My Divorce Handbook
Texas Divorce Proceedings
​
The Divorce Process.
This website provides a comprehensive view on documentation. Relevant for Texas, but useful to peak on how the process in other states could look.
https://texaslawhelp.org/family-divorce-children/divorce
---
The six signals of Divorce.
This is the only link I will include on this topic. Divorcing your spouse is a very personal decision; no list can encompass all the factors that come to play. Note: This article doesn’t include economic and timing considerations.
https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/divorce-grownups/200911/the-six-signals-divorce
---
The Top Things Every Woman (and Her Husband) Should Know Before Filing for Divorce (Texas).
A very interesting read with to the point advice.
https://www.dmagazine.com/publications/d-magazine/2010/may/divorce-in-dallas/
---
Official Documents – Important resources and training from the state of Texas.
It includes a guide to represent yourself on divorce and resources if you are divorcing without children.
https://www.dallascounty.org/department/districtclerk/downloadableforms.html
---
Divorce Petition.
From the Texas Judicial Branch. This is just an example and by no means is recommended for use. Look at the main link and you will find more useful information from the Texas courts Official Site.
http://www.txcourts.gov/media/515764/divorceset1forms.pdf
---
Protective Orders.
From the Texas Judicial Branch. This is just an example and by no means is recommended for use. Look at the main link and you will find more useful information from the Texas courts Official Site.
http://www.txcourts.gov/media/1437657/protectiveorderkit-english.pdf
---
Standing Order.
When filing for divorce, things become difficult. What is each party supposed to do? Each state usually has a Standing Order that applies while proceedings are happening. It changes from time to time. Here is the one for 2017 in Texas.
http://www.dallascounty.org/department/districtclerk/guidelines.html
Look for the “Family district court Standing Order” title in the table.
---
Hoping for the best and planning for the worst: Creative pre- and post-marital agreements.
A jewel. You will be reading a document that, per the cover, is used by the State Bar of Texas Advanced Family Course. Just browse the table of contents, a must read.
http://www.dianafriedman.com/Articles/PremaritalAgreements.pdf
---
Manual providing overview for Pro Se Divorce (self-representation) on non-contested (friendly, mutually agreed) divorces in Texas.
Contains a sample Decree of Divorce (very helpful and insightful, full read of Decree recommended).
http://www.tyla.org/tyla/assets/File/ProSeDivorceHandBookENG14RevisedP1WEB.pdf
---
Website with Q&As (focused on Texas Law, but useful to get a general view of the process even for other states).
It has a lot of resources. The site was designed to help low income Texans who cannot have access or do not have funds to have a full-service law firm help them.
https://texaslawhelp.org/family-divorce-children/divorce
---
Court Records Search (Texas).
The digital era is here, also for divorce proceedings. Not to scare anybody, there’s another fact: Divorce documents are public records (unless you request documents to be under seal). As stated within the Q&A of iDocket.com, the records website: “Anyone with access to the Internet can browse the court case information that resides in the iDocket.com web site.”
Sometimes we need to know what was filed in court. Sometimes we just need to get a glimpse of other Decrees, to see examples.
The website requires getting a login and password. Payment of a subscription fee or a small payment for viewing documents is needed. With divorces being public records, you can see here what is public about you. It also serves to verify that what your counsel said was filed, was indeed filed.
https://www.dallascounty.org/services/record-search/record-search-disclaimer.php
---
The case of common law marriages
List of states that still have common law marriage.
​
http://www.ncsl.org/research/human-services/common-law-marriage.aspx
---
​
The State of Texas Law Library provides on overview of what Common Law marriage
http://guides.sll.texas.gov/common-law-marriage
---
​
Article outlining what’s divorce when the couple has a common law marriage.
---
Glossary of Terms. Published by the American Bar Association. A bit outdated but still helpful.