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It is 2021, and we have all been living through a pandemic and have spent a good deal of time at home. As a result, many of us have honed our DIY skills and are able to do all kinds of things – from making sourdough bread to hanging shelves in the garage – on our own. Does this, however, translate to divorce? The truth is that it probably does not. Understanding the basics about DIY divorce in Texas can help you make better-informed decisions moving forward. Ultimately, your divorce will directly affect your parental and financial rights, which makes getting it right paramount.
You Are Not Required to Have an Attorney
There is no law that requires you to hire an attorney for your divorce (or anything else), and the law welcomes you to go ahead and do it yourself. In fact, with the social-distancing consequences of the pandemic, you can theoretically complete your divorce online without ever having to set foot in a courtroom. While this may seem like a savings of both time and money, it is important to consider the matter more critically, and a dedicated divorce attorney can help you with that.
Your Only Actual Requirement
Every divorcing couple in Texas faces one requirement, and this is your residency requirement, which applies at both the state and county levels. The requirements include:
- At least one of you has been living in the State of Texas for at least six months.
- At least one of you has been living in the county in which you are filing for a specified number of days (generally 90).
Further, there is a mandatory 60-day waiting period – from the time of filing – before your divorce can be finalized.
Is Your Divorce Contested?
A contested divorce means that you and your divorcing spouse cannot reach a mutually acceptable arrangement regarding at least one of the following terms:
- The division of your marital property
- Your child custody arrangements
- Alimony
- Child support
If this is the case, you will need the court to intervene and make the necessary decisions on your behalf.
The point here is that if you and your divorcing spouse have hit a standstill, there is very little chance that the minimalist approach of a DIY divorce is going to serve your needs. If your divorce is not contested, and you and your divorcing spouse have found common ground on every term that applies, the repercussions of cementing your fate with a divorce mistake should give you pause. The fact is that you may not be fully aware of all the implications you are signing off on, and your best interests would be far better protected with an experienced Harker Heights divorce attorney on your side.
Seek the Legal Counsel of an Experienced Harker Heights Divorce Attorney Today
Divorce involves complex legal matters that do not translate well to DIY projects. Brett Pritchard at The Law Office of Brett H. Pritchard in Harker Heights, Texas, is a trusted divorce attorney who understands your desire to obtain as streamlined a divorce as possible, and he is committed to helping you obtain divorce terms that protect your financial and parental rights as efficiently as possible. For more information, please do not hesitate to contact or call us at (254) 220-4225 today.