When you file Divorce paperwork in Texas, the key document that you will complete is called the “Original Petition for Divorce.” In it, you will list biographical information about your family and asset information about your marriage.

You will also need to complete a very important section in which you state your “grounds for divorce,” or the reason why your marriage has ended. The grounds you declare can have a significant impact on the course of your divorce. You will want to choose your grounds for divorce with care. Here is some information to help you make an informed decision.

There are seven valid grounds to specify in a divorce petition. Six are fault grounds and one (insupportability) no-fault grounds those grounds include:

Living apart Confinement in a mental hospital Cruelty Abandonment Conviction of a felony Adultery insupportability No-Fault Divorce Couples seeking a divorce in Texas have options. They can file immediately for divorce using a ground such as insupportability (basically meaning they no longer wish to be married).

Separating During Divorce Texas does not require physical separation to file for divorce. The petition will have place asking about the separation date many people just place the date they file for divorce.

Many couples do choose to separate during a divorce. It should be noted that maintaining two households after living together in one can add a substantial financial burden to the process of getting a divorce .

Should I file for Divorce Alleging Fault? A client and his or her Texas family law attorney should determine what other ground (or grounds) for divorce are most appropriate. Any additional grounds will be specifically stated in the Petition for Divorce.

Common Grounds for Divorce Insupportability

In the 1970’s, Texas joined many other states by adding “ insupportability” as a “no-fault” ground for divorce . Using insupportability allows divorcing couples to begin their legal proceedings in a more civilized manner, without specific accusations that can often result in a more contentious divorce.

Insupportability as a ground for divorce simply means that at least one of the spouses wants a divorce.

Cruelty

A spouse in Texas is able to cite Cruelty as grounds for divorce as well under Texas Family Code Section 6.002. Pleading this in a petition is easy enough to do, but actually proving it to a Court is more difficult.

Cruel treatment means the behavior of one spouse is so extreme as to make it impossible for the parties to live together under the same roof.

This cruel treatment can be physical or emotional in nature. Evidence can be hard to come by in order to prove cruel treatment in a divorce so a party who wishes to plead cruel treatment as a ground for divorce ought to be open and honest with the attorney so that necessary evidence can be located.

Multiple Grounds for Divorce Sometimes, more than one ground for divorce is listed in the Petition for Divorce.

While this is allowed, having more than one ground for divorce will not necessarily carry any additional weight with the judge in the case.

What are the grounds for divorce in the State of Texas? There are a number of grounds for divorce in the State of Texas. You need to choose at least one of the grounds in order to file a petition to be recognized and be eligible for an ultimate judgment of divorce.

The most common ground utilized today is insupportability. That merely indicates that one of the spouses no longer wants to be married. The actual language that is used in an Original Petition for Divorce is that “the marriage has become insupportable because of discord and conflict, which destroys the legitimate end of the marriage relationship and there is no reasonable expectation of reconciliation.”

You do not have to identify what constitutes “discord and conflict, which destroys the legitimate end of the marriage relationship and there is no reasonable expectation of reconciliation”, just merely that there has been one.

It is one of the most respectful grounds that you can use. Even though it is difficult to receive a petition for divorce in many cases, receiving one with insupportability as the ground for divorce is oftentimes the least offensive one that you can possibly receive.

Other grounds for divorce are adultery, cruelty, living apart, abandonment. Legally speaking, living apart means that you have been living in separate physical residences for a period of at least three years.

There’s also the ground of abandonment, which is similar. You will need to prove that:

that the other spouse left the marital home and did not intend to return, and the spouse will need to prove that the abandoning spouse has been out of the home for at least one year with no contact having been made with the spouse still living in the marital residence. There are a number of grounds for divorce that you can utilize. Talk to a divorce and family attorney and find out which ground or grounds best meet your needs.

Infidelity, Adultery & Divorce FAQs How do I find out if my spouse has cheated on me? To find out if your spouse has been unfaithful to you, you may hire a private investigator who will assist you in that regard.

In addition, during the discovery process of a divorce, your attorney will have the ability to make discovery requests including subpoenas, depositions, financial documents, etc. that may help to show adultery has occurred.

Does cheating affect equitable distribution, alimony or child support in a divorce?

If successful in proving a fault ground for divorce specified below the party may be able to a better division of the community estate.

Even if a fault ground is plead a Judge has the discretion of granting the divorce on the ground of insupportability instead.

Amount and Duration of Spousal Support

In addition, if a spouse is eligible under the law to receive spousal support under Texas Law and a Judge is inclined to award spousal support then a Judge may consider marital fault when awarding the amount and duration of spousal support in the divorce.

Every divorce case is unique, so it is vital for anyone filing for divorce in Texas to be represented by an accomplished TX Family Law attorney who appreciates the advantages and disadvantages of using certain grounds for divorce. Only an attorney who focuses on TX family law has the experience to guide you towards the most appropriate ground for your situation.

To learn more about starting the divorce process, divorce documents, or for general questions about divorce in TX, please contact us .

This was originally posted at http://www.bryanfagan.com/Family-Law-Blog/2018/August/Grounds-for-Divorce-in-Texas.aspx by Law Office of Bryan Fagan

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