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Texas
Divorce
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RESIDENCY
REQUIREMENTS AND WHERE TO FILE: One of the spouses must have
resided in Texas for 6 months prior to filing and in the county
where the divorce is filed for 90 days prior to filing. [Texas Codes
Annotated; Family Code, Chapter 6.301].
LEGAL
GROUNDS FOR DIVORCE: No-Fault: (1) the marriage has become insupportable
because of discord or conflict of personalities that has destroyed
the legitimate ends of the marriage relationship and prevents any
reasonable expectation of reconciliation; or (2) living separate
and apart without cohabitation for 3 years. [Texas Codes Annotated;
Family Code, Chapters 6.001 and 6.006]. General: (1) adultery; (2)
abandonment; (3) confinement for incurable insanity for 3 years;
(4) conviction of a felony and imprisonment for over 1 year; and
(5) cruel and inhuman treatment. [Texas Codes Annotated; Family
Code, Chapters 6.001-6.008].
LEGAL
SEPARATION: Separation agreements are expressly authorized by
statute. [Texas Codes Annotated; Family Code, Chapter 7.006].
SIMPLIFIED
OR SPECIAL DIVORCE PROCEDURES: Separation agreements and property
settlements are expressly authorized, including agreements regarding
conservatorship and child support provisions. [Texas Codes Annotated;
Family Code, Chapters 7.006].
MEDIATION
OR COUNSELING REQUIREMENTS: It is the official policy of the
state of Texas to promote amicable and non-judicial settlements
of issues regarding children and families. Upon written agreement
of the spouses or the court's own decision, the court may refer
the divorce proceeding to mediation. The mediated settlement of
the case is binding if it is signed by the spouses, any attorneys
of the spouses, and provides that the agreement is not subject to
revocation. In addition, upon request, the court can order both
spouses to consult a marriage counselor. If the counselor's report
indicates a reasonable expectation of reconciliation, the court
can order further counseling for up to 60 additional days. Upon
every filing for divorce, the court clerk is required to furnish
a statement to the person filing regarding the availability of marital
counseling services. In addition, if there has been a history of
conflict and difficulties in resolving questions of access to any
children, the court may order either parent to participate in counseling.
[Texas Codes Annotated; Family Code, Chapters 102.0085, 153.010,
6.505 and 6.602].
PROPERTY
DISTRIBUTION: Texas is a "community property" state. The "community"
property, consisting of any other property acquired by either spouse
during the marriage, will be divided equally, unless the court finds
that equal division would be unjust. In addition, the court may
divide property acquired by either spouse while residing outside
of Texas which would have been community property if they had acquired
it while residing in Texas. The only factors for consideration specified
in the statute are a due regard for the rights of each party and
any children. Any property possessed by either spouse during the
marriage is presumed to be community property unless it can be shown
that the property is actually separate property. A court can determine
the rights of the spouses in any pension or retirement plan or their
rights under any insurance policy. [Texas Codes Annotated; Family
Code, Chapters 7.001-7.006].
ALIMONY/MAINTENANCE/SPOUSAL
SUPPORT: The court may award maintenance for a spouse only if
(1) the spouse from whom maintenance is requested has been convicted
of family violence within 2 years before the suit for dissolution;
or (2) the duration of the marriage was 10 years or longer and the
spouse seeking maintenance (a) lacks sufficient property to provide
for his or her reasonable minimum needs; or (b) is unable to support
him or her self through employment because of an incapacitating
physical or mental disability; or (c) is the custodian of a child
which requires substantial care and supervision because of a physical
or mental disability which makes it necessary that the spouse not
be employed outside the home; or (d) clearly lacks earning ability
in the labor market adequate to provide for the spouse's minimum
reasonable needs. If the court determines that a spouse is eligible
for maintenance, the following factors are then considered in the
award: (1) the financial resources of the spouse seeking maintenance,
including both separate and community property and liabilities;
(2) the spouse's ability to meet his or her needs independently;
(3) the education and employment skills of the spouses; (4) the
time necessary for the supported spouse to acquire sufficient training
or education to enable him or her to find employment; (5) the availability
and feasibility of that training; (6) the duration of the marriage;
(7) the age, employment history, earning ability, and physical and
emotional condition of the spouse seeking maintenance; (8) the ability
of the supporting spouse to meet their own needs and make any child
support payments; (9) excessive or abnormal expenditures, concealment
or destruction of any property by either spouse; (10) the comparative
financial resources of the spouses, including medical, retirement,
insurance or other benefits, and any separate property; (11) the
contribution of one spouse to the education, training, or increased
earning power of the other spouse; (12) the contribution of either
spouse as homemaker; (13) any marital misconduct of the spouse seeking
maintenance; (14) the efforts of the spouse seeking maintenance
to seek employment; (15) the efforts of the spouse seeking maintenance
to obtain self-support skills while the divorce is pending or during
any separation; and (16) property brought to the marriage by either
spouse. [Texas Codes Annotated; Family Code, Chapter 8.001 - 8.011].
CHILD CUSTODY:
Joint or sole managing conservatorship (custody) is determined according
to the best interests of the child. The sex of the parents is not
a factor for consideration. The wishes of the child may be considered.
The factors to be considered in determining the terms and conditions
for possession of a child by the possessory conservator (parent
with visitation) are as follows: (1) the age, circumstances, needs,
and best interests of the child; (2) the circumstances of the parents;
(3) evidence of any spouse or child abuse; and (4) any other relevant
factor. The factors specified in the statute for consideration in
decisions regarding joint managing conservatorship are: (1) whether
the physical, psychological, or emotional needs and development
of the child will benefit; (2) the ability of the parents to give
first priority to the welfare of the child and reach shared decisions
in the child's best interests; (3) whether each parent can encourage
and accept a positive relationship between the child and the other
parent; (4) whether both parents participated in child rearing before
the filing of the suit; (5) the geographical proximity of the homes
of the parents; (6) if the child is 14 years old or older, the preference
of the child; and (7) any other relevant factor. The court may not
award joint managing conservatorship is there is any credible evidence
of spousal or child abuse or neglect. Parents may file a written
agreement with the court regarding joint managing conservatorship.
The court will award joint managing conservatorship based on an
agreement between the parents if the agreement: (1) establishes
the county of residence of the child; (2) states the rights and
duties of each parent regarding the child's present and future care,
support, and education; (3) includes provisions to minimize disruption
of the child's schooling, daily routine and association with friends;
(4) was entered into voluntarily and knowingly; and (5) is in the
best interests of the child. In addition, there are standard terms
for a court's order on a child's conservatorship set out in the
statute that are presumed to be the minimum allowable time that
the parent who is not awarded the primary physical residence of
the child is to have the child. [Texas Codes Annotated; Family Code,
Chapter 153.004 to 153.434].
CHILD
SUPPORT: Either or both parents may be ordered to make periodic,
lump-sum, or both type of child support payments. There are official
child support guidelines set out in the statute and these are presumed
to be reasonable and in the best interests of the child. The factors
for consideration are: (1) the age and needs of the child; (2) the
ability of the parents to contribute to the support of the child;
(3) any financial resources available for the support of the child;
(4) the amount of possession and access to the child; (5) the net
resources of the parent to pay support, including the earning potential
of the parent to pay support if the actual income is that parent
is significantly less than what that parent could earn, if intentionally
unemployed or underemployed; (6) any child care expenses necessary
for the employment of either parent; (7) whether a parent has custody
of another child and any child support expenses being paid or received
for the care of another child; (8) the amount of alimony being currently
paid or received; (9) provisions for health care; (10) any special
educational or health care needs of the child; (11) any benefits
a parent receives from an employer; (12) any debts or obligations
of a parent; (13) any wage or salary deductions of the parents;
(14) the cost of traveling to visit the child; (15) any positive
or negative cash flow from any assets, including a business or investments;
(16) any provisions for health care or insurance; (17) any special
or extraordinary educational, health care, or other expenses of
the parents or the child; and (18) any other relevant factor. The
court may order health insurance coverage to be provided for the
child. In addition, the court may order income withholding to secure
the payment of child support. [Texas Codes Annotated; Family Code,
Chapter 154.001-154.309].
PREMARITAL
AGREEMENT: The agreement must be in writing and signed by both parties
and is enforceable without consideration. The agreement is not enforceable
if the party proves that (1) the agreement was not voluntarily signed;
(2) the agreement was unconscionable when signed or before signing,
the party was not provided a fair and reasonable disclosure of the
property or financial obligations of the other party, did not voluntarily
waive any right to the disclosure of this information, and did not
have adequate knowledge of these obligations. If the marriage is
determined to be void, the agreement is enforceable only to the
extent necessary to avoid an inequitable result. [Texas Codes Annotated;
Family Code, Chapters 4.002, 4.006, and 4.007].
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