A Texas divorce starts with one document: the Original Petition for Divorce. It is short, but it sets the boundaries of your case — the grounds you can rely on, the relief the court can grant, and in many counties the automatic orders that take effect the moment it is filed.
What the Petition Contains
Chapter 6, Subchapter E governs the filing of a divorce suit. A well-drafted petition identifies the parties and the date of marriage and separation, establishes residency and venue under § 6.301, states the grounds, and requests the relief you want: division of the community estate, confirmation of separate property, reimbursement claims, spousal maintenance, a name change, and attorney’s fees. Relief that is never pleaded generally cannot be awarded.
Mandatory Joinder of Children’s Issues
Under § 6.406, the petition must state whether there are children of the marriage under 18 or otherwise entitled to support, and if the parties are parents of a child not already under another court’s continuing jurisdiction, the divorce must include a suit affecting the parent-child relationship. The two cases cannot be split apart. Although the statute does not say so in those words, Texas courts also generally will not finalize a divorce while a spouse is pregnant, because the child’s issues cannot yet be resolved. A pending children’s case filed elsewhere is transferred into the divorce court under § 6.407.
Pleadings Are Not Admissions
Section 6.402 makes a petition sufficient without pleading the underlying evidentiary facts, so long as the grounds are alleged substantially in the language of the statute. Separately, § 6.701 provides that the petition may not be taken as confessed if the respondent never files an answer. Even in a default, the petitioner must appear and prove the case.
Filing Fees, Waivers, and Confidentiality
Each county sets its own filing and service fees, and a Statement of Inability to Afford Payment of Court Costs is available for those who qualify. If your address must be kept confidential for safety reasons, that can be addressed at filing rather than after your address is already in the public record. In the state’s largest counties — those with a population of 3.4 million or more, which includes Harris County — § 6.411 makes divorce pleadings confidential and not subject to public disclosure until the earlier of service of citation or the 31st day after filing. Under § 6.405, the petition must also state whether any protective order or emergency protection order is in effect or pending, and attach a copy.
What Happens Immediately After Filing
- The 60-day waiting period begins running under § 6.702.
- In many counties, standing orders automatically restrict moving money, selling property, and disparaging the other parent. See TROs and standing orders.
- Your spouse must be given formal notice through service of process or a signed waiver.
- If you need immediate relief, a request for temporary orders can be filed and set for hearing.
Amending the Petition
Petitions can be amended as a case develops — to add a fault ground, plead a reimbursement or waste claim, or request maintenance. Amendments have deadlines tied to the trial setting, so it is far better to plead thoughtfully at the outset than to seek permission later.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does it matter who files for divorce first in Texas?
Legally the outcome does not turn on it, but the petitioner picks the county, sets the initial framing, and generally presents evidence first at trial.
Can I get divorced in Texas while my spouse is pregnant?
Courts generally wait. Section 6.406 requires children’s issues to be joined with the divorce, and those issues cannot be resolved before the child is born.
What if my spouse never files an answer?
You can proceed by default, but Texas still requires you to appear and prove your case. Under Section 6.701 the petition is not taken as confessed.
Texas Statutes Referenced
- Chapter 6, Subchapter E — Filing Suit
- § 6.301 — General Residency Rule for Divorce Suit
- § 6.401 — Caption
- § 6.402 — Pleadings
- § 6.405 — Protective Order and Related Orders
- § 6.406 — Mandatory Joinder of Suit Affecting Parent-Child Relationship
- § 6.407 — Transfer of Suit Affecting Parent-Child Relationship to Divorce Court
- § 6.411 — Confidentiality of Pleadings
- § 6.701 — Failure to Answer
- § 6.702 — Waiting Period; Exception
Related Pages
- Texas Divorce (main page)
- Responding to a Divorce Petition
- Service of Process
- Venue and Jurisdiction
Talk With a Texas Divorce Attorney
Start your case with a petition that protects every claim you may need. Call 713-955-6182 or contact The De Leon Law Firm.