How long is a divorce in Texas going to take?

Texas divorce process can be long and time consuming. There are many factors that can influence the time taken for a divorce in Texas.

Generally if the divorce is uncontested, then it shouldn’t take too long. An uncontested divorce can be completed in one court hearing. All that you need to do is file the divorce papers and then file a marital settlement agreement in the court which will lay down the terms of the divorce. An uncontested divorce does not take much time since the spouses have already reached an agreement on all issues including child support and alimony. An uncontested divorce is mutual – both spouses want to get out of the marriage and move on in life.

A contested divorce can take a long time depending on the issues involved. The issue of alimony must be decided. If there are children from the marriage, then the divorce proceedings will include hearings for child custody and support. In a contested divorce it is unlikely that either spouse would be willing to settle for anything less than what they consider is reasonable and just. So a contested divorce can result in numerous court hearings.

Texas divorce law mandates a 60 day waiting period from the date of filing of the divorce petition before the divorce can be finalized. Even spouses in an uncontested divorce must wait for 60 days from the date of filing of their divorce petition before their divorce can be granted by the court. So the minimum time required for a divorce in Texas in 60 days but contested divorce proceedings can go on for a year and even more depending on the extent of the disputes between the spouses. An experienced Texas divorce attorney can explain the factors that influence the time taken for a divorce in Texas.