Many people automatically think of divorce as being a contentious court proceeding with couples who fight over everything. However, there are different types of divorces Texas couples can get.
Contested divorce
A contested divorce occurs when the spouses don’t agree on various issues involved in the split such as property division, child custody and alimony. A divorce is even considered contested when one spouse wants to end the marriage while the other disagrees. The process is longer, more expensive and stressful.
Uncontested divorce
An uncontested divorce is far less complicated than one that’s contested. The spouses agree to split and agree on issues like alimony, child custody, child support, division of property and more. An agreement is often reached early on and the divorce is often finalized quickly.
Simplified divorce
A simplified divorce is also referred to as a summary divorce, and it is allowed in some states. It allows for a faster process of ending the marriage because couples who are eligible for it are often married only five years or less, don’t have children and have little assets and debts. Couples seeking this option must agree and jointly file papers with the court. Typically, there is less paperwork involved in this type of divorce and the parties usually don’t need lawyers.
Default divorce
A default divorce happens when one spouse files a petition to end the marriage but the other spouse fails to respond. Often, this situation involves abandonment. The court can grant a person this type of divorce even with their spouse absent. No one is present to contest what the court awards the spouse, but this type of divorce isn’t for everyone.
Couples seeking a divorce should explore their options to know which one is most appropriate for their situation.