Overview
Divorce claims in Dallas County
Every divorce in Texas answers the same set of questions: how the community estate is divided, what happens with the children, whether either spouse needs support, and how quickly it can be done without leaving problems behind. Whether yours is settled in a single conversation or fought over for a year depends almost entirely on how far apart the two of you are on those answers.
Texas is a no-fault state, and most petitions are filed on the ground of insupportability — the marriage has become insupportable because of discord. Fault grounds such as cruelty, adultery, abandonment and conviction of a felony still exist, and pleading fault can matter when a court divides property. One spouse must have lived in Texas for six months and in the county for 90 days to file here, and no divorce can be finalized until 60 days after the petition is filed.
We handle both ends of the spectrum. For an uncontested case where you and your spouse agree, we can draft a decree that actually says what you meant and gets it entered cleanly. For a contested case — a disputed business interest, a retirement account that needs a QDRO, a spouse hiding assets, or a custody arrangement neither side will yield on — we prepare it as a case to be litigated while still working toward the settlement that most Texas divorces reach in mediation.
What We Handle
Divorce cases we take on
- Uncontested and agreed divorces
- Contested divorces involving children or significant assets
- Community and separate property characterization and division
- Division of retirement accounts, pensions and QDROs
- Family business and closely held company interests
- The marital residence — sale, buyout or award
- Temporary orders for support, possession and use of the home
- Spousal maintenance claims and defenses
- High-conflict cases involving hidden assets or dissipation
- Divorces involving family violence and protective orders
The Process
Three steps, start to resolution
- 01
Petition & Temporary Orders
We file (or answer) and, where needed, secure temporary orders that set the ground rules for finances, the home and the children while the case is pending.
- 02
Discovery & Mediation
We identify and value the community estate, exchange the required information, and take the case to mediation — where the large majority of Texas divorces are ultimately resolved.
- 03
Final Decree
Whether by agreement or after a contested hearing, we get a decree entered that is specific enough to be enforced later, and we handle the transfers and follow-up documents it requires.
Need a divorce attorney in Dallas?
Tell us what happened and we will tell you where you stand. Consultations are free, confidential, and available in English and Spanish.
FAQ
Divorce questions we hear
General information only — every case turns on its own facts. Call us for an answer about yours.
At minimum 60 days from filing, because Texas imposes a mandatory waiting period. Agreed cases often finish soon after. Contested cases involving children, a business or disputed property routinely run from several months to well over a year, depending on the court's docket and how much is genuinely in dispute.
Filing fees are set by the county, and attorney's fees depend almost entirely on how much conflict the case contains. Two people who agree on the major terms will spend a fraction of what two people fighting through discovery and a contested trial will. We will discuss fees openly at your free consultation so you can plan.
No. Texas allows a no-fault divorce on the ground of insupportability, and most petitions are filed that way. Fault grounds remain available and can influence how a court divides the community estate, so whether to plead fault is a strategic decision rather than an emotional one.
It depends on whether the house is community or separate property, what equity exists, whether either spouse can refinance, and who will have primary care of the children. Common outcomes are a sale with proceeds divided, or one spouse keeping the home and offsetting the other's share with other assets.
A divorce does not require both signatures. If your spouse is served and does not answer, the case can proceed by default. If your spouse answers and contests, the case moves forward on the court's schedule and is decided by the judge if you cannot reach agreement. Refusing to participate delays a divorce; it does not prevent one.
No. An attorney represents one spouse, and representing both in a divorce is a conflict of interest. What is possible is that one spouse retains counsel to prepare an agreed decree while the other proceeds without an attorney — in which case the drafting attorney represents only their own client, and the other spouse should have the documents reviewed independently before signing.
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One conversation is usually enough to know whether you need an attorney and what your options are. There is no cost and no obligation.
- Free Consultation
- Licensed in Texas
- Multi-Practice Legal Team
- Serving Dallas & Surrounding Counties