TEXAS DIVORCE LAWYERS

How Do I Obtain A Divorce In Texas?

To file for and obtain a divorce in Texas, a person must be a Texas resident for at least six months and a county resident for the past 90 days. Jurisdiction over the other party must be obtained by either serving them legal process within Texas or securing their voluntary consent to jurisdiction in Texas. If a spouse's whereabouts are unknown, he or she may be served by publishing a notice in a local area newspaper. A respondent in a divorce matter may be deemed to have submitted to jurisdiction in Texas if he or she engaged in sexual relations in the state, resulting in the conception of a child, or otherwise has sufficient contacts with the state. The venue for the divorce action is in the county where either one of the parties resides.  Please download our Divorce Checklist and call us for a divorce consultation today.

The Original Divorce Petition

A divorce is commenced when a party files a petition. A petition must contain specific statutory language and include information about any children of the marriage. A filing fee must be paid at the time of filing the petition.  The fault of either party need not be proved in order to obtain a divorce. All that is necessary is to show that the parties are incompatible. The fault of a spouse leading to the breakdown of a marriage (such as infidelity, abuse, or substance abuse problems) may be relevant to a divorce action impacting child custody and final property division.  An overview of the divorce process can be found at this link: Overview of A Texas Divorce.

Service of Legal Process In A Divorce

In order for the respondent in a divorce case to be brought within the jurisdiction of the district courts of Texas, that person must be served with copies of the petition, temporary orders, and a summons requiring them to file a responsive pleading within a certain time period. This is usually done by the county sheriff or an authorized process server. The service cannot be made by one party serving the other. The respondent may voluntarily consent to the jurisdiction of the court and waive service of process. This is usually accomplished by the respondent signing a form that is filed with the court. Once a respondent is served or has entered his or her appearance, the temporary orders take effect.

Why Do You Need An Aggressive Divorce Attorney?



A successful family law case often begins with an assertive offense and/or defense, and you need a lawyer capable of being aggressive when and as necessary. Our Dallas divorce attorneys have represented clients in hundreds of cases, from simple undisputed divorces to the most complex and challenging matters. They have successfully taken numerous cases to trial and have reached settlements favorable to our clients in scores more cases. Our success is due to our attorneys' dedication to our client's and fierce advocacy for our client's rights and interests. Our Dallas divorce lawyers will not allow you to be taken advantage of but will strive to protect your rights, fight for your interests, and give you the strong and passionate representation your case demands.