorney ad litem. In a case in which citation was by
publication, a statement of the evidence, approved and signed by the
judge, shall be filed with the papers of the suit as a part of the record.
Waiting Period (a) The court may not grant a divorce before the 60th
day after the date the suit was filed. A decree rendered in violation of
this subsection is not subject to collateral attack.
(b) A waiting period is not required before a court may grant an
annulment or declare a marriage void other than as required in civil cases
generally. 6.702
» Return to top Failure to Answer In a suit for divorce, the petition
may not be taken as confessed if the respondent does not file an answer.
6.701 Jury In a suit for dissolution of a marriage, either party may
demand a jury trial unless the action is a suit to annul an underage
marriage under Section 6.101 or 6.102. 6.703
Testimony of Husband or Wife (a) In a suit for dissolution of a
marriage, the husband and wife are competent witnesses for and against
each other. A spouse may not be compelled to testify as to a matter that
will incriminate the spouse.
(b) If the husband or wife testifies, the court or jury trying the case
shall determine the credibility of the witness and the weight to be given
the witness's testimony. 6.704
» Return to top Change of Name (a) In a decree of divorce or
annulment, the court shall change the name of a party specifically
requesting the change to a name previously used by the party unless the
court states in the decree a reason for denying the change of name. (b)
The court may not deny a change of name solely to keep the last name of
family members the same.
(c) A change of name does not release a person from liability incurred
by the person under a previous name or defeat a right the person held
under a previous name.
(d) A person whose name is changed under this section may apply for a
change of name certificate from the clerk of the court as provided by
Section 45.106. 6.706
Copy of Decree The clerk of the court shall mail a copy of the final
decree of dissolution of a marriage to the party who waived service of
process under Section 6.4035 by mailing the copy of the decree to the
party at the mailing address contained in the waiver or to the office of
the party's attorney of record. 6.710
Remarriage (a) Except as otherwise provided by this subchapter, neither
party to a divorce may marry a third party before the 31st day after the
date the divorce is decreed.
(b) The former spouses may marry each other at any time. 6.801
Spousal support/alimony Texas Courts have limited authority to order
alimony after a divorce is granted. However, while your case is pending,
the Court has unlimited authority to award temporary spousal support. The
Court will consider the needs of the requesting spouse and the ability of
the other spouse to pay. The Court will additionally consider the health
and age of the parties, ability to work, responsibility for children,
availability of funds, and the length of the marriage. As a general rule,
spousal support will be ordered for a limited period of time and in an
amount necessary to cover the basic necessities of life. To receive
alimony after divorce, generally you must have been married for a period
exceeding 10 years, and in certain situations, you may be qualified to
receive up to $2,500 per month for a maximum of three years.
Property Distribution Texas is a so-called "equitable
distribution" state. This means that the division of property and
debts between the divorcing parties should be fair and equitable, but not
necessarily equal. The court has wide discretion in dividing property.
Child Custody and Visitation In Texas, there is a rebuttable
presumption that parents should serve as the Joint Managing Conservators
of their children. In Texas, "Conservatorship" is
"Custody" of the children. Joint Managing Conservatorship does
not mean that each party will have the children one-half of the time. It
also does not mean that child support will not be awarded to one parent.
Joint Managing Conservatorship does mean that the parents will either
share, allocate, or apportion parental rights and duties. In most cases,
it also means that the child's domicile must be established in the final
Court orders.
In the absence of extenuating circumstances, it is advisable for
parents to work out appropriate custody arrangements rather than have
strangers do it for them. A custody fight involves a great deal of time,
commitment, and emotional and financial expense. In some instances, the
child can be damaged more by the court action than the worst trait of the
other parent. Further, you need to remember that your child's other parent
will be a continuing part of your child's life and activities. It will be
easier for your child if the child is kept out of the parents' conflict.
This is not possible if a trial occurs. If you are able to reach an
agreement, and make a commitment to work together to resolve disputes that
may arise in the future, it is very probable that the child will be able
to have both parents at the important events in the child's life.
Child Support The Texas Family Code contains guidelines for the
computation of child support. The guidelines are specifically designed to
apply to situations in which the obligor's monthly net resources are
$6,000.00 or less. In such cases, the court presumptively applies the
following schedule:
1 child ... 20% of Obligor's Net Resources 2 children ... 25% of
Obligor's Net Resources 3 children ... 30% of Obligor's Net Resources 4
children ... 35% of Obligor's Net Resources 5 children ... 40% of
Obligor's Net Resources 6+ children .. Not less than 40%
If the Obligor has children from another relationship, the percentages
listed above may be reduced.
If the obligor's net resources exceed $6,000.00 per month, the Court
shall presumptively apply the above percentages to the first $6,000.00 of
net resources. Without further reference to the percentage, the court may
order additional amounts of child support. The court may not order the
obligor to pay more child support than the presumptive amount (as
calculated by multiplying the above applicable percentage times $6,000.00)
or an amount equal to 100% of the proven needs of the child, whichever is
greater.
Net resources is defined very broadly, and income can also be imputed
to a party.
In addition to monthly child support payments, the payor is required to
maintain the children on the payor's employment health insurance policy.
If insurance is not available through the payor's employment, but is
available through the payee's employment, the payor will be ordered to pay
the premium costs. If insurance is not available through either parties'
employment, the payor will be ordered to provide insurance coverage to the
extent available and affordable. Additionally, the Court usually makes
orders regarding the payment of deductibles and other uninsured expenses.
All Orders dealing with child support must now be accompanied by an Order
of Withholding. This order, after presented to the payor's employer, has
the Court-ordered child support deducted directly from the payor's
paychecks.
Absent marriage or other acts which would emancipate the child, child
support orders continue until the child reaches age 18. If the child is in
high school at age 18, support continues until high school graduation. If
the child is disabled, it may be possible to continue child support for an
indefinite period. Texas law makes no provision for support during
college, or the payment of college expenses. However, this can be done by
a contract between the parties if an agreement can be reached on this
issue. simple divorce
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