- In order to file for divorce in Texas, you must live in this state for six months and in the county where you file for at least 90 days.
- There is no legal separation in Texas.
- An uncontested or agreed divorce may be granted after the 60-day waiting period or sooner if there is a conviction for domestic violence.
- A divorce that has any contested issue (child support, division of property, custody) may take nine months or more to reach final trial if no agreement is reached between the parties or in mediaton (which is required by most courts prior to trial and some courts before any contested hearing.)
- Child support is based on after-tax income, not net income. The law provides a chart in which your gross income is entered to determine your after-tax income. The parent responsible for child support is, under the law, responsible for health insurance on the child(ren), although both parents will typically share uninsured expenses.
- The percentage of child support to income is based on the number of children involved in your divorce, as well as any children from prior relationships currently being supported by the parent responsible for child support.
- A typical mistake spouses make is referring to "my" money and "his" money. Texas is a community property state - what your lawyer needs to know is what property was acquired prior to marriage, after marriage or by gift or inheritance.