"Mr. Enos was a really great divorce attorney. David worked really had for me and my boys.  He constantly stayed in contact and worked many weekends with me to prepare for trial." James B.

"David is a great attorney. He wouldn't let me settle for less than what I deserved and got me a fair settlement in my divorce." Lisa M.

Amarillo divorce lawyer David Enos has over 25 years of experience and understands how painful and traumatic a divorce can be. Contact our office and schedule a free consultation to learn how we can help you throughout your divorce and related legal matters.

 

Divorce in Amarillo is the legal process of ending a marriage.  It usually involves ending or reorganizing of the legal duties and responsibilities of marriage.  If property is involved, the divorce judgment will divide property and debts in a manner that is “just and right” and confirm separate property of the spouses.  If children were born to or adopted during the marriage,  a suit affecting parent child relationship will be combined with the divorce so that the court can enter orders as to the custody, visitation and support of the children.  Divorce doesn't have to cost a fortune.

Divorce Process

 

The divorce process begins with the filing of a petition. The petition is a formal legal document that includes background information (such as the dates of the marriage and separation, as well as the names, ages, and social security numbers of any minor children), explains why a divorce is desired, and asks for relief (including child custody, property division, and other matters). This is significant because the Court has the authority to grant requests that are not included in the petition.

The petition should be submitted in the county where one of the spouses has lived for at least 90 days.  In addition, at least one spouse must have spent at least six months in Texas.
One of seven grounds can be used to grant a divorce.  The vast majority of divorces are issued on the basis of "no fault divorce," which means that the marriage is simply not working because the parties are unable to communicate.

Adultery, abandonment, abuse, imprisonment, felony conviction, living apart, or confinement in a mental institution are all grounds for divorce.  Unless the nonfiling spouse waives service, the petition must be served on the nonfiling spouse after it is filed. The party against whom the petition is directed has the right to answer the petition and file a counterclaim. The answer must be filed with the court on the Monday following the expiration of 20 days after service of the petition.

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After a petition for divorce is filed, either party may request that the court make temporary orders that will control the family situation while the divorce is pending. The temporary orders might include such things as (1) orders for counseling; (2) orders enjoining one or both parties from committing acts of violence or harassment; (3) orders enjoining one or both parties from disposing of, hiding, damaging, or mortgaging property; (4) orders enjoining one or both parties from creating debt; (5) orders providing for temporary custody of and visitation with children; (6) orders for temporary support of children and spouse; and/or (7) orders concerning the possession and use of property. A divorce cannot be granted by the court until the petition has been on file with the court for at least 60 days.

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Once important decisions have been made by the spouses or by the judge presiding over the case, the divorce will be finalized by the district court. At that time, the marriage will be terminated legally and spouses will no longer be considered married.  

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For most people, the divorce process can be quite overwhelming, which is why it is in your best interest to hire an experienced divorce attorney. As an experienced Amarillo divorce lawyer, David Enos has years of experience handling divorce cases and working with the Texas divorce process. We can help clients through both contested and uncontested divorce cases.

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Grounds for Divorce

 

Texas is both a “no fault” and “fault” divorce state, which means that spouses can file for divorce without just because they want to or may claim certain legal grounds for divorce. In Texas, the following are considered legitimate grounds for divorce: cruelty, adultery, long-term imprisonment (over 1 year sentence), abandonment (over 1 year), living apart (at least 3 years) and confinement in a mental institution (at least 3 years). After a spouse feels that they have sufficient grounds for divorce or feels that the divorce is “no fault,” they may file a Petition for Divorce with the District court in the county where either party lives.

 

Texas Divorce Residency Requirements

 

Before someone can file for a divorce, they or their spouse must meet the residency requirements. In Texas, one of the spouses must be a resident of the state for at least 6 months and one of the spouses must be a resident of the county where they are filing for divorce for at least 90 days.  David Enos files divorces in Potter County, Randall County, Deaf Smith County, Moore County, Gray County, Hartley County and Dallam.

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Professional Amarillo Divorce Attorney

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The divorce process can be overwhelming for most people, which is why you should employ attorney David Enos who has years 25 of experience  handling divorce matters in Amarillo.