Navigating a Texas Divorce: Tips To Consider
There are few legal processes that are more demanding than divorce. Divorce is the split of a strong, legal union which can be further complicated if there are minors involved. As a result, divorce tends to be very emotionally taxing.
In Texas alone, nearly 80,000 couples will likely get divorced in Texas alone. Our team has worked in family law and divorce in Texas for many years, which produced insight on navigating this difficult time emotionally and legally.
In this blog, we offer tips that we’ve developed over the years, as well as general information on divorce in the great state of Texas!
Key Characteristics of Texas Divorce
Divorce in Texas much like it does in other states, but it has key differences to consider.
First, the period from filing the divorce to actually completing takes no less than 60 days to complete. When you begin the divorce process, you need to make sure you are ready for the roughly two-month period prior to finalizing the divorce.
Legal separation is also not recognized in Texas. In some states, legal separation can be used as a sort of middle ground between staying fully married or fully divorced. Texas does not recognize that, so you and your spouse would not have that option.
An option that you can have in Texas is “no-fault” divorce. A “no-fault” divorce basically allows no spouse to have to be the reason the marriage failed. This will affect the judge’s decision on how assets will be divided for the divorce.
Divorce: How It Affects Us
Everyone knows that divorce is hard, but how exactly does it affect the adults and children that go through it every year? Studies show that psychological issues can include issues like increased stress, lower life satisfaction, and increased mortality risk overall in the short and potential long term.
The effects of divorce also differ from adults to children. For children, the time period right after the divorce is the hardest, normally around one year. Children often exhibit anger, anxiety, and distress. Children can be especially stressed if the divorce was confrontational or violent, or if there is instability at home.
When both the parents and children are emotionally distressed, it can make for an unstable, volatile environment that makes healing difficult.
Handling a divorce in a healthy manner can keep stress and depression from affecting you adversely, and could literally save your life in some cases. If possible, use therapy for yourself and your family in the immediate time following the divorce.
Another strategy for handling a divorce is to use divorce as an opportunity for growth and introspection using mindfulness techniques. Mindfulness, at its core, is a practice focused on cultivating awareness, both externally and internally. Mindfulness techniques like meditation can improve a person’s view of their own thoughts, which prevents unforeseen thought loops to cause bad moods or actions.
In the same vein, trying out new hobbies and activities could also help to discover more about yourself and what you may want to do post-divorce. Given how frantic life can be, taking the time to learn about yourself whenever possible could go a long way.
Often, markers that show distress in people dealing with divorce are markedly worse for people who have few friends/family or are isolated. If you are going through a challenging divorce, try to have friends and family that you lean on and discuss problems with.
Overall, one of the most important tips we can offer is to simply stay positive, open, and keep moving. By developing a positive, open attitude, you could make the transition easier and healthier for yourself and your children.
Why Having An Experienced Lawyer Is Necessary
The other piece of the divorce puzzle is having a quality lawyer. Divorce lawyers play an important role in trying to achieve the best possible results from the split. When topics like money, assets, and child custody arise, it takes a skilled lawyer to navigate the law and help clients successfully transition.
Divorce lawyers can also be helpful by relaying their experience in the field to help clients cope. While lawyers are not medical professionals, we can often offer insight into the realities of divorce that they work with.