Texas Divorce Timeline

Gather financial documents, complete required forms (5 mandatory), and determine grounds for divorce.

File your petition with the court and pay the $300 filing fee. E-filing is available and can speed this up.

Serve your spouse using an accepted method: waiver, sheriff, process server, posting, publication.

Your spouse has 20 days to file a response after being served. If they don't respond, you may be able to get a default judgment.

Texas requires a 60-day waiting period. Mandatory 60-day 'cooling-off' period from the date the Original Petition for Divorce is filed until the divorce can be finalized. Applies to all cases regardless of agreement between parties. The court may not sign the Final Decree until at least 60 days after filing. The 60-day period may be waived if the respondent has been finally convicted of or received deferred adjudication for a family violence offense against the petitioner or a household member, or the petitioner has an active protective order or magistrate's order for emergency protection based on family violence committed during the marriage (Tex. Fam. Code Section 6.702).

If uncontested, you can submit your settlement agreement for court approval. Contested cases go through discovery, negotiation, and potentially trial.

The judge reviews your agreement and issues the final decree of divorce. Some courts schedule a brief hearing; others approve by mail.