Family Law Attorney ◖ Victoria, Texas ◗
Want a divorce without a battle?
Consider this.
Agreed or Uncontested Divorce
✅ Choosing my own way forward.
✅ Making peace with my spouse and children.
✅ Minimizing drama, gossip, financial and emotional pain.
An uncontested divorce is often the best for everyone involved - financially and emotionally.
In the vast majority of these cases in Victoria and the surrounding counties, as of November 2024, parties do not need to appear in court.
The fact that everything may not be worked out today does not mean that you cannot come to an agreement. Call me and we will discuss your options.
If you have an agreement on the terms of your divorce, I accept a flat fee to finish your case.
Standard or Contested Divorce
❌ Letting a judge make my family's biggest personal and financial decisions.❌ Getting intimidated, yelled at, and interrogated by my spouse or their attorney.❌ Wasting money on attorney fees.
❌ Stressing, worrying about trial and my outcome.
RETAINER FOR CONTESTED DIVORCE
Total fees for contested divorce vary based on several factors, like:
1. The complexity of property and proof issues,
2. Your goals and flexibility,
3. Your spouse's goals and flexibility, and
4. The attorney(s).
In the event your case is contested, we prepare evidence to show the Court how your proposed resolutions to the estate and child issues in your case are in the best interest of all involved.
DISCLAIMER
1. Do not take the following timeline as legal advice for your case. This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace advice from a qualified attorney.
2. Procedural details here are specific to Victoria County, Texas and the surrounding counties and may not be applicable in your area. Procedural rules and requirements tend to vary by county and court.
3. If you are facing a family law case, I strongly suggest consulting an attorney experienced in your local area to discuss the details of your case.
Texas Divorce Timeline
Step 1
Consultation
The first step is to understand your situation, discuss your rights, and answer all your questions. I will work with you to develop a strategy to achieve your goals as quickly and efficiently as possible, prioritizing what matters most to you.
Step 2
Petition
I will file your petition for divorce. Filing the petition starts a 60-day waiting period before the divorce can be granted. Domestic violence may justify waiving the 60-day waiting period. If all parties have signed off on the proposed final decree of divorce, we ask the Court to sign the decree on the 61st day after we filed the petition.
Step 3
Negotiation
Negotiations will vary. Some clients hire me with a settlement worked out with their spouse, while others need to thoughfully craft an offer that their partner will accept. Many cases require a day for mediation for the parties to emotionally process and make a deal with concentrated effort from both sides. I tailor my negotiation strategy to you and your spouse.
If you and your spouse are able to reach an agreement, we will prepare a final decree of divorce to be signed by you and your spouse, whether on paper or on docusign. If the Court requires it, the parties will submit written testimony or appear in Court to announce their agreement.
If you have an agreement, skip to step 5.
Step 4
Trial
If you and your spouse are unable to reach an agreement, we get your case set for trial. In Victoria and the surrounding counties, many attorneys are used to settling cases and starting serious negotiations on the date of trial, so there is still a chance to settle your case by negotiating in the hall or jury room before trial, depending on the circumstances. If no settlement is reached, we will prove your case to the judge and present your requested relief.
After a contested case, the Court may make a ruling immediately, or take some time to prepare a final ruling on the contested issues. Traditionally, the Petitioner's attorney will prepare the final decree of divorce based on the Court's ruling.
Step 5
Entry
We send your final decree to the Court for review and signature. When the Court signs the decree, you are divorced.
Step 6
Post-Decree Documents
Depending on your estate, we may prepare deeds, deeds of trust, QDROs (for dividing retirement plan benefits), liens, or other documents as needed to effectuate your agreement or the ruling of the Court.
Step 7
Enforcement
If a former spouse violates a court order or decree of divorce and refuses reasonable requests to comply or compromise, we can send a letter to request compliance before filing suit on your behalf to enforce the Court's order. Depending on the circumstances, the Court may issue a judgment that the offending spouse pay the other's attorney's fees.