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Divorce Guides & Resources

Straight answers about ending a marriage, cost, timeline, forms, and how to do it without a lawyer. Florida guides are written and reviewed by Florida registered document specialists; Texas guides are educational while we build there.

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Latest guides · Florida

New, in-depth Florida divorce guides, published daily.

County guide

Divorce in Seminole County, Florida: Forms, Fees, and Where to File

Filing for divorce in Seminole County, Florida? See the Clerk's filing fee, where to file in Sanford, e-filing steps, self-help resources, and hearing format.

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Guide

Deciding Together: A Script for the Money Conversation

A step-by-step script for talking through the house, accounts, and debts before you file an uncontested Florida divorce, so the paperwork writes itself.

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Guide

Filing for Divorce in Florida Without a Lawyer (Pro Se), Start to Finish

A plain-English guide to filing your own uncontested Florida divorce: eligibility, forms by track, the exact filing sequence, timeline, and real cost.

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Guide

Divorcing a Missing Spouse: The Publication Route

Florida lets you divorce a spouse you truly can't locate through service by publication. What the diligent search requires and what this route can't decide.

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Guide

Every-Other-Weekend Schedules: When They Make Sense

Every-other-weekend schedules explained: how the pattern works, who it fits, a sample calendar, and how to write it into a Florida Parenting Plan.

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Guide

Cars: Titles, Loans, and Trades Between Spouses

Who keeps the car in a Florida divorce, whose name stays on the loan, and how to actually transfer the title. A plain-English guide to cars in your settlement.

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Forms

Child Support Guidelines Worksheet 12.902(e): Line by Line

Form 12.902(e) calculates Florida child support from both parents' income, costs, and time-sharing. See how it works, who files it, and what it covers.

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County guide

Divorce in Pasco County, Florida: Forms, Fees, and Where to File

Filing for divorce in Pasco County, Florida? See exactly where to file, the $408 filing fee, self-help resources, and what your final hearing looks like.

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Guide

How to Talk to Your Kids About the Divorce

A joint script for telling your kids you are divorcing, age-by-age answers to their hardest questions, plus a first-30-days follow-up plan for Florida parents.

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Guide

What Happens After You File: The First 30 Days

What happens in the 30 days after you file for divorce in Florida: the 20-day waiting period, disclosure deadlines, signatures, and when your hearing gets set.

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Guide

Your Spouse Lives Abroad

Your spouse living abroad does not block a Florida divorce, but remote signing can fail an identity check. See what changes and which route fits.

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Guide

The 3-4-4-3 Schedule Explained

A 3-4-4-3 schedule splits parenting time evenly over a two-week cycle. See the calendar, exact Form 12.995(a) wording, and which families it fits best.

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Guide

Dividing Debt: Cards, Loans, and Who Pays What

Florida divides marital debt the way it divides property: fairly, not automatically in half. See what counts as marital debt and how to divide it cleanly.

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Forms

UCCJEA Affidavit (12.902(d)): What It Is and How to Complete It

Florida's UCCJEA Affidavit (Form 12.902(d)) is required in every divorce with a minor child. See who signs, what it lists, and how it is filed and notarized.

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County guide

Divorce in Volusia County, Florida: Forms, Fees, and Where to File

Filing for divorce in Volusia County, Florida? See where to file, the current filing fee, self-help resources, and what your final hearing will look like.

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Guide

Documents to Gather Before You Start

See exactly which documents you need before filing an uncontested Florida divorce: residency proof, income records, and property lists, organized by package.

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Guide

Remote Divorce Hearings in Florida: Which Counties, How to Prepare

See which Florida counties let spouses attend an uncontested divorce hearing by Zoom, what each court requires, and what to do if yours does not offer it.

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Guide

Spouse Agrees but Won't Deal With Paperwork

Spouse agrees to divorce but won't sign the paperwork? See which Florida documents need their signature, real deadlines, and what happens if they still refuse.

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Guide

The 2-2-5-5 Schedule: Template and Florida Wording

A 2-2-5-5 schedule splits parenting time 50/50 over a two-week cycle. See the calendar, exact Form 12.995(a) wording, and which families it fits best.

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Guide

IRAs: Divided Without a QDRO

Splitting an IRA in a Florida divorce does not require a QDRO. See how the tax-free transfer works, the paperwork involved, and what Amicably prepares for $99.

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Forms

Florida Parenting Plan Form 12.995(a): Every Section Explained

Florida Parenting Plan Form 12.995(a), section by section: responsibility, time-sharing, school and health, signing, and notarization for cases with children.

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County guide

Divorce in Brevard County, Florida: Forms, Fees, and Where to File

Divorce in Brevard County, Florida: where to file with the Clerk, the filing fee, e-filing steps, self-help resources, and what your hearing looks like.

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Guide

The Pre-Divorce Checklist: 30 Days Before Filing

A 30-day checklist for filing an uncontested Florida divorce: what to confirm, which documents to gather, and how to choose the right package before you file.

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Guide

Questions the Judge Asks at an Uncontested Florida Hearing

See the exact questions a Florida judge asks at an uncontested divorce hearing, by track, plus how to prepare short, clear answers before your court date.

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Guide

Divorce While Pregnant in Florida

Divorce while pregnant in Florida: why simplified dissolution is off the table, which forms apply, and what the court can decide before the baby is born.

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Guide

The 2-2-3 Schedule: Template and Who It Fits

The 2-2-3 custody schedule explained for Florida parents: a sample two-week calendar, who it fits best, and how to write it into your Parenting Plan form.

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Guide

Pensions and FRS in Florida Divorce

Does your FRS pension or Investment Plan count as marital property in a Florida divorce? How the QDRO gets pre-approved, and what Amicably prepares for $99.

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Forms

Answer, Waiver, and Request for Copy of Final Judgment (12.903(a))

Form 12.903(a) lets a cooperating Florida spouse waive the final hearing and admit the petition. See who signs it, what it waives, and how to file it correctly.

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County guide

Divorce in Polk County, Florida: Forms, Fees, and Where to File

Divorce in Polk County, Florida: where to file at the Bartow clerk, the filing fee, e-filing steps, self-help resources, and what your final hearing looks like.

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Guide

How to Tell Your Spouse You Want a Divorce

How to tell your spouse you want a divorce: what to say, when to say it, how to handle their reaction, and what typically happens next in Florida courts.

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Guide

The Uncontested Final Hearing: What Actually Happens

What happens at Florida's uncontested final hearing: who must appear, what the judge reviews, and how long it takes, in a clear route-by-route walkthrough.

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Guide

Your Spouse Lives in Another State

Your spouse living out of state does not stop a Florida divorce. See how remote signing works, which package fits, and what changes if they stop cooperating.

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Guide

Week-On/Week-Off 50/50 Schedule: Template and Florida Wording

How a week-on/week-off 50/50 schedule works in a Florida Parenting Plan, with a sample two-week calendar, exact form wording, and who tends to fit it.

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Guide

Dividing a 401(k): QDROs in Plain English

How Florida divides a 401(k) in an amicable divorce, what a QDRO actually does, and which forms Amicably prepares once you and your spouse agree on the split.

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Forms

Marital Settlement Agreement in Florida: 12.902(f) Explained

Florida Marital Settlement Agreement (Form 12.902(f)) divides property, debts, and support terms in an uncontested divorce. See which version fits your case.

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County guide

Divorce in Lee County, Florida: Forms, Fees, and Where to File

Where to file for divorce in Lee County, Florida, the current filing fee, self-help center options, e-filing steps, and what an uncontested case costs.

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Guide

The Amicable Divorce: A Complete Guide for Florida Couples

What an amicable divorce means under Florida law, the three uncontested routes it can take, how long each one takes, and what a flat $99 packet costs.

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Guide

Can't Afford the Filing Fee? Florida's Civil Indigent Status, Explained

Can't afford Florida's divorce filing fee? See how civil indigent status can waive it, who qualifies, how to apply, and what the waiver does not cover.

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Guide

Military Divorce in Florida: Residency, SCRA, and Timing

Military divorce in Florida: how the 6-month residency rule applies to service members, what SCRA protects, and how deployment affects the timeline.

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Guide

The Florida Parenting Plan: Everything the Court Requires

What Florida's Parenting Plan form (12.995(a)) must cover, who actually needs one, and how it gets completed, signed, and filed in an uncontested divorce.

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Guide

Who Gets the House in a Florida Divorce?

Who gets the house in a Florida divorce: how equitable distribution decides it, when spouses choose themselves, and the buyout, sale, or stay-put outcomes.

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Forms

Florida Financial Affidavit Long Form (12.902(c)): Over $50,000 Income

Florida's Financial Affidavit Long Form (12.902(c)) explained: who must file it, the $50,000 income test, and how it differs from the short form.

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County guide

Divorce in Pinellas County, Florida: Forms, Fees, and Where to File

Where to file for divorce in Pinellas County, the current filing fee, self-help center options, e-filing steps, and what an uncontested Florida case costs.

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Guide

The Florida Courts E-Filing Portal: Account to Submission, Step by Step

How to e-file your Florida divorce on myflcourtaccess.com: free registration, PDF rules, fees at submission, and how to fix a flagged filing fast.

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Guide

Selling the House During a Florida Divorce

Selling the house during a Florida divorce: how to time the sale, divide the proceeds, and write it into your settlement agreement so the judge approves it.

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Forms

Florida Financial Affidavit Short Form (12.902(b)): Complete Guide

Florida's Financial Affidavit Short Form (12.902(b)) explained: who must file it, the under-$50,000 income rule, every section, and the mistakes clerks flag.

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Florida divorce basics

The essentials of filing in Florida.

Guides

Deeper answers to the questions people ask before they file.

Speed

Fast Divorce in Florida: How Quick?

How fast a Florida divorce can really go — the 20-day floor, the fastest route, and what speeds it up or slows it down.

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Timeline

How Long Does a Divorce Take in Florida?

The 20-day waiting period, realistic 4–8 week timelines, and what actually causes delays.

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With children

Filing for Divorce With a Child

Divorcing with kids in Florida — the parenting plan, child support worksheet, and mandatory parent course, and how to file amicably.

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Cost

How Much Does a Divorce Actually Cost?

Average U.S. divorce costs, why contested cases explode the bill, and the cheapest legal route.

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Cost

Divorce Cost When You Both Agree

When you both agree, divorce is far cheaper — what an uncontested case really costs, and your three options.

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Alimony

Alimony in Florida (2023 Reform)

The four types of alimony after Florida's 2023 reform — how long, how much, and when it changes or ends.

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The law

Florida Divorce Laws Explained

Plain-English overview — no-fault grounds, residency, property division, alimony, and time-sharing.

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Online

Can You File for Divorce Online?

Yes — here's how an uncontested Florida divorce works online: e-filing, remote notarization, and what you still need.

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Cheap / free

Cheap (or Free) Divorce in Florida

How to waive the filing fee, use free court forms, and get the cheapest done-for-you divorce when you agree.

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Property

Is Florida a 50/50 Divorce State?

No — it's equitable distribution. How marital property is divided, and when the split isn't equal.

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Mediation

Divorce Mediation in Florida

What mediation costs, when the court requires it, and when an agreeing couple can skip it entirely.

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With kids

Getting Divorced With Kids in Florida

The parenting course, building a time-sharing plan, child support, and the forms — the kid-specific pieces in depth.

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Separation

Legal Separation in Florida

Florida has no legal separation — the real alternatives (support orders, agreements, divorce) and the risk of just living apart.

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Annulment

Annulment vs Divorce in Florida

Annulment voids a never-valid marriage; divorce ends a valid one. The grounds, why annulment is rare, and which fits you.

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Taxes

Who Claims the Child on Taxes (50/50)?

With 50/50 custody the IRS goes by overnights, then income — plus how Form 8332 lets you alternate years.

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Name change

Name Change After Divorce in Florida

Restore your former name in the divorce itself (the easy way), or file a separate petition — plus who to notify.

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Divorce by county

Local help for the counties we serve.

Texas divorce guides

Plain-English guides to divorce in Texas: community property, the 60-day waiting period, conservatorship, child support, and the court process. Educational only; new guides publish regularly.

Texas guide

How to Tell Your Kids About the Divorce

How to tell your kids about a Texas divorce, age by age, with what to say, what to avoid, and how conservatorship and possession schedules affect the timing.

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Texas guide

How to Serve Divorce Papers in Texas: Constable, Certified Mail, or Waiver

How to serve divorce papers in Texas: waiver of service, service by a constable or process server, and certified mail, and what each method requires.

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Texas guide

Military Divorce in Texas: Residency, Service, and Timing

Military divorce in Texas follows special residency rules for service members, SCRA service protections, and a 60-day clock that deployment does not skip.

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Texas guide

Possessory Conservator: What the Non-Primary Parent Actually Gets

Possessory conservator in Texas: which rights come with every period of possession, which apply all the time, and which stay with the managing conservator.

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Texas guide

Is Texas a 50/50 Divorce State? No, and Here Is the Real Rule

Texas divides community property in a way that is just and right, not a flat 50/50 split. See the real rule, the hard limit, and what can shift the division.

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Texas forms

TexasLawHelp Set B: The With-Children Divorce Forms, Explained

TexasLawHelp's Set B forms cover an uncontested divorce with minor children and no existing custody order: every form, who signs, and how the case finishes.

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Texas county guide

Divorce in Dallas County, Texas: Forms, Fees, and Where to File

Filing for divorce in Dallas County, Texas? See current filing fees, the forms you need, where to file in person or online, and how the case gets finalized.

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Texas guide

How to Tell Your Spouse You Want a Divorce (and Keep It Amicable)

How to tell your spouse you want a Texas divorce: choosing the moment, what to say, and what usually happens next, so the conversation stays calm.

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Texas guide

Filing the Petition: Your First Trip (or Upload) to the District Clerk

Filing a Texas divorce petition means e-filing or a paper trip to the district clerk. Here is what the clerk does with it, what it costs, and what happens next.

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Texas guide

The Two-Year Presumption After a Common-Law Separation in Texas

Texas gives couples two years after a common-law separation to prove an informal marriage existed, or the law presumes they never agreed to marry at all.

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Texas guide

Sole Managing Conservatorship in Texas: When Courts Order It

Sole managing conservatorship in Texas is the exception, not the rule. See when courts move away from the joint-conservator presumption and what changes.

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Texas guide

The Community Property Presumption: Why Receipts and Records Matter

Texas presumes everything a spouse owns at divorce is community property. Here is what proves otherwise, and which records to keep before you need them.

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Texas forms

Divorce Set 1: The Texas Supreme Court Forms for No Children, No Real Property

Divorce Set 1 is the only Texas Supreme Court promulgated divorce form set. See the seven forms it contains, who can use it, and how the process runs.

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Texas county guide

Divorce in Harris County, Texas: Forms, Fees, and Where to File

Filing for divorce in Harris County, Texas? See current filing fees, the forms you need, where to file in person or online, and how the case gets finalized.

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Texas guide

Thinking About Divorce in Texas: A Calm First-Steps Guide

Thinking about divorce in Texas? A calm, practical guide to the first steps: what to gather, what the timeline looks like, and how to decide when to file.

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Texas guide

Fault Grounds for Divorce in Texas: Adultery, Cruelty, and the Rest

Texas recognizes six fault grounds for divorce: cruelty, adultery, felony conviction, abandonment, living apart, and confinement. Here is what each requires.

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Texas guide

Proving (or Disputing) a Common-Law Marriage in a Texas Divorce

How Texas courts decide whether an informal marriage existed: the three-part test, the two-year filing clock, and the evidence each side uses to prove it.

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Texas guide

Joint Managing Conservatorship: The Texas Presumption Explained

Texas presumes joint managing conservatorship serves a child's best interest, but joint does not mean equal time. See what rights split and what can rebut it.

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Texas guide

Separate vs Community Property in Texas: The Three-Part Test

Texas divides property into separate and community using a three-part test: when it was acquired, which category it fits, and whether it can be traced.

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Texas guide

The Texas Prove-Up: How an Uncontested Divorce Is Finalized

How the Texas prove-up finalizes an uncontested divorce: sworn affidavit or short hearing, which counties allow each, and what gets filed once the judge signs.

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Texas guide

Waiver of Service in a Texas Divorce: The Agreed-Case Shortcut, Done Right

A Texas divorce waiver of service must be signed after filing, sworn before a notary, and never signed digitally. Here is how to sign one that holds up in court

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Texas guide

Divorce With Children in Texas: How a SAPCR Works Inside Your Case

A Texas divorce with children folds in a SAPCR: conservatorship, possession and access, and child support. Here is how each piece fits inside your case.

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Texas guide

Texas Divorce Residency Requirements: 6 Months in State, 90 Days in County

Texas requires six months of state residency and 90 days in the filing county before a divorce case can start, and only one spouse has to meet the rule.

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Texas guide

Conservatorship in Texas: What Happened to the Word Custody

Texas law replaced custody and visitation with conservatorship and possession and access. See what each term decides and how courts choose between them.

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Texas forms

How to E-File Your Texas Divorce on eFileTexas: Step by Step

See the exact eFileTexas steps for a self-represented Texas divorce: creating an account, uploading signed forms, paying or waiving fees, and clerk review.

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Texas guide

The Cheapest Way to Get Divorced in Texas

The cheapest way to divorce in Texas: a court fee waiver, a notarized waiver of service, free official forms, and staying agreed with your spouse.

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Texas forms

The Original Petition for Divorce (FM-DivB-100): How to Fill It Out

How to fill out FM-DivB-100, the Texas Original Petition for Divorce with children, section by section, from residency to conservatorship and property.

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Texas forms

The Final Decree of Divorce (FM-DivB-201): A Section-by-Section Walkthrough

FM-DivB-201 is the Set B Final Decree of Divorce for Texas parents with minor children. See what each of its 21 sections orders, in plain English.

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Texas guide

Insupportability: What Texas No-Fault Divorce Really Means

Insupportability is the Texas ground almost every agreed divorce uses: no proof of wrongdoing required. Here is what it means and what does not change.

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Texas guide

How Long Does a Divorce Take in Texas? The Honest Timeline

Texas law requires a 60-day wait from filing before a divorce is signed. See the real timeline, county prove-up rules, and what stretches an uncontested case.

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Texas guide

The Standard Possession Order: The Texas Default Schedule, Explained

The Texas Standard Possession Order sets the default weekend, Thursday, and summer schedule for parents living apart. See exactly what it requires and why.

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Texas guide

What Is a Wife Entitled To in a Texas Divorce?

Texas divorce law is gender neutral. See what a wife keeps as separate property, her share of the community estate, and when support applies.

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Texas guide

Texas Divorce Records: How to Look Up and Get Copies

Texas divorce records live in two places: a state verification from DSHS and a certified decree from the county district clerk. Here is how to get each one.

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Texas guide

Spousal Maintenance in Texas: Who Qualifies and Who Does Not

Texas spousal maintenance is narrow and capped: see the eligibility test, the $5,000 or 20% limit, and how long court-ordered support can last.

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Texas guide

Community Property in Texas: What Just and Right Actually Means

Texas divides only community property in a divorce, and the split does not have to be equal. Here is how courts classify, presume, and divide the estate.

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Texas guide

Divorcing From a Common-Law (Informal) Marriage in Texas

Texas recognizes common-law marriage. Learn the three legal elements, how to prove one existed, the two-year rule after separation, and how divorce works.

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Texas guide

Texas Divorce Laws: The Complete Plain-English Guide

Texas divorce laws in plain English: residency rules, the 60-day wait, community property, conservatorship, child support, and spousal maintenance, explained.

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Texas guide

Texas Divorce Without a Lawyer: What Pro Se Filers Must Know

You can file for divorce in Texas without a lawyer. See when self-representation works, where to get the official forms for free, and when to get help.

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Texas guide

Texas Child Support: Percentages, Net Resources, and the Cap

Texas child support is a percentage of net resources, not gross pay. See the guideline percentages, the current monthly cap, and how the total is set.

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Texas forms

Texas Divorce Forms: Every Official Set Explained (Set 1, A, B, C, D)

Texas divorce forms come in five sets: 1, A, B, C, and D. See which situation each covers, whether the Supreme Court approved it, and where to get current PDFs.

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Texas guide

Uncontested Divorce in Texas: How the Agreed Process Actually Works

Uncontested divorce in Texas means agreeing before you file: the insupportability ground, a notarized waiver, the 60 day wait, and how the prove-up finishes it.

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Texas guide

How Much Does a Divorce Cost in Texas? Every Fee, Itemized

Every unavoidable cost in a Texas divorce: the court filing fee by county, service or a waiver, the fee waiver process, and what changes the total.

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Texas guide

How to File for Divorce in Texas: Every Step From Petition to Decree

How to file for divorce in Texas, step by step: the residency rule, the Original Petition, service or a notarized waiver, the 60 day wait, and the prove-up.

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Texas guide

DIY Texas Divorce vs Online Services vs a Lawyer: An Honest Comparison

Comparing the three ways to get divorced in Texas: official free forms, an online document service, or hiring a lawyer. Real costs, time, and who each one fits.

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