What to expect in Texas

frosty_the_snowman- · 2025-07-25T00:14:43+00:00

How about if you have a pre nuptial agreement or post nuptial agreement stating that all assets earned by each person before and during the marriage belongs to the person who earned it? Is it still 50/50?

captainchippsixx · 2024-08-04T20:08:25+00:00

Pay the lawyer. She will change her tune. at least consult.

You’re asking us for legal advice.

My advice ,is if she is already starting with threats and shenanigans that you have too slow the battleship and swing all the big guns around at her.

Special_Profit4509 · 2024-08-02T02:32:54+00:00

As a couple hire a attorney, have him mediation and file the mediation agreement asap. The longer it goes the more the price goes up.

Your losing everything otherwise with out a attorney.

dnbndnb · 2024-08-01T20:39:08+00:00

The worst thing you’ll encounter is her friends telling her she deserves it all and “you go girl”. Do a spreadsheet of all assets. Do an estimated division. If she gets a bit more after arguing about it it’s really a win for you, not her, provided you can settle between you. Be sure to tell her that every dollar spent on an attorney is one-half a dollar she won’t get in the end.

junkmailbox121 · 2024-08-01T20:36:49+00:00

Don’t agree to anything with what the STBXW is saying. She probably thinks she can get a lot but in reality it may not be the case in TX. Not a lawyer but divorced in TX to a SAHM.

First, if you’ve been married for less than 10 years, most likely there is no alimony. The exception would be if the STBXW was disabled and could not work. Even then alimony won’t be forever. If you make a ton of money some judges could say to pay your spouse support temporarily. I was married to my ex for 9 years and had no extra income to support her during the divorce and was heavily in debt. She asked for support but didn’t get any because she was able to work and I had no extra money to give her. If your spouse asks for alimony, say no especially if she works. If you’ve been married for over 10 years you might have to pay alimony for up to half of the marriage length but could still be reduced.

Child support is based on a formula depending on the number of kids. It’s a percentage of your take home pay but is capped at a specific amount. For example if you have 2 kids , you’ll have to pay 25% of your take home pay up to $9,200 of your take home pay. So if your take home pay is 10,000 you’ll only have to pay 25%of 9,200 not 10,000.

Custody is not 50/50 by default in TX but is what’s called expanded standard/ standard where the parent without primary custody will get every other weekend , a month in summer , and split Christmas and thanksgiving holiday. Whoever gets primary custody gets child support. So if you decide to go for primary custody and you get it, your STBXW will have to pay you child support. I got primary custody of my kids and my ex was supposed to pay an amount based on minimum wage even though she didn’t work but I let it go to prevent derailing mediation.

Assets and debts should be split 50/50 but TX is an equitable distribution state so it could be 53/47 or whatever a judge/arbitrator decides. For example If there was adultery, the person who cheated could get 47%(just an example)

If you go through mediation everything is negotiable so don’t go in thinking everything is based on a formula. Also you’ll probably have to pay for the first consults with divorce attorneys in TX. There are attorneys who have free consults but most you will have to pay for.

AirSailer · 2024-08-01T18:41:56+00:00

You need to get a lawyer, period. If your stbxw is already pushing for more and more you can expect this to escalate, especially if she has female friends (divorced female friends are effectively instigators) or family that are whispering advice in her ears.

Watch out for lawyers that want money for a consult... You need to find one that will do the initial consultation for free. Expect anywhere from $1000-$5000 for a retainer after the initial consult.

Regarding all the assets, debts, etc. That stuff is just lines in a balance sheet. You should list them (assets and debt) all out, then start splitting evenly; this is what you want to get to (but don't share this with her if course). Then decide what you will offer, start low, aim to meet in the middle. Expect her to start with high demands, and don't be surprised if she starts high and continues to demand an unequal division. If you have already worked out what equal is then you have a way to gauge if she's negotiating in good faith towards equal.

Don't sacrifice yourself or your future here, especially just to make it go easier, expect and demand equal.

Grouchy_Software963 · 2024-08-01T17:54:22+00:00

Call around most lawyers but not all will do a free consult, and they think of it as their job interview. Contested is going to cost you 20k+ if you have assets or kids.

Most of the time expect a 50/50 split with assests, debts, etc.

Kids expect the SPO...

Away_Dark8763 · 2024-08-01T17:50:36+00:00

The baseline is a 50/50 split of assets and 50/50 custody if there are dependents. She can get spousal support if you have been married for ten years and she has been at home or underemployed. Plan on paying max child support even if you get 50/50 custody unless she makes more than you.

Texas courts typically require two rounds of mediation in a contested divorce. You will spend at least $20k if you both lawyer up. I spent a $100k

Title	What to expect in Texas
Author	Salty-Customer-8073
Upvotes	1
Comments	19
Date	August 1, 2024 5:37 PM UTC (2 years ago)
Subreddit	Posted in /r/Divorce_Men
Original Link	https://old.reddit.com/r/Divorce_Men/comments/1ehmq21/what_to_expect_in_texas/
Archive Link	https://theredarchive.com/r/Divorce_Men/what-to-expect-in-texas.1526023 https://theredarchive.com/post/1526023

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