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.

Going through a divorce can be complicated and emotional, but it doesn’t always have to be.

If you have to go to trial to reach a resolution, the process can become lengthy and contentious. Fortunately, however, there are ways to prevent this from happening.

Depending on the facts and circumstances surrounding your divorce, a Texas divorce mediation might be right for you.

If you have questions about divorce mediation in Texas, contact the Larson Law Office’s divorce attorneys today.

Mediation: An Overview

Mediation is an out-of-court process in which a neutral decision-maker, called the mediator, assists parties in reaching a mutually agreeable settlement. The mediation process provides parties with a way to reach a resolution without going through the court system.

In a divorce mediation, the mediator helps the couple settle issues that would typically be decided by a judge. These issues might include:

• Child custody,
• Child support,
• Alimony, and
• Property division.

The role of a Texas divorce mediator is to assist the couple in reaching a voluntary agreement. However, the mediator will never force a settlement on any party.

How Divorce Mediation in Texas Unfolds

The first step in beginning your divorce mediation is to hire a Texas divorce mediator. The mediator you select should be well-versed on all issues frequently addressed in a divorce.

Your mediator will be guiding you and your spouse through one of the most difficult times in your life. Thus it is important that you choose someone whom you trust and feel comfortable having difficult conversations with. Your divorce attorney will likely provide recommendations for mediators that would be a good fit.

The next step is the mediation session itself. Mediation sessions can occur in different ways.

You may meet with your spouse and the mediator together in one room, although that is not typical. Alternatively, you and your spouse may each meet with the mediator separately, which is more often done. If you are represented by an attorney, they can attend mediation with you and advise you as you come to an agreement.

Depending on the extent of disagreements with your spouse, the mediation may require only one session. However, often couples will have differing wishes in some areas, and it will take multiple sessions.

Finally, if the parties do reach a voluntary settlement agreement, they will sign the agreement and file it with the court.

Pros and Cons of Mediation

As with any process, there are pros and cons of going to mediation for divorce in Texas.

Examples of pros of divorce mediation in Texas include the following:

• Mediation is typically faster and cheaper than going through the court system;
• You can avoid a court trial;
• Mediation gives you more control over the terms of your divorce;
• The process can help to keep things amicable between the parties; and
• Even if you don’t come to an agreement, a judge may give weight to your attempt to try later on because many courts require mediation prior to trial.

Attempting to finalize your divorce through mediation can be a great way to streamline your divorce while keeping things as friendly and amicable as possible.

Of course, there are cons to mediation as well. Some of these cons include the following:

• Mediation does not necessarily guarantee a fair outcome;
• There is no “discovery” process or ability to questions witnesses in mediation; and
• If you and your spouse are unlikely or unable to have reasonable discussions, mediation will likely be unhelpful for you.

Give our team a call to discuss whether proceeding with mediation might be the right step for you.

What Happens When You Do and Don’t Reach an Agreement in a Texas Divorce Mediation?

If you and your spouse do reach a settlement agreement, you will each sign a formal agreement. You will then file the settlement agreement with the court. Once the court approves the agreement, its terms will become the terms of your final divorce decree.

If, however, you and your spouse cannot reach an agreement, you have no obligation to continue attempts at meditation.

Although some Texas counties require you to at least attempt mediation, mediation is mostly a voluntary process. If the process does not work for you, you are entitled to have your divorce issues heard and decided by a judge.

Is a Divorce Mediation in Texas Right for Me?

If you and your spouse are seeking a divorce and would rather come to an agreement together than go through the court process, mediation may be the path for you.

According to a national survey, the average cost of a litigated divorce is about $15,000 per person. However, resolving your case through mediation can potentially lead to a much cheaper and quicker result.

We Can Answer Your Questions

If you have questions about whether divorce mediation in Texas might be right for you, we want to help.

Erik and Diana Larson have been practicing law in Texas for over 20 years. Going through a divorce can often feel both financially and emotionally overwhelming. But you don’t have to go through it on your own.

Contact our team today for a free consultation to see how we can help.

If you want to divorce your spouse, you probably have many things on your mind. You want to hire a lawyer to help your divorce go smoothly, but you are worried about expensive legal fees.

So how much does a divorce cost in Texas? While the exact answer is different for everyone, there are several factors that can affect the cost of your divorce.

Average Cost of Divorce in Texas

How much it costs for a divorce in Texas varies depending on whether or not you hire a lawyer.

Getting a Divorce Without Hiring a Lawyer

You can file your divorce petition, fill out your paperwork, and attend divorce hearings without a lawyer representing you. If you choose the DIY option, you will only need to pay filing fees and other court fees. This usually adds up to a few hundred dollars.

While getting a divorce without hiring a lawyer seems less expensive, it can cost you in the long run. You must correctly complete all divorce paperwork and meet all filing deadlines. Missing filing deadlines can, in some situations, result in a default judgment in favor of your spouse. In addition, you and your spouse may disagree on child custody arrangements or asset division.

A divorce lawyer can help you negotiate a more agreeable settlement or dispute your spouse’s proposed divorce terms in court. It is extremely difficult to argue a case without legal knowledge. Having a lawyer will give you an advantage.

Hiring a Lawyer

The cost of a divorce can go up or down depending on a number of factors, including the level of conflict in the divorce,  how many contested issues there are, how much courtroom time is involved, how quickly and easily agreements are reached, and whether there are children involved.

Most people hire a divorce lawyer for full-scope representation, meaning the lawyer handles every aspect of the entire case. However, it is also possible to hire a lawyer for only certain aspects of your case. For example, you can hire a lawyer to review a settlement agreement that your spouse has presented to you.

Disputes and Trial Can Raise the Cost of Your Divorce

Most divorce lawyers charge by the hour, so the total cost of your divorce is determined by the lawyer’s rate and the amount of time the lawyer must spend on your case. Cases with more contested issues usually require a divorce attorney to devote more time to the matter.

If your case goes to trial, your attorney will have to spend significant time preparing for trial. This can raise the cost of your divorce. The cost of a divorce with one contested issue can more than double when the issue must be resolved at trial instead of through a settlement.

Factors That Most Affect the Cost of Divorce

How much does a divorce cost in Texas? In addition to whether you must go to trial, there are several factors that can significantly impact the cost of your divorce.

Fault or No-Fault

Certain types of fault divorce cases, such as a divorce on the grounds of adultery, tend to cost more. Proving adultery, cruelty, or other fault grounds can affect a final divorce settlement, so allegations of fault are relevant to many divorce cases. If you are seeking a divorce on fault grounds, you must prove that your spouse is at fault by presenting evidence to the judge.

Your lawyer will have to spend more time gathering and preparing to present this evidence, often resulting in a higher total cost. How much it costs to get a divorce in Texas may depend on the grounds for your divorce.

Alimony

If alimony, or temporary spousal support, is a contested issue in your divorce, the cost of your divorce may increase. In Texas, certain circumstances must be present for a court to award alimony payments to one spouse in a divorce. The spouse requesting alimony may have to prove that they are unable to support themselves without alimony due to a physical or mental disability or because they are the custodial parent of a child with a mental or physical disability.

To prove eligibility for alimony, the requesting spouse must present convincing evidence to a judge. This requires an attorney to spend time gathering evidence such as medical records, expert testimony, etc.

Child Custody

Texas courts tend to favor shared custody arrangements unless circumstances make this arrangement unreasonable. A court may deny custody rights to a parent if there is abuse or neglect. If you do not want to share custody with your spouse, you will likely need to present proof that your former spouse is unfit.

Similarly, if your spouse wants to deny you custody, you must present evidence to discredit your spouse’s claim that you are an unfit parent. An attorney must spend time collecting evidence to support your claim in court. Disagreements over child custody may need to be resolved with a trial and can make your Texas divorce more expensive.

Division of Assets

The more assets a couple has, the more likely there are to be issues when it comes time to divide them during a divorce. Each asset, from bank accounts to businesses owned by either spouse presents the opportunity for a disagreement about who gets what. These disagreements require time-consuming negotiations and sometimes a trial.

What Factors Can Affect the Timeline of My Divorce?

Disagreements over any of the issues listed above can make your divorce take more time. Whether or not you hire an attorney, it takes time to gather evidence to support your side of a disagreement with your spouse. In addition, if you have to resolve your disagreements with a trial, court delays can extend the process even more.

Contact The Larson Law Office with Your Questions

There is no way to know upfront exactly how much a divorce costs in Texas. The experienced family law attorneys at The Larson Law Office are ready to answer your questions about the cost of getting a divorce. We are available to discuss our hourly rates as well as a general idea of how much time your divorce case is likely to take. Call The Larson Law Office today to speak to an experienced Texas divorce attorney.