These are the basic steps for how to file an uncontested divorce in Texas without a lawyer.
1. You can file for divorce in Texas even if your marriage ceremony took place outside of Texas. It does not matter if your marriage ceremony took place in Texas, in any other state in the United States, or even in another country, so long as your marriage is recognized as a lawful marriage in Texas.
2. You and/or your spouse must satisfy the Texas residency requirements.
3. If you and your spouse can agree on the terms of your divorce you can file an uncontested divorce, which is the fastest, easiest, least expensive, and stress-free way to get divorced. If you and your spouse disagree on the terms of your divorce, you will need to file a "contested" divorce.
4. You must have a "ground" (a legally acceptable reason) to end your marriage. The state of Texas recognizes no-fault as a valid reason to file for divorce. In a no-fault divorce the judge can grant your divorce without ruling that either spouse was at fault. When a divorce is filed as a no-fault case, it basically means that both spouses want their marriage to continue.
5. Distribute joint marital property. If you and your spouse have any joint marital property (assets or debts), they can be divided in your divorce.
6. The payment of spousal support, if requested by either spouse, can be included in your divorce.
7. Resolve child custody, visitation, and child support if there are minor children. If you and your spouse have minor children from your marriage, the issues of child custody, visitation, and child support can be included in your divorce.
8. You need to obtain, fill out, sign, and file the required Texas uncontested divorce forms with the court. Your spouse will also have to sign some of the divorce papers.
9. If you want to file for divorce in Texas without a lawyer but would like some help filling out your Texas uncontested divorce papers so you do not have to do everything completely by yourself, you can consider using a paralegal service or an online divorce forms service.
10. File your Original Petition for Divorce. In Texas, the process to file for a divorce is started by filing an Original Petition for Divorce.
The Petition contains the names and addresses of both spouses, a statement that you satisfy the Texas residence requirements, the date of your marriage, and other information about your marriage, such as whether you have minor children from your marriage.
After you file your Petition, you need to provide your spouse with a copy of the Petition.
11. Your spouse will then need to file a Waiver of Service in which they can acknowledge their consent to the divorce being granted.
12. You and your spouse will sign a Final Decree of Divorce that sets forth all of the details of your divorce. The Final Decree of Divorce is the document that a judge signs to grant the divorce.
13. The spouse who filed the Original Petition for Divorce attends a brief hearing in court before a judge who can decide to grant the divorce and sign the Final Decree of Divorce.
Note: Texas has a mandatory 60-day waiting period before this hearing can be held. The 60 days start to count on the day after you file your Petition for Divorce.
14. After the judge signs the Final Decree of Divorce you need to provide your spouse with a copy of the signed Final Decree of Divorce.
How can LetsGetDivorced.com help?
LetsGetDivorced.com provides a Texas online divorce service. Using the LetsGetDivorced.com website, you can begin your agreed uncontested divorce process online without an attorney. You simply answer questions about your divorce in a guided online questionnaire, and then we prepare all your ready-to-file, uncontested divorce paperwork for you, including detailed instructions for you to follow to file and finalize your agreed divorce with your local court. We electronically deliver to you all your documents the same day you submit them to us to prepare them, so same-day filing is possible.
What does it cost to use the LetsGetDivorced.com online divorce service?
LetsGetDivorced.com charges a flat "service fee" of only $99. There are no other service fees to use LetsGetDivorced.com to prepare your uncontested divorce paperwork. The court filing fee is separate and may be waived by the court if you qualify and submit a waiver request to the court.
These are the basic steps for how to file an uncontested divorce in Texas without a lawyer.
1. You can file for divorce in Texas even if your marriage ceremony took place outside of Texas. It does not matter if your marriage ceremony took place in Texas, in any other state in the United States, or even in another country, so long as your marriage is recognized as a lawful marriage in Texas.
2. You and/or your spouse must satisfy the Texas residency requirements.
3. If you and your spouse can agree on the terms of your divorce you can file an uncontested divorce, which is the fastest, easiest, least expensive, and stress-free way to get divorced. If you and your spouse disagree on the terms of your divorce, you will need to file a "contested" divorce.
4. You must have a "ground" (a legally acceptable reason) to end your marriage. The state of Texas recognizes no-fault as a valid reason to file for divorce. In a no-fault divorce the judge can grant your divorce without ruling that either spouse was at fault. When a divorce is filed as a no-fault case, it basically means that both spouses want their marriage to continue.
5. Distribute joint marital property. If you and your spouse have any joint marital property (assets or debts), they can be divided in your divorce.
6. The payment of spousal support, if requested by either spouse, can be included in your divorce.
7. Resolve child custody, visitation, and child support if there are minor children. If you and your spouse have minor children from your marriage, the issues of child custody, visitation, and child support can be included in your divorce.
8. You need to obtain, fill out, sign, and file the required Texas uncontested divorce forms with the court. Your spouse will also have to sign some of the divorce papers.
9. If you want to file for divorce in Texas without a lawyer but would like some help filling out your Texas uncontested divorce papers so you do not have to do everything completely by yourself, you can consider using a paralegal service or an online divorce forms service.
10. File your Original Petition for Divorce. In Texas, the process to file for a divorce is started by filing an Original Petition for Divorce.
The Petition contains the names and addresses of both spouses, a statement that you satisfy the Texas residence requirements, the date of your marriage, and other information about your marriage, such as whether you have minor children from your marriage.
After you file your Petition, you need to provide your spouse with a copy of the Petition.
11. Your spouse will then need to file a Waiver of Service in which they can acknowledge their consent to the divorce being granted.
12. You and your spouse will sign a Final Decree of Divorce that sets forth all of the details of your divorce. The Final Decree of Divorce is the document that a judge signs to grant the divorce.
13. The spouse who filed the Original Petition for Divorce attends a brief hearing in court before a judge who can decide to grant the divorce and sign the Final Decree of Divorce.
Note: Texas has a mandatory 60-day waiting period before this hearing can be held. The 60 days start to count on the day after you file your Petition for Divorce.
14. After the judge signs the Final Decree of Divorce you need to provide your spouse with a copy of the signed Final Decree of Divorce.
How can LetsGetDivorced.com help?
LetsGetDivorced.com provides a Texas online divorce service. Using the LetsGetDivorced.com website, you can begin your agreed uncontested divorce process online without an attorney. You simply answer questions about your divorce in a guided online questionnaire, and then we prepare all your ready-to-file, uncontested divorce paperwork for you, including detailed instructions for you to follow to file and finalize your agreed divorce with your local court. We electronically deliver to you all your documents the same day you submit them to us to prepare them, so same-day filing is possible.
What does it cost to use the LetsGetDivorced.com online divorce service?
LetsGetDivorced.com charges a flat "service fee" of only $99. There are no other service fees to use LetsGetDivorced.com to prepare your uncontested divorce paperwork. The court filing fee is separate and may be waived by the court if you qualify and submit a waiver request to the court.
Complete your Texas divorce
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