Texas Requirements for Divorce
Before filing any San Antonio divorce forms, you must first meet several requirements. Before filing for divorce, you must be a resident of Texas for six months and a resident of Bexar County for 90 days.There must be a reason for the divorce, but it can be as simple as having irreconcilable conflict.
Free San Antonio Texas Divorce Forms
Depending on the specific circumstances of the marriage, spouses will
need to file various divorce forms with the Bexar Couty court and the
City of San Antonio. Many of the forms are downloadable here. You can file many of these forms online.
Forms for Filing Divorce in Texas
There are several forms you have to file with the city of San Antonio, Bexar County for a divorce in Texas. Below are the main divorce forms to terminate your marriage, deal with child custody issues and parental visitation rights in San Antonio.
Original Petition for Divorce
An Original Petition for Divorce is the main San Antonio divorce form required to end a marriage in the state of Texas. One spouse must file the Original Petition for Divorce with the Bexar County Family Law District Court. Once filed, the other spouse will then be served with the paperwork and given time to respond. If your spouse agrees, then it is possible to finalize the divorce without a trial. As long as you don't disagree about the division of property and debt, child custody and child support, you can bypass the trial process. If you or your spouse disagree (contest the divorce) then your divorce will have to be decided by a Bexar County judge. You can try mediation beforehand, and see if your argument can be settled without the cost or delay of a court.
Child Visitation Letter
If, during the course of the divorce proceedings, the court awards custody of minor children to one parent, the court will usually grant visitation rights to the other parent. A Child Visitation Letter is a divorce form that enables parents to advise one another on the arrangements regarding child visitation. For example, such a letter specifies the time and location of pickup and the return of children.
Texas Divorce Worksheet
Another Texas divorce form is the Texas Divorce Worksheet. Although not required by law, this free Texas divorce form will help those going through a divorce to organize their personal and financial information. Because the information contained within the worksheet is necessary for an attorney to prepare or respond to a petition for divorce, it is best to fill out the worksheet prior to an initial meeting with a divorce attorney.
Get An Attorney
Yes, you can do the divorce papers yourself, and if things go smoothly, you'll likely be fine. But, if your spouse contests, or decides to get mean, then you'll be in for it, so to speak. A do-it-yourself divorce is possible, but it is good advice to seek the help of an attorney - simply because they have been through the doors before, and know 'people' behind those doors. You won't until it's too late.
According to the Texas Young Lawyer’s Association brochure:
What to Expect in Texas Family Law Court, "You should consult an attorney regarding your divorce proceeding if
- the divorce is contested,
- you have a child custody dispute or
- there are complex property divisions."