Divorcing couples in Texas can expedite their divorce while saving money and a great deal of heartache due to the growth of online divorce templates and services. The process of getting divorced in Texas can be overwhelming, so the prospect of speeding up the process is attractive. However, filing online may not be the right choice for everyone.
Because Texas has complex divorce laws, understanding what choices best suit your needs alone can be confusing. With the guidance of a skilled Texas divorce attorney, you can feel secure knowing that you have a legal professional helping you navigate this period of your life. The Texas divorce attorneys at Stepp & Sullivan can use the skills and resources gained from over 40 years of combined experience to help you grasp your options when filing for divorce.
Why You Should Not File a Texas Divorce Online
Although an online divorce may seem convenient, it’s crucial to remember that divorces often take a lot of time and effort to complete for a reason. When it comes to the terms of your divorce, you’ll want to proceed carefully because the outcome will impact the rest of your life and the lives of your children, if you have any.
You should ask yourself the following questions to decide if a Texas online divorce is best for you.
Can You and Your Spouse Cooperate?
Unwillingness to cooperate makes filing for divorce online effectively impossible. A will to work together is necessary for creating a successful Texas divorce settlement agreement. If your spouse is unwilling to cooperate, you two will not be able to compromise. You cannot forgo a divorce lawyer and try to obtain a legal divorce online when you two are unable to come to an understanding on any issues.
Do You Need Professional Legal Advice?
To settle your case, you may need the legal counsel of a Texas divorce lawyer. When filing for divorce online, you do not have access to the knowledge and experience of a legal professional to help you understand what you’re agreeing to. Your finances and your relationship with your child may be at risk if you don’t fully comprehend the terms of your divorce settlement agreement.
Is Your Spouse Likely to Hide Assets?
You and your spouse must disclose every asset in settlement agreements. If there is a chance that your spouse is concealing assets, this must be investigated with the aid of a knowledgeable divorce lawyer. Hiding assets could prohibit you from retaining the portion of the marital estate to which you are entitled. Also, a Texas court may reject outright or later nullify a settlement agreement obtained by deceptively hiding assets.
Is Your Spouse’s Location Unknown?
If you can’t locate your spouse, you won’t be able to serve them with divorce papers or even discuss your case. Instead, you will need to ask the court for a default divorce. You’ll have to carry out specific legal procedures with the aid of a divorce attorney before your marriage will be dissolved.
Discuss Filing for Divorce Online With a Texas Divorce Lawyer
Divorce is a complex process that tends to evoke negative feelings and may even lead to contention between you and your ex-spouse. Filing a divorce online may sound like a good option at first. However, when you and your spouse can’t come to an agreement on every issue pertaining to your separation or certain details are preventing your divorce from going smoothly, filing with an attorney is the best way to secure a favorable outcome for your case. Consider scheduling a consultation with a family lawyer to discuss the best course of action for a case like yours.
At Stepp & Sullivan, we are dedicated to providing valuable legal advice to help you with your divorce. We use our resources to counsel you if you have questions regarding any aspect of the Texas and national divorce processes, including filing online. We collectively have more than 40 years of experience practicing and have spent our careers securing favorable outcomes for numerous clients. To schedule your consultation, contact us at (713) 336-7200 or via our contact form.
