How to Navigate The Divorce Process in Brownsville Texas!

Texas spouses who choose to get divorced frequently find themselves unsure of where to start once they have made that decision.

Before doing anything else, it is recommended that each spouse reach out to a respected Texas divorce law firm that can help them through the process.

Divorce attorneys recognize five distinct stages in the divorce process that they must guide their clients through.

With the help of an experienced divorce lawyer, spouses can be assured that their interests are protected and they can negotiate fairly to achieve an agreement that is accepted and finalized by the Texas family court.

1. Planning

Although there is no rule that spouses seeking a divorce in Texas must hire a divorce law firm to do so, it is recommended in most cases due to the amount of planning and negotiation that must be done.

Before filing any papers, divorce attorneys will discuss important pre-planning topics with their clients, from beginning the process of separating from the other spouse to how to handle important negotiations during that stage of the process.

The planning stage is essential, as it allows lawyers to fully explain what will happen during the divorce process to their clients as well as work out a strategy and course of action for each of these steps.

Good planning with an experienced divorce lawyer is also a critical step for confirming that a spouse truly does want to end the marriage and that there are no other options at that point.

2. Filing and Serving

After the discussion and planning stage with a divorce attorney is complete and a spouse confirms that they wish to pursue their divorce, the next step is to file the papers and serve their spouse.

Upon filing the initial papers, a case number will be assigned by the County Clerk and then they will be delivered to the spouse being served to provide them legal notice that divorce papers have been filed.

Served spouses have twenty days to respond, after which the case will move forward.

3. Temporary Orders

When necessary, spouses and their divorce lawyers will appear in court to set up some temporary rules that will apply while the divorce is in progress.

These temporary orders typically relate to living accommodations, child custody plus support, spousal support, and other decisions that must be temporarily made while couples and their attorneys negotiate these same issues as well as many others for the final divorce agreement.

4. Negotiations

Once there are necessary temporary orders in place, spouses and their divorce law firms will then engage in the discovery and negotiations phase of the process.

This is typically the longest part of the process, especially when it involves evidence-gathering for divorces with grounds.

Negotiation over the distribution of marital assets, child custody, and other important decisions can then be done via mediation whenever possible or in court, if mediation fails or is not possible.

The end goal of the negotiations phase is to draft a viable divorce agreement to present to the court for approval.

5. Final Decree

After the two spouses and their divorce attorneys are able to negotiate a fair distribution of marital assets and come to an agreement on other essential decisions, the divorce agreement can be presented to the court to seek the judge’s approval.

The final divorce decree will be drafted accordingly and once it is signed by the judge, the divorce is considered final and official.

Get Through Divorce Easier with An Experienced Divorce Attorney

While it may not seem that the process of getting divorced is so complex, in truth there are many details that must be addressed to ensure a fair divorce agreement and decree.

Texas spouses in need of guidance can rely on an experienced divorce law firm to help them through the process most effectively.

A skilled Texas divorce lawyer is an invaluable asset for navigating the divorce process and ending it on a positive note!