The Fort Worth Divorces Attorneys at The Law Offices of Jayson Nag have extensive experience handling divorces from the simple, uncontested divorce to complex, large estate divorces. If you are facing a divorce in Fort Worth, Dallas, Arlington, Mansfield, Aledo, or Weatherford its important that you hire an experienced attorney who knows how to litigate complex divorce cases. Not doing so can cost you months of time in litigation and thousands of dollars in attorney's fees.
So You Are Thinking About Getting A Divorce…
Although divorce is something commonly shared between adults of all backgrounds, ages, and experiences, it can be a complex, and tiresome, process. If you and your spouse have children or own any kind of property, hiring an attorney that will help you navigate the complexities of Texas family law will be crucial in protecting your interests throughout your divorce. At The Law Offices of Jayson Nag, our experienced family law attorneys are prepared to see your divorce head-on, no matter how simple or difficult your situation may be. But first and foremost, we like all of our clients to know what to expect in the case of a divorce.
How do I start the divorce process?
The divorce process begins with an Original Petition for Divorce. The original petition is a document filed with the county that establishes the marriage relationship, requests dissolution of the marriage, establishes the grounds for dissolution, and summarizes how children and property should be handled. Typically, the grounds for a divorce will be that the marriage relationship has become insupportable, which simply means that there is irreconcilable conflict within the marriage. A divorce may be granted on several other grounds, however, such as adultery, cruelty, or abandonment.
Whoever files the petition must meet two residency requirements in the State of Texas: the petitioner must (1) have lived in Texas for the past six months and (2) been a resident in the county he or she plans to file for the divorce in for at least 90 days.
So what happens next?
After filing the original petition, your divorce may be done in as little as 60 days. This may be the case for couples who can agree on how children and property should be handled, or for couples who do not have any children or property.
For couples who cannot agree on such things, this time-frame may be prolonged by the gathering of information on your assets and debts, outlining your finances and expenses, collecting evidence, and disputing any conflicts regarding children and property. For anything that needs to be resolved quickly, such as where kids will reside and who will remain in the family home, a judge will order what are called “temporary orders” based either on agreement or the court’s discretion. The temporary orders will remain effective until all issues can be resolved by agreement or in final trial.
Spouses may, and are encouraged, to come to an agreement on all issues of children and property before resorting to a final trial. In fact, the judge may require you and your spouse to attend mediation to attempt such an agreement.
What is mediation?
Mediation involves hiring a neutral third-party, the mediator, to work with both spouses on creating an agreement that resolves all issues without the need for a final trial. Since the mediator is a neutral party whose goal is to reach an agreement, the mediator will often provide realistic insight on how a judge may rule on the parties’ issues while still seeking an agreement that the parties are both comfortable with.
It is important to note that if you come to an agreement in mediation, you typically will be bound by that agreement and it will become the final order. Most family law cases end in mediation. However, if you cannot come to an agreement in mediation, your divorce will likely go to final trial.
What happens at final trial?
Final trial is when anything that has not been agreed to will be resolved by the court. All of the information and evidence that you gathered will be put on display for the judge, or jury if elected, to examine and make final orders on. You can expect that any and all of your dirty laundry, that is relevant to your issues, will be aired out here. Each side may call witnesses to relevant events, produce admissible evidence, and provide their own testimony in order to sway the court in their favor.
The final trial will end with the court making a final order. The final order will be binding, and will provide absolute clarity on how property and debts are divided, conservatorship and possession of the children, any support to be paid, etc. Once the final orders have been made, you will be granted a divorce.
For more helpful tips on navigating your divorce, click HERE.
What should I do if I want a divorce in Texas?
Texas family law can be overwhelming, and you do not want to take a risk on the most important parts of your life. Call our office at 817.900.2823. At The Law Offices of Jayson Nag, our attorneys will worry about the complexities of court so you do not have to. Get started on your case today by filing out an intake form here.
Hiring an experienced Divorce Lawyer can make all the difference with your case. Divorces are complicated legal proceedings and many divorces in which people are unrepresented are simply thrown out by the judge because proper procedure was not followed. Don't take that chance, call our dedicated family law attorneys at Jayson Nag today at 817-900-2823.