Agreed Divorce in Harris County
If you and your spouse have come to an agreement regarding your Harris County divorce, we can assist you in completing the necessary paperwork and finalizing your divorce. The process involves preparing and sending you the following documents via email or first-class mail:
- Final Decree of Divorce
- Waiver of Service
- Property Transfer Documents
- Vital Statistics Form
- Wage and Medical Support Order (for children)
The filing fee ranges from $230 to $262, depending on whether children were born during the marriage. The court requires one appearance to authenticate the marriage and confirm the agreement. You will be asked approximately 8 questions during the hearing, including:
- Your full name
- Confirmation of your marriage to your spouse
- Dates of marriage and separation
- Whether the marriage is insupportable
- If there is any chance of reconciliation
- Whether children were born or adopted during the marriage
- If you are requesting a name change
- If you are requesting the divorce today
Harris County Divorce Attorney Michael Busby can help ensure your divorce is finalized within 61 to 65 days of filing the petition. After the prove-up hearing, you will receive a PDF of the final decree and a closing letter concluding our service agreement.
Default Divorce in Harris County
If your spouse does not want to sign the divorce papers, Busby & Associates can help you with a default divorce. In this case, your spouse must be served with citation, and we use a private process server to handle this. The 60-day waiting period still applies, but you must also allow 20 days after the first Monday following the service before we can attempt a default.
For a default divorce, we use different forms than those required for an agreed divorce. These forms include:
- Original Petition for Divorce
- Citation of Service
- New Filing Form for Clerk
- Vital Statistics Form
- Certificate of Last Known Address
- Service Members Affidavit
- Final Decree of Divorce
- Inventory of Assets
- Wage and Medical Orders (if children are involved)
In default divorce cases, we will also serve your spouse with the petition and discovery. Discovery is a process used to gather information, and if your spouse isn’t cooperating, this can help you gain leverage. Discovery can lead to additional costs for your spouse, which may encourage them to settle.
After the final decree is signed by the judge, your spouse has 30 days to file a motion for a new trial or to set aside the judgment. We handle these types of cases regularly and will ensure your interests are defended.
Divorce Trial in Harris County
If your spouse hires an attorney and refuses to settle, you may be facing a divorce trial. Before the trial, mediation is often required. During mediation, evidence is not presented in the strict form, and you won’t call witnesses, but it’s important to have all documents in order. If you feel mediation is unnecessary, we can work with you to find low-cost mediators that save both time and money.
If your case goes to trial, you will present your evidence in court, and the judge will make a ruling. Once the ruling is made, we will help draft the final divorce decree. Depending on the court, this process can take months, and the associated costs may vary. Michael Busby will guide you on what to expect and how to prepare for your trial.
Once the judge issues a ruling, you have 30 days to file an appeal unless you file certain post-judgment motions, which can extend your time to file an appeal to up to 90 days.
Family Law Services in the Greater Harris County Area
Michael Busby also assists families in Harris County and surrounding communities with various family law matters, including divorce, child custody, spousal support, and property division. Our firm is dedicated to providing compassionate and efficient legal representation to families during difficult transitions.
For more information head over to Busby Lee Website
