Updated on August 24, 2022
If your marriage is falling apart and you are considering filing for divorce, you need to understand that there are two types of divorce in Texas: contested and uncontested. There are several differences between these two types of divorce. In addition, the steps involved in filing for a contested or uncontested divorce in Texas can vary.
It is essential to choose the right kind of divorce for your case. Schedule a FREE consultation with our Coryell County divorce attorney at The Law Office of Brett H. Pritchard to help you choose the right type of divorce for your particular situation.
What Is a Contested Divorce?
As its name implies, a contested divorce means that spouses have one or more contested issues. In many divorce cases, it is impossible to reach an agreement on all issues to file for an uncontested divorce.
For example, when getting a divorce, spouses may agree on the division of property, alimony, and child support but may disagree on child custody. Since there is at least one contested issue, the spouses would need to file for a contested divorce.
The more contested issues you have, the more time-consuming and costly the divorce process will be.
If you are pursuing a contested divorce, you can finalize your divorce quickly if you hire an experienced Coryell County divorce attorney who guides you through the process and represents your best interests. Your attorney may advise you to try collaborative divorce or mediation as an alternative to going to court.
What Is an Uncontested Divorce?
Pursuing an uncontested divorce means that the spouses have to reach an agreement regarding alimony, child support, child custody, and the division of community property and debt. When you and your spouse agree on all divorce-related issues, you can pursue an uncontested divorce, which is usually a cheaper and faster alternative to a contested divorce.
If you and your spouse can agree on all issues, you need a skilled attorney to help you enter into a written agreement to resolve all divorce-related issues. Working with a divorce lawyer is the best way to finalize your divorce quickly. If you don’t have a divorce lawyer yet, contact us today to schedule a consultation.
The main difference between contested and uncontested divorces is that contested divorces usually involve court battles and require more time, money, and patience to be resolved compared to uncontested divorces.
How Do I File for a Contested or Uncontested Divorce in Texas?
Once you have decided whether you want a contested or uncontested divorce, it is time to initiate the divorce process.
1. File an Original Petition for Divorce
The first step in the divorce process is filing an Original Petition for Divorce, regardless of the type of divorce you pursue. The petition initiates the divorce process.
It is advisable to have an experienced Coryell County divorce attorney help you prepare the divorce petition, which must include information about the spouses and their marriage as well as identify all divorce-related issues, including the following divorce terms:
Alimony
Child support
Division of property
Child custody
If you have not yet found a divorce attorney to help you with your case, schedule a consultation right away. A divorce attorney can help you file for divorce and offer guidance throughout the divorce process.
2. Serve the Other Spouse
The second step in the divorce process is to serve the Respondent with a copy of the petition.The spouse who filed the Original Petition for Divorce is officially known as the Petitioner, while the other spouse is called the Respondent.
If spouses are seeking a contested divorce, the Respondent is usually served with divorce papers through a sheriff or process server. When pursuing an uncontested divorce, the parties can sign a Waiver of Service to speed up the divorce process.
3. Wait for a Response to the Divorce Petition
After being served divorce papers, the Respondent must file a response to the Petitioner’s divorce petition. Under Texas law, the Respondent has 20 days from the date of receiving a copy of the divorce petition to submit his or her answer. The Respondent must file a response in both contested and uncontested divorces unless the parties waived the process of service.
In a contested divorce, the Respondent may also file a counterpetition in addition to his or her response.
In some cases, the Respondent won’t sign the divorce papers. If you find yourself in this situation, read “What to Do if My Spouse Refuses to Sign the Divorce Papers in Texas?” for more information on how to proceed.
4. Exchange Documents and Information (Discovery)
Discovery is a formal pre-trial process during which each spouse obtains evidence, documents, and information from the other spouse. The spouses exchange documents and information according to the procedural rules established by Texas law. Read more about the kinds of information that is exchanged by reading “The 5 Most Common Types of Discovery.”
Discovery plays a critical role in contested divorces. In uncontested divorces, on the other hand, spouses may agree to an informal process to exchange the necessary documents and information with the help of an attorney to make the process less expensive and time-consuming.
5. Attend a Temporary Order Hearing
When seeking a contested divorce, spouses will usually attend a temporary order hearing to address issues on a short-term basis. During the hearing, a judge will establish the rules that both spouses must follow while the divorce case is pending.
Typically, temporary order hearings are not necessary in uncontested divorce cases because the spouses agree on all issues of their divorce and do not need a judge to make decisions for them.
For more information about temporary orders, what they include, and how they are determined, read “Q/A: Enforcing Temporary Orders in a Texas Divorce.”
6. Attend a Final Hearing
If you are pursuing a contested divorce, you will have to go to court to attend a final hearing in front of the judge. At the hearing, the judge will finalize your divorce by completing both of the following actions:
Deciding all of the contested issues
Issuing a Final Decree of Divorce
In uncontested divorces, the parties do not need to attend a final hearing because they will agree on the terms of the divorce without a judge (though they still need approval from the judge to finalize the divorce). The spouses need a lawyer to draft a Final Decree of Divorce for it to be approved by the judge.
Speak with a Coryell County Divorce Attorney
Since contested divorces generally take longer than uncontested ones and cost much more money, you need a skilled attorney to help you and your spouse reach a mutually beneficial agreement to file for an uncontested divorce.
However, even if you decide to pursue a contested divorce, an attorney can represent you and help protect your rights during litigation and court hearings.
Contact our Coryell County divorce attorneys at The Law Office of Brett H. Pritchard to understand what would be your best course of action in your particular case. Call (254) 781-4222 or contact us online to schedule a FREE case review.