How Long After Divorce Can You Remarry in Texas?
Filing for divorce is time consuming and stressful. After your divorce is final, you can finally breathe a sigh of relief and start to focus on other aspects of your life.
Many people decide to remarry after divorcing their first spouse.
Whether you want to remarry soon after your divorce or after several years have passed, there are a few things you should know about remarrying after a Texas divorce.
Overview of Texas Law
Short answer: In Texas, you must wait thirty days after a judge finalizes your divorce to remarry. Your divorce is final on the day that the judge issues the final decree of divorce. On the thirty-first day after the judge issues the decree, you can legally remarry.
Are There Any Exceptions?
If you want to remarry the former spouse that you just divorced, there is no thirty-day waiting period requirement.
Why Is There a Waiting Period?
The thirty-day waiting period exists because, after a court finalizes a divorce, the parties to the divorce have thirty days to file an appeal. An appeal is a way to challenge the terms of the divorce agreement. Texas law requires a thirty-day waiting period after a divorce before remarriage so that both spouses can be certain that the terms of their divorce will not change.
It is possible to waive the thirty-day waiting period by filing a motion with the judge. You do not need your former spouse’s agreement to file a motion to waive the waiting period.
Waiving the Thirty-Day Waiting Period
A judge can grant your motion to waive the thirty-day waiting period for remarriage for good cause. Good cause can include a number of specific circumstances such as:
- You or your new future spouse will be deployed before the waiting period ends;
- Either of you will be reassigned to permanent duty overseas before the thirty days are over;
- You or your future spouse will undergo surgery for a serious health problem before the end of the waiting period; or
- You had not seen or lived with your divorced former spouse for several years prior to getting divorced.
The judge has the ultimate discretion to consider the facts and circumstances of your situation and determine whether to waive the waiting period. Hiring a family law attorney can help you make the best possible case for why you should not have to wait thirty days to remarry.
How Many Times Can You Get Married in Texas?
There is no limit to how many times you can get married in Texas. You must divorce your previous spouse before remarrying. After getting divorced, you must wait thirty days or have a judge waive the waiting period before you remarry. As long as you follow these requirements, you can get married as many times as you want.
How a Lawyer Can Help with Your Divorce
If you want to remarry soon but do not think that a judge will waive the thirty-day waiting period, a lawyer may be able to help you finalize your divorce faster. Your attorney can advise you about whether you meet the requirements for an uncontested divorce. Uncontested divorce proceedings often take less time than contested divorces.
A divorce attorney can also keep your desire to remarry in mind when negotiating your divorce agreement. If you value finalizing your divorce quickly over getting particular assets in the property division, a good lawyer will work to achieve your goals.
Finally, your lawyer can request a waiver of the thirty day waiting period in your original divorce petition. If you think you may want to remarry after divorce, you should hire a skilled family law attorney to handle your case.
Ask Us Your Questions
If you have questions about remarriage in Texas, The Larson Law Office has answers. We are a husband and wife team that prioritizes personalized client service. Our experienced divorce attorneys will devote their own time to the details of your case and help you plan for remarriage after divorce. Contact The Larson Law Office today.