The word “divorce” often sounds negative and depressing. However, when there is no hope for reconciliation, there is no point in dragging the marriage either. If you live in Texas, you can finalize your divorce in just 60 days, which is the cooling-off period mandatory for all divorces. You may also benefit immensely from hiring a divorce lawyer in Houston who can guide you on the process and answer your key questions. In this post, we are addressing some of the basic aspects of getting divorced in Houston, Texas.
Divorces can be complicated
Separating spouses often fight on many aspects related to the divorce – child custody, child support, alimony (known as maintenance in Texas), and distribution of assets. If you and your spouse can agree on these aspects and reach an acceptable agreement, your divorce doesn’t have to be a long-drawn process. Instead of waiting for the court’s judgment, you can discuss and negotiate on the key matters and come up with a resolution with your spouse. If you are not on talking terms with your spouse, this could be hard, which is one of the key reasons you need an attorney.
Texas is a community property state
What does that mean? In simple words, all assets and debts acquired by a couple during the course of the marriage will be treated as community property for division. These assets and properties will be divided equitably, but that does not always mean equal. The court will consider the economic realities of the spouses and other aspects to decide on assets and debts.
There is no hard rule for alimony or child custody
There was a time when the mother would typically get custody of the child, but that’s not the case anymore. The court will consider the “best interests of the child” to come up with a decision. The same is true for alimony, known as maintenance in Texas. Depending on the circumstances, either of the spouses can seek maintenance from the other. For instance, if you were not working for most of your marriage and were dependent on your spouse, you may ask for spousal support.
Hiring a lawyer doesn’t have to be expensive
It is a common myth that hiring a divorce attorney is an expensive affair. Yes, family lawyers usually charge by the hour for divorce matters, but the costs depend largely on the case. You can ask the lawyer for a ballpark estimate in advance.
