How long does it take to obtain a divorce?
In Texas there is a 60 day waiting period after the filing of a petition for divorce before the divorce order can be finalized. If the parties have an agreement, the divorce can be completed on the 61st day. Many divorces are not agreements and have to be tried in front of the judge or a jury. If the case has to go to trial, it's difficult to state how long it will take because of the many factors that come into play; such as how quickly the case will get set on the court’s docket and what actions the attorneys will find necessary to take in the case to bring it to completion.

How is child support decided?
Child support in Texas is based on the formula provided by the Texas Family Code. The person paying child support usually pays 20% of their net earnings for one child. This percentage increases with each child: 25% for two children, 30% for three, etc. If the person paying child support is already responsible for other children, the percentage of their income that they will have to pay for child support may be reduced.

How are custody and visitation decided?
If the parents do not agree on custody and visitation, the court has to make the decision. The judge’s overriding consideration is the child’s best interest. The court considers many factors which to include:

• The child’s age
• The child’s gender
• The child’s mental and physical health
• Any history of child abuse
• The parents’ mental and physical health
• The parents’ lifestyles
• The emotional bonds between the child and each parent
• The parents’ ability to provide guidance to the child
• The parents’ ability to provide adequate food, shelter, clothing, and medical needs
• The child’s routines including home, school, community and religious
• The willingness of the parent to encourage a healthy, on-going relationship between the child and the other parent
• If the child is above a certain age, the court may consider the child’s preference