Trusted The Woodlands Divorce Lawyer

As divorce attorneys in The Woodlands, we know that there is no such thing as an easy divorce—especially when the separation involves children and/or high-value assets like businesses, properties, and investment portfolios. Divorces require a special kind of lawyer that knows how to limit the time, resources, and emotional strain of litigation.

At Grimes & Fertitta, our The Woodlands divorce lawyers specialize in complex divorces involving children, high-net-worth divorces, and divorces involving fathers’ rights. We are dedicated to helping you through this difficult time with compassionate and thorough representation. A close-knit firm, we tailor our legal strategies to reflect your interests, work hard to get you the results you want, and always keep your family’s best interests in mind.

If you are considering divorce and/or have already been contacted by your spouse’s lawyer, the sooner you act, the better. Contact a trusted andexperienced The Woodlands family lawyer at Grimes and Fertitta today: 713-489-2204.

The benefits of hiring a The Woodlands Divorce Lawyer 

Divorces, especially those involving children, property, and other high-value assets can very quickly become complicated. A The Woodlands divorce lawyer can provide you with legal counsel so that you don’t wind up making costly mistakes.

These are some of the issues and family law matters you and your divorce attorney in The Woodlands will work to settle during the divorce process.

• High-value assets
• Property division
• Child support
• Child custody
• Fathers’ rights
• Business ownership and valuation
• Alimony and spousal support
• Relocation
• Grandparents’ rights

Working with a divorce attorney can alleviate certain elements of strain during the divorce process. For example, divorce lawyers can advise you on establishing separate property rights, pursue information on your behalf, act as a means of communication between you and your partner if your relationship is particularly strained, etc.

What is the divorce process in The Woodlands, Texas? 

1. File your divorce petition

• Eligibility: Note that you or your spouse must have been a resident of Texas for six months in order to be eligible for a divorce in Texas. You must file for divorce in a county where either you or your spouse have been living for 90 days.
• Location: Residents living Montgomery County file in the Family Department of the Montgomery County Circuit Court (on the 1st floor of South Tower, room 1460)
• Paperwork: There are multiple types of petitions you can file, but the “Original Petition for Divorce” and the “Petition in Suit Affecting the Parent-Child Relationship” (SAPRC) are the most common.
• Orders: The divorce petition will include a set of “Standing Orders” that prohibit you and your spouse from making changes that might hurt the other party (canceling insurance, shutting down banking accounts, making threats). Depending on the state of your relationship with your spouse, you and your Woodlands divorce lawyer may need to pursue “Protective Orders” and/or “Temporary Orders.”

2. Serve your spouse

• If you work with Grimes & Fertitta, our The Woodlands divorce lawyers will take care of serving your spouse and handling the necessary paperwork.

3. Discovery

• The discovery process is a process of investigation for both parties involved in the divorce. This investigation can pan out in many different ways. For some divorces, the process is simply an exchange of important documents and information. For more complicated cases, especially those involving violence or children, the process can be quite extensive.
• It often becomes clear in the discovery process what issues will come up during the trial.
• Note that Texas is a community property state. In other words, all income and assets obtained during the marriage will be split (roughly) 50/50 during the divorce proceedings.

4. Mediation

• Mediation—the process of meeting with a trained, neutral third-party mediator in order to try to settle issues out of court—is mandatory in Montgomery county (and Harris County). Mediation can be extremely helpful for settling disputes regarding issues such as child support, assets, visitation, children’s special needs, debts, alimony, and more. Should issues not be resolved, the mediator cannot be used as a witness during the trial.
• Mediation is often seen as being incredibly beneficial to both parties; it is much less expensive and much more informal than handling these in court.

5. Sign a Final Decree of Divorce

• Individuals must wait at least 60 days from the date they filed your petition to sign the final decree of divorce. However, many divorce proceedings extend well beyond this 60-day mark.