Board Certified in Family Law
McKinney Divorce Lawyer and Family Law Attorney
McKinney is the Collin County seat, so every Collin County divorce runs through one courthouse here, wherever in the county the family lives.
One Courthouse for a Fast-Growing County
The Collin County Courthouse is at 2100 Bloomdale Road, and the county lists 15 district courts at that address: the 199th, 219th, 296th, 366th, 380th, 401st, 416th, 417th, 429th, 468th, 469th, 470th, 471st, 493rd and 494th. A family in Plano, Frisco or Allen on the Collin side ends up here too, so McKinney is not just the local option. It is the county's option.
Each court keeps its own page with procedures and forms. Once your case is assigned, follow the page for your court rather than general advice about Collin County.
What the Standing Order Restricts
Collin County publishes a Standing Order on Children, Property and Conduct of Parties. It is commonly summarized as restricting several things once a case is filed: removing a child from school, changing a child's residence, hiding a child, selling or giving away property, draining accounts, and deleting relevant electronic information.
The practical lesson is about phones as much as money. Clearing texts, photos or a shared cloud account during a separation can feel like tidying up. In a case under this order, it may look like destroying evidence. Read the order itself on the county's site before you touch anything.
Mediation in Collin County
The Collin County district courts run an Alternative Dispute Resolution Program, known as CCAP, and publish a family law order of referral to mediation. Texas Family Code § 6.602 lets a court refer a divorce to mediation on the parties' agreement or on its own motion.
That same section is why you should take the signature seriously. A settlement agreement that carries the required not-subject-to-revocation statement and the required signatures is binding, and a party is entitled to judgment on it. You should not expect to rethink it the following week.
The Firm's McKinney Office
The firm's McKinney office is at 205 West Louisiana Street, Suite 103, and is open by appointment only. Lisa G. Garza is Board Certified in Family Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization and has more than 30 years in Texas family law.
Common Questions
Do I have to go to mediation in Collin County?
A court can refer a divorce to mediation on its own motion under Texas Family Code section 6.602, and Collin County publishes a family referral order. Whether your case is sent there depends on your court.
Can I delete old texts during my divorce?
Be careful. Collin County's standing order is commonly summarized as restricting the alteration or deletion of potentially relevant electronic information. Talk to your lawyer before deleting anything.
Is the McKinney office at the courthouse?
No. The office is at 205 West Louisiana Street and is by appointment only. The courthouse is at 2100 Bloomdale Road.