Divorce Waiting Period in Texas

What Is the Divorce Waiting Period in Texas?

It is common for clients to want to know how quickly they can get divorced in Texas. A bad marriage can make anyone want to expedite the process. The State of Texas, however, has waiting periods and other time limits that can prolong the divorce process.

The quickest time you can have a divorce finalized is 61 days after filing the divorce paperwork with the court. However, for the divorce to be granted this quickly, there cannot be anything contested in the divorce. With this in mind, most divorces take 90 to 120 days to complete.

What Can Be Contested In The Divorce?

The three things that can delay a divorce from being finalized in 61 days include:

  • Contesting the divorce itself
  • Contesting property divisions
  • Contesting arrangements made for the children

Both parties must agree upon these three significant issues for a final divorce.

Of course, some minor issues need to be resolved before a divorce can be finalized, but these are the three main issues that can stall a divorce.

Time Limits Associated With A Texas Divorce

The first set of time requirements for a Texas divorce concerns residency. to file for a divorce in Texas:

  • One spouse must have lived in Texas for the past six months consecutively.
  • The spouse filing for divorce must have lived for 90 days consecutively in the county that they are filing for the divorce.

Once you have established that you can file for a divorce in Texas, the court will place a 60-day waiting period on the divorce. The only rare exception to this waiting period is if one of the spouses is in physical danger. If the court finds that the spouse is at risk of harm or abuse, a divorce can be expedited.

On day 61, you can legally get divorced after you have filed your Petition for Dissolution of Marriage. Again, this is if everything has been settled between both parties. Not until all issues are settled will the court approve the divorce.

Going through a divorce can be a very challenging situation. Emotions are often running high, and it is easy to get caught up in arguing over the division of assets and the care of the children.

These prolonged arguments can make the divorce process much longer and more expensive. Neither party wants to prolong the process or spend more money on the divorce, so the best solution is for both parties to seek quality legal representation.

Working with a divorce attorney at Nilsson Legal Group will be in your best interest if you are facing a divorce. Our attorneys can help guide you through the divorce process and protect your rights during all negotiations. We can help you move through the divorce process quickly so that you can move forward with healing and starting your new life.

Schedule your free legal consultation today.