If you have decided that your marriage has come to an end, there are several issues that must be considered prior to finalizing the divorce, including:
- custody
- child support
- visitation
- division of property
- division of the debt
There are a few different avenues that can be taken to end a marriage. Many people choose to get an uncontested divorce which is a quick, easy, and inexpensive process in which the couple comes to an agreement on all aspects of the divorce.
In Texas, couples must wait at least 60 days from the time a Petition for Divorce is filed until the time a divorce will be granted. After the waiting period is over, the divorce can be finalized at any time by having a brief hearing with the Judge where either party can give testimony declaring the necessity for divorce and present the Final Orders to the Judge for signature.
For couples who have not agreed on the terms of the divorce, there are two ways to approach the process – the Collaborative Approach or a traditional divorce. The Collaborative Approach is a civil process that uses a team of professionals who help the couple work together to reach the terms of the divorce. The process is usually complete in 9-12 months which makes it a much faster process than the traditional avenue. There is minimal court involvement and the couple usually walks away with the ability to at least be civil to each other, if not friends.
For couples who cannot come to the table and work on their divorce issues together, the traditional route is taken which is a lengthy and expensive process. Due to heavy court dockets, couples who need to have a trial could end up waiting 12-24 months to finalize their divorce. The process can be emotionally traumatizing with the parties ending up being bitter enemies. Worse yet, trials are public record which means that anyone can have access to the court documents in the future – including the couple’s children. This can place parents in an awkward situation years down the line when the children question them about things that happened during the divorce proceeding.
For an end result that is favorable to the entire family, The Gilkes Law Firm strongly recommends that couples make every attempt to work together to end the divorce amicably. To schedule a free consultation and discuss the details of your case, give us a call today. Phones are answered 24/7.
