What it means “do it yourself” divorce in Texas?

The traditional process of obtaining a do-it-yourself divorce in Texas is to retain an attorney for a preliminary consultation. At this meeting, the attorney gives you advice about what do to next. That advice may well be “save your money, get some other kind of legal help, and forget about a do-it-yourself divorce.”

There are no do it yourself divorce guides in Texas

It’s a completely foreign concept to most people, because getting divorced is considered painful and complicated, and therefore an activity worthy of paying high professional prices.

The trick to DIY divorce in Texas is that you have to separate the property first. A do-it-yourself divorce is simply a way for couples to officially end their marriage without the cost and expense of hiring an attorney to handle the process.

A Do-It-Yourself (DIY) divorce is when both parties take complete responsibility for executing every aspect of the divorce process. This FAQ will help you understand how to approach a DIY divorce by providing information about the many steps involved in the process as well as tips on how to use your time and money wisely. You’ll also find answers to common questions.

In Texas, a divorce is either contested or uncontested. A `contested’ divorce is one where issues have to be resolved like division of property and alimony. An `uncontested’ divorce is one where the parties agree to all the issues and submit a Settlement Agreement that must be approved by the court.

Divorce is hard. At times, it can be property brutal. If you live in Texas, as soon as divorce problems arise, you should know that there are alternatives to fighting at the expense of your life savings and with no guarantees for a decent outcome. You can choose this path by representing yourself or hiring a Divorce Attorney to represent you in the divorce.

Every year, thousands of couples file for divorce in the state of Texas

These are often bitter fights that can escalate to terrifying proportions. Those who feel uncertain about these implications, and the absence of an experienced attorney, rely on the advice offered by well-meaning friends and family members.

Divorce is not something I wanted to do, but I was caught between a rock and a hard place. My husband left me with two children, a business that I co-owned, and he refused to have anything to do with the kids’ lives. The court system seemed like it was designed by men to benefit only selfish men and their lawyers. Many people know little about divorce in Texas because they’ve probably never had a friend or family member go through it.

In Texas, divorce is one of the few legal matters that must be handled by an attorney. Because this is so, there are many people who cannot get cheap Texas divorce. Either they can’t afford an attorney, or they can’t find one to take their case.

It doesn’t matter if you are in Texas or another state, you can file papers for a do-it-yourself divorce where it will cost you a great deal less money. If you were to go through a lawyer right now for the same types of forms they would cost you at least $2000.

My divorce was the most negative experience of my life

I wasted $30,000 and dragged my family through an agonizing process. If I had known about a DIY divorce, I could have done it all myself and spared everyone a lot of misery.

There are only two people I know of who has ever done a DIY divorce in Texas. (I’m one of them.) Through a collaborative divorce is impossible where there is a conflict of interest, including anger, vindictiveness, and antagonism, yet the right to a collaborative divorce can be preserved in court. The right to a “do it yourself” divorce only requires that a spouse who doesn’t want to be treated as hostile and antagonistic and insists on a covenantal relationship with his or her partner has the right to petition for complete self-sufficiency and self-autonomy so that this person does not have to remain.

You probably have not been thinking about your own divorce. It is not on your mind.  You are going to get divorced, of course, but you don’t know when exactly. And even if you do know when the final papers will be signed and the court will decree that your marriage has ended, it is not an event that looms large in your daily life. Unconsciously, silently, the issue may hover at a safe distance from you, like a black hole sun.

In Texas, the divorce laws are very pro-wife and pro-mother. This is not just a reflection of the pre-existing cultural norm; it is part of the law. In fact, in Texas children are not actually the child’s property until they reach 18 (although they can receive their inheritance immediately after age 13).

This page describes the divorce process in Texas. The goal is to empower innocent spouses (those who did not cheat) with information about how the divorce process works. Even if you decide to hire a lawyer, you still need to understand what’s going on. If you don’t, your attorney will be less effective, since he or she can’t protect your interests unless you participate.