Online Divorce in Texas: Costs and Steps in 2020

April 25, 2020 Tommy Murphy

Divorce is a process that haunts couples who have decided to end their marriage. After passing through painful experiences with the person that you loved most, the last thing you want is to have to suffer through an expensive and complicated divorce. Luckily, so long as both of the parties agree to resolve their issues and end their marriage peacefully, it is possible to file for the dissolution of marriage online. Doing so can make the process much cheaper and faster.

Online divorce is a process in which couples decide to divorce over the internet by choosing a company to support the entire process of separation. The divorce documents are compiled online and submitted to the courts for the final decree. It is an affordable and accessible method that takes less than 90 days to be considered complete.

Online divorce is allowed by the state of Texas. So long as there is an agreement to end the marriage, the couple may proceed with filing for a divorce online. The state of Texas accepts no-fault grounds for divorce, which means that neither spouse has to prove the fault of the other for causing the divorce. The most common no-fault ground for divorce is irreconcilable differences. This is when the parties no longer see eye to eye and are unable to resolve their differences. In such a condition, the other party does not necessarily have to agree, but the decree will still be processed. If there are underlying issues, then the partners must come together and reach a compromise on how to handle them so that they can be allowed to file their annulment online.

If both parties have reached an agreement on all issues, the next step is choosing an online divorce company. There are several companies that offer these services in Texas. Therefore, it is important to do some research to find a credible service that will get your divorce approved with no setbacks or delays. This can be done by checking the reviews left by people who have used the site in the past and by confirming the approval rating of past cases submitted through the site. Be careful to avoid being misled by unscrupulous companies who are out to exploit people who do not know how online companies work so they can scam them out of their hard-earned money.

Online divorce can be done without the assistance of an attorney because the online divorce company has professionals who provide support from beginning to end. To be able to use an online divorce company, there are stages that one must go through. These stages are described below.

Sign up– This is where you pick the site you want to use then register with the site. You will be asked to provide the name and contact information for both you and your spouse. You will then be asked to complete a simple questionnaire to assess whether you qualify for an online divorce. If the information you provide is sufficient, you will be given a quote for the service which you can then pay to initiate the process. The cost varies depending on which company and what type of services you choose. It can range from as little as $299 up to $800.
Access to the documents– After signing and paying for the process, you will be given access to the divorce documents required to be completed for your particular case. The documents can be downloaded and completed in the comfort of your home. After filling out the documents you will send them back to the company for review. When all the information is deemed to be sufficient, the next step is submitting the documents to the courthouse for the judge to review.
Submission– The last step is to submit the document to the courthouse to be reviewed by a judge. After being submitted, you simply wait for the judgment to be rendered.

That is essentially the process that the website you choose will follow, but there are requirements and steps that must take place for the annulment to succeed. These steps are described below.

The Couple Must meet the Residency Requirements in Texas– To get an online divorce in Texas, you or your spouse must be a Texas resident for at least six months and must have lived in the county where the divorce process is being initiated for a minimum of 90 days. If you have not yet met the residence requirements, you and your spouse will have to wait before filing for the divorce.
Petition for Divorce– This is a form that you are required to submit to the courts to initiate the divorce process. The form is available from the Texas county courts or from the online company that is helping you with the process. It contains information such as the names of both parties, contact details, financial information, and any agreement in relation to the settlement. Finally, you must state the reason as to why the separation should take place.
Submission of the Petition– After the Divorce Petition is completed it must be submitted to the clerk’s office in two copies. At the time of submission you will be required to pay a filing fee. Upon submission, the clerk will allocate you with the case number, and the petition is stamped to confirm receipt. Once the copies are certified, one of them has to be delivered to your spouse either by the county Sheriff’s office or by anybody over the age of 18. When your spouse is served with the petition they must sign the document and proof of delivery is obtained and returned to the office of the clerk.
Setting a Hearing Date– Once all the required information is intact at the clerk’s office, the clerk will set up a hearing date. The hearing date usually takes place around 60 days after the completion of all the paperwork. This is a good time to settle down, release any pain, and start planning for life after the decree.
Attendance of Divorce Hearing– You will be required to attend a final hearing at which the judge reviews the divorce papers in addition to the Petition of Divorce, settlement agreement, and the decree. During the hearing, the judge will ask the parties several questions to ascertain that they agree to all the terms so that they can proceed with the decree. If neither party holds a difference of opinion, the judge will go-ahead and sign the final decree ending the hearing.
Filing of the Decree– This is the last step where the couple takes the final decree to the clerk’s office for filing. They are also given certified copies of the decree for their records while the main one is left in the clerk’s office. Once the decree is filed, the process officially comes to an end.

Generally, online divorce in Texas is a straightforward process because it deals with uncontested issues, and both parties agree on the entire process. The requirements are also not rigid, and as such, filing for Online separation in Texas is an easy process. When compared to traditional methods, this process is faster and more cost-effective.

Can the spouses file a joint petition and avoid the serving process?

Submission– The last step is to submit the document to the courthouse to be reviewed by a judge. After being submitted, you simply wait for the judgment to be rendered.