Board Certified in Family Law
Fort Worth Divorce Lawyer: Family Law Center and Military Divorce
Fort Worth has a dedicated Family Law Center and a military base within its limits. Service families face rules that civilian couples never see.
The Family Law Center
Tarrant County family cases are heard at the Family Law Center, 200 East Weatherford Street, by the 231st, 233rd, 322nd, 324th, 325th and 360th District Courts. Check the page for your assigned court for its current procedures, and allow for downtown parking and security when you plan a hearing day.
Parts of Fort Worth reach beyond Tarrant County, including into Denton County, so confirm your county before filing. The school picture is also mixed: Fort Worth ISD, Keller, Northwest, Crowley and Eagle Mountain-Saginaw all serve parts of the city, and your order should name the right calendar.
Residency Works Differently for Service Members
Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth lies partly within the city, so military questions are worth covering here. Texas Family Code § 6.303 says time a Texas domiciliary spends away from the state or county in military or other government service counts as residence in Texas and in that county. It covers a spouse accompanying the service member too.
So a family stationed overseas may still be able to file in Texas, while someone stationed here but domiciled elsewhere raises a separate question. Sort this out before filing.
Retired Pay and Deployment
Federal law adds two layers. The Uniformed Services Former Spouses' Protection Act (10 U.S.C. § 1408) governs whether a state court can divide military retired pay. A court's authority over it depends on the service member's domicile, residence other than by military assignment, or consent, so being stationed here does not settle it. The same act has a 10-year rule for direct payment through the military's pay system: 10 years of marriage overlapping 10 years of creditable service. That rule controls how payment is made, not whether the pay can be divided.
The Servicemembers Civil Relief Act also protects active-duty members from default judgments and can pause proceedings when military service materially affects their ability to take part (50 U.S.C. §§ 3931-3932). A case that ignores those protections may not hold up.
Working With the Firm
Lisa G. Garza is Board Certified in Family Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization and has practiced Texas family law for more than 30 years. For more, see our military divorce guide.
Common Questions
Can I file for divorce in Texas while stationed overseas?
Possibly. Texas Family Code section 6.303 counts time spent away in military service as residence for a Texas domiciliary. A lawyer can confirm how it applies to your facts.
Does the 10-year rule decide whether a former spouse gets military retired pay?
No. The 10-year overlap rule concerns direct payment by the military's pay system. A court may still be able to divide retired pay with less overlap if it has authority over the service member under federal law.
Where is a Fort Worth divorce heard?
At the Tarrant County Family Law Center, 200 East Weatherford Street, unless your home is in another county.