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.

Hiring a divorce attorney can be expensive. Going through a divorce can be a stressful time, and the last thing you may want to do is add financial stress by paying costly attorney fees.

While it is tempting to save money, cheap divorce lawyers in Houston, Texas, come with a hidden price. Here, we will explain why hiring a cheap divorce attorney in Houston may cost you money in the long run.

The Hidden Costs of Hiring a Cheap Divorce Lawyer

From dividing assets to a custody arrangement, you will want to achieve the divorce outcome that is best for you. Without skilled legal representation, it may be harder to negotiate an agreement with your spouse.

If your case goes to trial, you may have a hard time presenting evidence to support your case. If your spouse hires a competent attorney, they will have the upper hand in contested divorce matters. You could end up losing valuable property or settling for a custody arrangement that is not to your liking.

There are several reasons why cheap divorce lawyers in Houston may charge less than the average market price. All of these reasons can mean you may not get the outcome you want in your divorce case.

Experience Matters

Some cheap divorce lawyers in Houston, Texas, may charge less than others because they are new to practicing family law. Inexperienced lawyers cannot attract clients based on past results or word of mouth referrals. New divorce attorneys may charge lower rates than more experienced divorce attorneys to appeal to potential clients.

While all attorneys have to start somewhere, experience is important in divorce cases. A divorce attorney who has been practicing for several years is more familiar with Texas family law.

Familiarity with the law means that your attorney may be able to spend less time researching issues for your case. Since divorce attorneys usually bill by the hour, an experienced divorce attorney can actually save you money, even if their hourly rate is higher than some more affordable divorce lawyers in Houston, TX.

You certainly never want your attorney to rush, but a newer attorney will usually need more time than an experienced attorney to complete similar tasks. This can cost you more money and drag out your divorce proceeding.

The divorce attorneys at The Larson Law Office have been handling divorce cases for over a decade. Erik and Diana Larson have the experience to handle your case both competently and efficiently.

Cheap Divorce Lawyers May Not Have Time to Focus on Your Case

Sometimes, divorce lawyers charge lower hourly rates or low flat fees and rely on client volume to make money. The problem with this tactic is that each client’s case may not get the attention it deserves. An attorney who does not have time for your case can affect the results of your divorce.

For example, a cheap divorce attorney in Houston may not read your settlement agreement carefully and may miss the fact that the agreement does not address all of the issues in your divorce. Oversights like this can lead to future legal conflicts over an unclear settlement agreement. You should always be sure that the lawyer you hire can devote time to your case.

The Larson Law Office specializes in attentiveness to each client’s needs. When you call The Larson Law Office, you will speak to Diana or Erik Larson, both talented family attorneys. Your case will not be handed off to a junior attorney or paralegal. The attorneys at The Larson Law Office will always give your divorce case the time it needs.

Cheap Divorce Lawyers Often Cannot Handle Complicated Cases

Whether it is because of a lack of experience or because their case volume prevents them from spending time on complicated issues, cheap divorce lawyers may not be able to handle more complicated cases. Divorce cases involving children, high-value assets, or detailed and specific divorce settlement agreements are usually complicated.

You want to be sure that your attorney is well-equipped to navigate the complexities of your divorce case. If you hire a cheap divorce lawyer in Houston, Texas, and they mishandle your complicated divorce, you can end up paying even more money for another lawyer to fix their mistakes.

When Not to Hire a Cheap Divorce Lawyer

You should not hire a cheap divorce lawyer if you and your spouse disagree about the terms of your divorce. Disagreements require your attorney to spend time negotiating, mediating, gathering evidence, and possibly preparing for trial. You will want an experienced attorney who has enough time to devote to this process.

Additionally, some cheap divorce lawyers charge a low initial fee but add extra fees when issues arise during a case. Sometimes they will even withdraw from your case altogether when things get complicated, and you will have to pay a new attorney to get up to speed. In any divorce case, things can change unexpectedly as emotions flare between you and your spouse.

If your attorney charges you fees for additional phone calls and communications, the cost of your divorce can increase quickly. It is better to know about and budget for costs up front rather than deal with surprises.

Does Your Divorce Attorney Have Your Best Interests in Mind?

It is important to hire a divorce attorney who will keep your best interests in mind throughout the case. Avoid cheap divorce lawyers in Houston who are only interested in making money by accepting as many clients as possible. These divorce attorneys may not pay enough attention to your case to make appropriate appeals following a hearing or trial.

Your divorce attorney also should not try to drag your case out so they can bill you for more hours. If agreeing to a settlement is in your best interests, your attorney should be willing to work with you to achieve this resolution.

Save Money by Hiring a Quality Houston Divorce Lawyer

When it comes to your divorce, it is important to get it right the first time. Hiring a second lawyer to fix mistakes made by a cheap divorce attorney in Houston can be expensive.

In addition, the costs of losing property or visitation rights in a contested divorce because you did not have competent legal representation can be impossible to calculate. Call The Larson Law Office to talk to family law attorneys with a long list of satisfied clients.

Contact The Larson Law Office with Your Questions

At The Larson Law Office, we are ready to answer any questions you may have about the cost of your divorce. We can advise you about your next steps based on the complexity of your specific divorce proceeding.

Erik and Diana Larson will keep your best interests in mind at all stages of your divorce, from the first conversation until the resolution.

Deciding to end your marriage can be the beginning of a difficult time in your life.

There is a lot to think about when you are considering leaving your spouse, and the process can feel overwhelming.

Here, we will discuss the basics of marriage dissolution in Texas so you can decide if dissolution is right for you.

Dissolution vs. Divorce: What’s the Difference?

The dissolution of a marriage means that the marriage has legally ended. In Texas, dissolution of marriage is no different than divorce. The Texas Family Code uses the terms dissolution and divorce interchangeably. Both a dissolution and a divorce begin when one spouse files a petition with the court. This petition is most commonly called a petition for divorce, but it can also be called a petition for dissolution.

In some states, however, there is a difference between dissolution vs. divorce. Certain states consider a marriage dissolved when a couple reaches a complete agreement on the terms of the dissolution. Once the couple has reached an agreement on division of property, alimony, child custody, etc., they can jointly file a petition for dissolution.

In Texas, when both spouses agree on the terms for ending their marriage, they can file an uncontested divorce. In an uncontested divorce, a couple presents their written divorce agreement to a judge at a hearing. The judge then finalizes the divorce if the agreement is reasonable. Texas courts refer to both uncontested and contested divorce proceedings as marriage dissolution.

How Do You Get a Marriage Dissolution Texas?

The marriage dissolution process in Texas involves several steps.

Talk to Your Spouse

If you and your spouse are on decent terms, you should talk to your spouse about a dissolution before taking any action through the court. Dissolving a marriage is a major change. It may mark the end of a partially happy time for you or your spouse, so this conversation may need to take place over a period of time. If you and your spouse agree on the terms of the dissolution, the rest of the process will be much easier.

Filing a Petition

To formally start a marriage dissolution in Texas, one spouse—the petitioner—must file a petition for divorce and other divorce forms with the court. The court clerk will then assign a hearing date. The petition states the reason the petitioner is seeking dissolution. It also outlines the petitioning spouse’s desired terms for the divorce, including how they want marital property to be divided.

In some cases, the petition for dissolution may state the divorce terms that both spouses agreed upon together. If you and your spouse do not completely agree on the terms of your dissolution, it is a good idea for each of you to hire an experienced divorce attorney. When both sides are represented by an attorney, the dissolution process can be much smoother and less stressful.

Even if you agree on all terms, it is a good idea to have an attorney look over your proposed agreement before you sign it. This can help you protect your interests.

Legal Notice

After filing, the petitioning spouse must give the other spouse—the respondent—legal notice of the dissolution proceeding. This notice must be in writing and is usually handed to the respondent spouse in person, either by the petitioner or by another adult. Legal notice of a dissolution includes a copy of any divorce papers that the petitioning spouse filed with the court.

If the respondent spouse disagrees with any of the dissolution terms in these papers, they can file an answer with the court. The respondent’s answer will state the divorce terms that the respondent wants.

Hearings and Mediation

When the petitioning spouse files for dissolution, the court schedules a hearing. What happens next depends mostly on whether both spouses agree on the dissolution terms. If the original petition for divorce included terms to which both parties agreed, a judge will most likely finalize the dissolution at the original scheduled hearing.

If the spouses disagree over one or more terms, they must engage in mediation. Mediation is a process where a neutral third party tries to help the couple reach an agreement. If each spouse has an attorney, the attorneys participate in the mediation process as well.

If the couple cannot reach a settlement through mediation, the court will schedule a trial. At trial, each spouse presents evidence that supports their position in the disagreement. A judge will determine the terms of the dissolution after both parties present their evidence and arguments.

When Is a Dissolution Final?

In Texas, your marriage dissolution is final when a judge signs the decree of divorce in court. If your spouse contested your dissolution, this may happen at the conclusion of trial. If your spouse did not contest the dissolution, the judge may sign a decree at the hearing that reflects the requests in your petition.

Texas law states that a judge must wait at least 60 days after a petition for divorce has been filed before signing a decree of divorce. This 60-day window is called a cooling-off period. The cooling-off period theoretically gives you and your spouse a chance to resolve your differences before your divorce becomes final. Even if you and your spouse agree on everything, it will take at least two months for your marriage to be legally dissolved.

How Can a Lawyer Help Me Dissolve My Marriage?

An experienced family law attorney can make sure you comply with all court requirements for marriage dissolution in Texas. Your attorney can make sure you give your spouse proper legal notice. In addition, it is particularly important to hire an attorney if your spouse contests the dissolution proceeding. An attorney can help you negotiate the terms of your marriage dissolution with your spouse.

The Larson Law Office can help reduce your stress during your marriage dissolution. By offering personal, responsive client service, The Larson Law Office will make sure that you are in experienced and capable hands throughout your dissolution proceeding. Contact The Larson Law Office today to speak with a family law attorney.