court divorce

How to Start a Divorce in Texas


 

When you are trying to file for divorce in a Texas Family court, for sure there will be a lot of things that you would be considering. You will be anxious about what you need to do before you divorce your spouse and how you should prepare for it. Even if you know exactly how to prepare for your divorce, it can be tough if you don’t know how to start the process exactly.

You will also be considering many things aside from the first steps you will have to take when you file for divorce in a Texas Family Court. Your primary concern will likely be how your children will be affected by the divorce. Your second major concern would be how the divorce could affect your financial status. We understand because this is what most (if not all) people considering a divorce are thinking about.

 

Goals To Get Through The Overwhelming Threat of Divorce

 

Even considering filing for divorce in a Texas family court can be overwhelming. The things that come with the divorce case will be mind-blowing as well. Before you tackle a divorce in a Texas family court, you need to be prepared. At the very least, you need to set some goals to help you focus your energy throughout the entire ordeal of your divorce. You should aim to regain control of your life. Make it a point to also think before you act. Obviously, you’ve never planned to get divorced, but here you are, considering filing a divorce in a Texas family law court.

It might feel that things are getting out of control like you’re driving a truck on a sloping road without brakes. However, you can still be control of the situation. Get as much information as you can regarding the divorce process. Know what to expect – but keep in mind that something unexpected could pop up during the divorce process. Think before you do anything to avoid doing something rash. That’s the last thing you’d want to do to your children.

 

How to Have Better Chances For A Better Outcome

 

First, even before you file your divorce in a Texas Family Law Court, you need to think about your goals. Your goals will serve as a guide for you throughout the entire divorce process. Think of the future life you want to have after your divorce. Make sure to stay realistic and prioritize what is truly important to you.

 

Children

 

For instance, if children are in the picture, what kind of parenting arrangement would you like after the divorce? How would you like your relationship with your children to be once the divorce has been finalized? You need to think about these things so that you can negotiate for the child custody option you want during the divorce. Knowing this can help you communicate better with your spouse. If you have specific wants and goals, you’d be able to negotiate in a calm and reasonable manner. However, if you have no specific goals and plans, you might tend to negotiate in a very emotional state, making communication difficult for both you and your spouse.

 

Property

 

You can’t really go through a divorce in a Texas Family Law Court without facing property division. There will be properties that need to be categorized and divided. There could be debts too. There’s your family home to. Knowing what your goals are in terms of property can help you improve your position in the negotiations.

In setting your goals regarding property division, you should consider the entirety of your assets, not just separate property or community property. It is also important, to be honest with your lawyer. Your spouse can stab you in the back in terms of property division. Your lawyer should be fully prepared to avoid untoward situations. Together, you can develop a strategic plan to achieve your goals.

 

Alimony

 

Spousal support, more commonly referred to as alimony, is not something automatic in the state of Texas. There are guidelines that judges follow whenever they consider ordering a spouse to provide spousal support. It would be best to seek the advice of an experienced Texas Family law attorney so that you’d be given expert advice specific to your personal circumstances.

 

Hiring Your Attorney

 

One of the most crucial steps you need to nail when you are considering divorce in a Texas Family Law Court is hiring the right family law attorney. You should choose a lawyer who can provide you with all the information and legal advice that you need. You should also be able to depend on the lawyer that you choose. Find someone who is smart and can come up with fail-proof strategies to help you achieve your goals.

 

Gathering Documents

During your consultation with your lawyer, you might not need to present a lot of documents. However, sometime later, you will have to collect pertinent documents for your divorce in a Texas Family Law Court. It’s better to start gathering documents as early as possible. You can gather financial documents, tax returns, pay slips and many other documents. You can always consult your attorney for guidance once you’ve hired him or her.

 

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Mr. Hutton is a Divorce and Custody Lawyer based out of Round Rock, TX. His background is with child psychology at Arizona State University where he received a B.S. in 2006, and he continued this by working with the Children’s Right’s Clinic at the University of Texas School of Law where he received his J.D. in 2009. Throughout his practice, he has been a strong proponent of utilizing modern technology to improve his practice and the representation of his clients. He currently is the technology chair of CAFA of Travis County and is committed to improving and modernizing the practice of law in Texas. If you have any questions you can contact him at timothy.hutton@austintexaslegal.com

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