How much divorce cost in texas
Doing so will reduce the need for litigation, which can increase costs because more time is then needed to resolve your case. In addition to the time required by an attorney to litigate your case, other factors might also influence a divorce cost. This includes items such as:. The last one is a major influence on cost. If your case goes to trial, you can expect your divorce to be quite costly given all the time it will require.
In addition to these factors, investments, owned properties or businesses can also influence cost. The reason is that when many assets are involved, the process can become more complicated. And certainly requires more time.
This is known as complex and high-asset property division. The same concept on agreement applies here. If divorcing couples agree on the division of assets, then costs will be less. According to a survey conducted by Lawyers. In addition, the survey noted that the average duration of a divorce in Texas is However, this is certainly not a one size fits all scenario.
Every case is different and can require more or less time than another. Moreover, the hourly rate of a law firm or attorney in your city is also going to influence cost in a divorce. For instance, an attorney in Bexar County may charge a different hourly rate than an attorney in a different city than San Antonio. You may find that they are similar, or you may find that one offers a much lower or higher price than another.
Another driving factor in the cost of a divorce resides in the expenses involved. Common expenses involved in a divorce include:. If faced with divorce, we understand the stress and concern that you may be experiencing.
The last thing you need to worry about is how much your case is going to cost. The party will also need to fill out and file a Civil Case Information Sheet at this time, and there may be other paperwork the county requires depending on where the party lives.
This form must be signed at least one day after the Petition for Divorce is filed. Both parties fill out and sign the Final Decree of Divorce , which states what the court has ordered in the case. Information in the decree covers separate property and debts the individuals own or are responsible for; how any retirement funds will be split; name change if desired; and other details. After a mandatory day waiting period , one or both parties appear in court in front of the judge to finalize the divorce.
The judge will review all documents pertaining to the case, including the documents noted above and question the party or parties. NOTE: Victims of family violence may be able to sidestep the waiting period with a Texas divorce day waiver. If the judge approves the divorce, he or she will sign the Final Decree of Divorce , which finalizes the divorce. The state of Texas encourages couples NOT to file for an uncontested divorce in Texas under the following circumstances: The spouses disagree about any issue related to the divorce.
One of the spouses wants to file specific grounds for divorce, like cruelty or adultery. The wife gave birth to a child by another man during the marriage.
The couple shares a biological or adopted child who is either under 18 years of age or 18 years old and still attending high school. One of the spouses is requesting alimony—or spousal maintenance as it is referred to in Texas. One of the spouses owns or plans to buy real property, such as a home, building, piece of land or other real estate. One of the spouses has an ongoing bankruptcy case.
For example, consider the case of an uncontested divorce in Texas with a child: The couple has sorted everything out regarding division of assets, as well as custody, visitation and access to the child, they just want to talk through a few issues and make sure paperwork is filled out accurately and filed. Can I save money by getting an uncontested divorce in Texas? How can the Sisemore Law Firm help with my uncontested divorce? Contact the Sisemore Law Firm to learn more about uncontested divorce in Texas If you live in Tarrant County and would like to speak with an experienced divorce attorney about divorce and child custody, please contact us.
One of the most critical factors in estimating the cost of your divorce depends on whether the divorce is contested or uncontested. A contested divorce occurs when spouses cannot agree on certain important aspects of the divorce. In some cases, one spouse may not want to get divorced at all.
In other cases, a spouse may disagree about how much child support they owe, how property should be divided, who gets custody of minor children, and other important matters. A contested divorce tends to be more expensive than an uncontested divorce, simply because it takes longer and requires the settlement of these disputes. To file for a contested divorce in Texas, one spouse needs to file an original petition for divorce and state the grounds for divorce.
The spouse must then have the documents legally served on the other spouse so they are aware that the divorce has been filed and know that they must file a response. Service must be performed by a process server or law enforcement officer. The spouses must then participate in hearings, such as a temporary order hearing, at which they present evidence to convince the judge of how the spouses should be behaving during the divorce. For example, according to Sec.
During the divorce, the spouses should be trying to reach a compromise as much as possible, which means that there is likely going to be ongoing settlement negotiations or mediations.
The goal of a settlement is to avoid an expensive divorce trial, but unfortunately, sometimes issues cannot be agreed upon. If the case must go to trial, this means that the spouses are out of options, and a judge will need to make the final determinations based on evidence. This can become a lengthy process, which is why contested divorces can be quite expensive in the long run.
Uncontested divorces tend to be shorter and easier to resolve. If both parties agree to get divorced, then the process is a bit more streamlined.
One spouse will file the original petition for divorce, but in an uncontested divorce, the other spouse can simply waive their right to service pursuant to Sec.
An uncontested divorce eliminates the need for the filing spouse to hire a process server. Because there is no need for settlement negotiations, mediations, or trial, the spouses in an uncontested divorce can simply fill out a divorce decree and submit it to the court to be finalized. Although there is a day waiting period, this tends to go much more quickly than a contested divorce.