What if You Don’t Want a Divorce?

January of each new year finds many couples considering divorce.  Some spouses will be looking for divorce information to continue their decision-making process.  Some spouses will have made the decision to move ahead with divorce.  Some spouses will have been on the receiving end of a divorce decision.  What happens if you’re the spouse who finds out that their spouse wants a divorce?  What next?

What if Your Spouse Tells You They Want A Divorce?

If your spouse tells you that he or she wants a divorce, your first reaction is likely to be an emotional one.  Try not to say or do anything you’ll regret later.  Take a little bit of time to consider the divorce information and your next steps.  Every marriage is different, but if you feel that there may be some life left in your marriage, and that you are willing to work on it, this could be a good time to share that with your spouse.

What if Your Spouse Has Already Filed for Divorce?

In a Texas divorce, if one spouse has filed for divorce that spouse will eventually be granted a divorce and a divorce decree will be entered.  In a Texas divorce, there are no separation requirements, separation laws or marriage counseling requirements.  If one spouse wants a divorce that is a sufficient ground for divorce and a court can find that a divorce can be granted. As a Texas divorce attorney, I hear the question frequently “I don’t want a divorce.  What can I do?”  And the answer isn’t usually an answer the person sitting in my office is happy to hear.  Even if one spouse maintains that they don’t want a divorce through the entire divorce proceeding, the court can and will grant a divorce.

The first thing that happens in a Texas divorce will be filing an Original Petition for Divorce.  The date the Original Petition for Divorce is filed will start a waiting period for the divorce.  The divorce waiting period in Texas is 60 days.  That’s quick.  There may also be other deadlines that apply to the spouse who just found out about the divorce that are much shorter than that.  If your spouse tells you that she or he wants a divorce or you are served in a divorce, schedule a meeting with an experienced divorce lawyer to find out about Texas divorce requirements and Texas divorce procedures.  It can be difficult to think about divorce or talk about divorce if you don’t want a divorce, but it is in your best interest to do so.

If you found out your spouse wants a divorce and want to schedule a time to talk with Jill O’Connell, an experienced divorce attorney, please call to schedule that meeting.  Call us today, 972-203-6644.