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Category: Process

How Long Until My Divorce Is Finalized in Texas

How Long Until My Divorce Is Finalized in Texas?

May 30, 2022

Does Texas have a waiting period for divorce? In Texas, a judge may not grant your final divorce until at least 60 days have passed after you filed the divorce petition. The only exceptions to this waiting period are in cases involving domestic violence, when the petitioner has an active family violence protective order against the respondent, or the respondent has been convicted of a a domestic violence crime against the petitioner or someone else in the household. (Tex. Fam. Code § 6.702 (2022).) Although your divorce will be final when the judge signs the divorce decree, neither you nor your spouse may marry someone else until another 31 days have passed. (Tex. Fam. Code § 6.801 (2022).) What is the divorce procedure in Texas? Filing for divorce in Texas involves several steps: Filing the divorce petition. One spouse (the “petitioner”) will file an Original Petition for Divorce and accompanying documents with the court clerk in the county where either spouse has lived for 90 days. Serving the divorce papers. The petitioner then must either have the divorce papers personally served on (hand-delivered to) the other spouse (the “respondent”) or have the respondent sign a waiver of service and simply accept the documents from the petitioner. The next steps in the Texas divorce process may depend on whether you’ve filed for an agreed divorce or a contested divorce. Answering the divorce petition. In a contested divorce, the respondent has 20 days to file an answer to the divorce petition. In an uncontested divorce, the respondent may either file an answer in that time or simply return the signed waiver of service. Standard temporary orders. Either spouse may ask the judge to issue standard temporary restraining orders, including orders meant to preserve the couple’s property during the divorce proceedings. Judges might

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What Are The Steps For Getting Divorced in Houston

What Are The Steps For Getting Divorced in Houston?

December 19, 2019

Divorce Procedure in Houston In order to divorce your spouse, there are many things you will need to do in order for Texas courts to grant you an official divorce. Most commonly. A Texas divorce will require you and your spouse completing the following steps: -First of all, one spouse, who will be identified as the petitioner, will file an Original Petition for Divorce with the court. The person most commonly has the papers served to the other spouse, who can be identified as the respondent. If this is a divorce where both partners wish to work together, this step can be avoided by the respondent waiving their rights to be served with the Original Petition for Divorce. Doing this will speed up the process and take away some of the initial legal paperwork. -Whenever the petitioner files the Original Petition for Divorce, they can speak to the courts and ask for a standard temporary restraining order to be issued in their divorce case. The point of this restraining order is to help both parties reach a fair settlement in their divorce. The restraining order can be used to ensure no assets are altered or disappear before they are divided, as well as legally require both parties work together in a civil manner with no threatening behaviors. -In divorce cases where there is not a Temporary Restraining Order issues, the respondent will have a 20 day period plus the next following Monday, in which they can file a document known as, “an Answer.” During this time, the court will also in some cases see it appropriate to place temporary orders. These temporary orders affect a wide range of issues in the divorce including temporary custody agreements, visitation, use of shared property, as well as financial orders. In some cases, these

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Your family law case may be the most important legal issue you ever face in your life. It can also be the most emotionally and financially challenging life event you experience.

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Renken Law Firm knows how difficult and painful dealing with these issues can be. We will take your case, and all the turmoil that comes with it, very seriously. You can trust us to not only be relentless in our pursuit of the best possible solution for you, but we will also take into consideration how much this process is both emotionally and financially impacting you. Renken Law Firm can be relentless, but you can always trust us to listen.

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Parents are also obligated to provide health and dental insurance for their children in Texas.The court can order either parent to enroll a child on an existing health insurance policy but customarily orders the child support obligor to do so or to reimburse the cost of the health and dental care premium to the primary custodian of the child.While the terms alimony and spousal maintenance are often used interchangeably, they are very different things under Texas law.They both achieve the same goal during a divorce, however.They both allow one spouse to receive financial support from the other.Renken Law Firm understands the distinction between alimony and spousal maintenance.Our understanding of the difference between these two means of financial support allows us to pursue an outcome that best meets your needs.Along with her ability to aggressively litigate Family Law matters, Dawn Renken is a Licensed Mediator through ADR Services International Inc, since 2014. Traditionally, mediation has been shown to be an excellent option for couples seeking an amicable divorce who ultimately have compatible goals for property settlements and custody disputes.Mediation promotes a compromise that works well for both parties, while making it possible to avoid court appearances and additional attorney’s fees.What is Divorce Mediation?Divorce mediation is a private process in which a neutral third person (a mediator) helps divorcing couples reach a mutually satisfactory settlement of the issues in their case, including child support, custody and visitation, alimony, and property division.A mediator does not act as a judge, arbitrator, or counselor, but assists the spouses in reaching a voluntary agreement.Along with her ability to aggressively litigate Family Law matters, Dawn Renken is a Licensed Mediator through ADR Services International Inc, since 2014. Traditionally, mediation has been shown to be an excellent option for couples seeking an amicable divorce who ultimately have compatible goals for property settlements and custody disputes. Mediation promotes a compromise that works well for both parties, while making it possible to avoid court appearances and additional attorney’s feesDivorce mediation is an affordable and private divorce option, mediation also has a proven history for helping families resolve disputes without the need for a trial. Taking your case to trial typically will increase the amount of time, money, and stress involved in your divorce.While no divorce method is completely stress free, divorce mediation allows both parties to have their needs represented. The divorcing couple will be given the chance to work together to reach an amicable resolution in their case, instead of allowing a judge to have the final say.Dawn Renken, became a licensed mediator through ADR Services International Inc. in 2014. Since this time, Attorney Renken has been working as a Cypress divorce mediation expert with couples to help them work together to reach divorce agreements that are mutually beneficial for their long term needs.The role of the mediator is to simply ensure all important matters are discussed and dealt with, as well as ensure neither party is using bully tactics in order to get the other party to agree to the terms they desire for their divorce. Your divorce agreement is only finalized when both parties agree to the terms of the divorce and sign off on it. If you are unable to work together to reach an amicable divorce agreement, mediation will not be a viable method for divorce. If you and your spouse are actively looking to work through your divorce together, Renken Law Firm can help by offering affordable divorce mediation in Houston, TX.In addition to traditional divorce methods, we excel in providing the best divorce mediation services in Houston, TX. Divorce mediation offers a more cost-effective and private approach, allowing the divorcing parties to determine the final terms of their divorce. To explore this option further, we encourage you to contact our office and learn more about our mediation services.Renken Law Firm understands that many individuals hesitate to initiate the divorce process due to uncertainty and concerns about excessive legal fees. We assure you that our Houston, TX team is dedicated to your success and has a proven track record of achieving client satisfaction.We recognize the emotional toll that divorce takes on families, and we strive to make the process as smooth as possible. Whether your case involves mediated or contested divorce, our attorneys will provide unwavering support every step of the way until your divorce is finalized. Take the first steps toward filing for divorce in the state of Texas by scheduling a consultation with our legal team at Renken Law Firm today.Is Texas an At-Fault State?In the state of Texas, divorce proceedings do not require spouses to provide a specific reason or cause for seeking the divorce, making it a “no-fault” state. However, it is important to note that if one spouse is at fault for the breakdown of the marriage, it may be considered by the court when dividing property. This means that the at-fault party may be responsible for providing more to the other spouse. Although fault grounds are not mandatory, it is advisable for spouses to include them in their divorce petition.At Renken Law Firm, our mission is to advocate for families and help them make the best decisions for their unique circumstances. Our top priority is protecting the best interests of any children involved in the divorce. Our dedicated legal team is committed to achieving the best possible outcomes for you and your family. Whether you are contemplating filing for divorce or currently going through the process, contact Renken Law Firm for assistance. We will guide you through this challenging time and ensure that you consider all significant factors that may impact your finances or family dynamics. Reach out to us today to learn more about our comprehensive family law services and how we can support you.The Renken Law Firm has worked hard to earn a reputation for efficiently practicing diligent and focused legal services. During the course of our representation, you can expect expert legal advice in the areas of divorce, separation planning, custody disputes, child support cases, grandparents rights, prenuptial agreements, attorney general cases and enforcement actions.Receive prompt service and protect your rights by contacting us to schedule an appointment. In times of personal crisis we understand that you want answers. As your legal counsel, this firm will provide you with answers and options. Additionally, we will guide you through what you can expect during the process and help you to understand your options and rights as mandated by Texas Law. Our knowledge and experience has provided us with a strong base of strategies and methods to assist you to reach a successful resolution. Once retained, we invite you to demand and expect your case to be handled in an organized, timely, effective and cost-efficient manner. Step 1: Consult Contact Renken Law Firm to schedule your no obligation one hour consultation to evaluate your case. Step 2: Prepare You’ve never been through this. We understand that. We are here for you. Step 3: Negotiate Whether informal negotiation or mediation, you can trust Renken Law Firm’s decades of experience. Step 4: Litigate When negotiation fails, Renken Law Firm is prepared to fight for you at trial with experienced litigators. Your family law case may be the most important legal issue you ever face in your life. It can also be the most emotionally and financially challenging life event you experience. Renken Law Firm knows how difficult and painful dealing with these issues can be. We will take your case, and all the turmoil that comes with it, very seriously. You can trust us to not only be relentless in our pursuit of the best possible solution for you, but we will also take into consideration how much this process is both emotionally and financially impacting you. Renken Law Firm can be relentless, but you can always trust us to listen. © 2023 The Renken Law Firm. All rights reserved. Our comprehensive family law services include the resolution of divorces through litigation, divorce mediation or collaborative law, depending on the specific details of your case. We can take on all matters related to Divorce Practice or dissolution of a common law marriage, including: We are committed to aggressively and efficiently advocating for your rights . We customize our representation to the needs of your case. Throughout the process, we will keep you involved. We will provide honest information about the progress of your case and strive to achieve the best possible outcome. Enforcing Texas Orders Renken Law Firm, PLLC represent clients seeking to enforce the terms of a divorce decree or custody order. You may need to seek to enforce an order when the other parent has failed to pay their court ordered child support or if you have been denied visitation with your child. We have extensive experience with both seeking relief for these types of issues and also defending against these types of cases. Having an experienced lawyer who has handled both sides of the issue provides you a unique attorney who can reasonably anticipate what the other side may attempt to do. If the non-custodial parent refuses to pay court ordered child support or you have been denied visitation, contact us. If you have been accused of nonpayment or denying the opposing party visitation, a possible contempt outcome is jail time. Do not go to court alone, contact Renken Law Firm, PLLC. Enforcement for Delinquent Child Support Child support arrearages not only can lead to wage garnishment, property liens and loss of tax refunds, they can also result in loss of your license to drive, fish, hunt, sell real estate, teach or practice medicine. Whether your problem involves modification or enforcement of family law rights, our lawyers can advise and represent you. Enforcement / Contempt of Court Actions When a parent refuses to honor visitation orders, fails to pay child support or fails to comply with other court orders, the parent is in contempt of court. In most circumstances, it is important that a child is supported by and has meaningful relationships with both parents. That is why it is so important to follow custody, visitation and support arrangements. Failure to do so can jeopardize the child’s well being. If a parent willfully and recklessly avoided complying with orders when it was feasible to do so, the parent may be charged criminally with contempt and could face potential jail time, fines and other consequences. Our attorneys help clients pursue court orders of enforcement. We also defend against actions where enforcement or contempt cases are brought against you unjustly or for spite. Child Support Enforcement Actions If you are facing a child support enforcement action initiated by the Attorney General, Renken Law Firm, PLLC can answer the complaint and try to transfer your case to family court, where your options for a realistic payment plan will be somewhat broader. If you are the parent trying to enforce the terms of a divorce or paternity child support order, we can help ensure that your right to payment is brought current as quickly as possible.

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