Frequently Answered Questions
1. How do I file for divorce in Texas?
You start by filing an Original Petition for Divorce in the district court of the county where you or your spouse has lived for the required residency period, then formally notify your spouse. Learn more about the divorce process.
2. How is child support calculated in Texas?
Texas uses a guideline formula based on the paying parent’s net monthly income and the number of children involved, though a judge can adjust it for special circumstances. Learn more about child support.
3. What is a spouse entitled to in a Texas divorce?
Texas is a community property state, so most assets and debts acquired during the marriage are divided in a manner the court considers just and fair, not necessarily an even split. Learn more about asset and property division.
4. How much does a divorce cost in Texas?
Costs vary widely depending on whether the divorce is contested or uncontested, filing fees in your county, and how much negotiation or court time your case requires. Learn more about divorce.
5. When does child support end in Texas?
Support generally continues until a child turns 18 or graduates high school, whichever comes later, though it can continue indefinitely for a child with a disability. Learn more about child support.
6. How long does a divorce take in Texas?
Texas requires a minimum 60 day waiting period after filing, but most cases take several months to resolve, and longer if custody or property disputes are contested. Learn more about the divorce process.
7. Is Texas a no fault divorce state?
Yes, you can file on no fault grounds of insupportability, but Texas also allows fault based grounds like adultery or cruelty, which can affect how property is divided. Learn more about divorce.
8. Does Texas have alimony?
Texas courts can order spousal maintenance, but only in limited situations, such as a long marriage or a spouse who cannot meet their own minimum reasonable needs. Learn more about alimony.
9. Who gets the house in a Texas divorce?
It depends on whether the home is separate or community property and what the court decides is a just and right division, so there is no automatic answer either way. Learn more about asset and property division.
10. How do I get full custody of my child in Texas?
Texas courts favor joint managing conservatorship, so you generally need to show that shared decision making is not in your child’s best interest to be awarded sole custody. Learn more about child custody.
11. How do I get a protective order in Texas?
You or your attorney file an application with the court describing the family violence and asking for specific protections, and a judge can grant emergency relief quickly in urgent cases. Learn more about protective orders.
12. How much does adoption cost in Texas?
Costs depend heavily on the type of adoption, but a stepparent adoption is typically far less expensive than a private or agency adoption since fewer background steps are required. Learn more about stepparent adoption.
13. How do I get a prenuptial agreement in Texas?
Both parties sign a written agreement before the wedding, ideally with separate attorneys, spelling out how property and debt will be handled if the marriage ends. Learn more about premarital agreements.
14. How do I establish paternity in Texas?
Paternity can be established voluntarily by signing an Acknowledgment of Paternity, or through a court order that may involve genetic testing if parentage is disputed. Learn more about paternity.
15. Does Texas have grandparent visitation rights?
Texas allows grandparents to request visitation only in limited situations, and a court must find that denying access would significantly harm the child’s well being. Learn more about grandparent rights.
