Board Certified in Family Law
Mesquite Divorce Lawyer: Keeping an Agreed Divorce Agreed
Plenty of Mesquite couples agree on the big things and want this done without a fight. An agreed divorce can do that, if it finishes the job.
The Shortest Path Still Has a Waiting Period
Even with complete agreement, Texas Family Code § 6.702 generally bars a court from granting a divorce before the 60th day after filing. Agreement does not shorten that. One spouse must also meet the residency rule in § 6.301: six months in Texas and 90 days in the county.
Mesquite is mainly in Dallas County, with portions in Kaufman County. Dallas County cases go to 600 Commerce Street in Dallas, while Kaufman County has its own court system, so check which applies to your address.
What an Agreement Has to Cover
Agreeing that you are done is the easy part. The decree needs to deal with everything. With children, that means conservatorship, a possession schedule, child support and medical support. For property, it means the house, vehicles, accounts, retirement and debts. A vague term that felt friendly at the kitchen table can be very hard to enforce two years later.
Specific terms protect both of you: dates, exchange places, account names, and who refinances what by when.
Debts Do Not Follow the Decree
A common surprise: a decree can assign a credit card to your ex, but the card company was not part of your divorce. If your name is on the account, it can still come to you if the payments stop. Where you can, pay off or close joint accounts, or refinance, rather than simply relying on a promise in the decree.
When an Agreed Case Needs a Second Look
Agreed does not mean you should not get advice. Consider it seriously if there is a retirement plan or a business, if one spouse handled all the finances, if there has been family violence or pressure to sign, or if the proposed terms would give you little or no time with the children.
A court's temporary orders under § 6.502 and the discovery process exist for cases that stop being cooperative. If your spouse stops sharing information, you can change course. Lisa G. Garza is Board Certified in Family Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization and can review an agreement before you sign it. For more on the process, see our uncontested divorce guide.
Common Questions
How fast can an uncontested divorce finish in Mesquite?
A Texas court generally cannot grant it before the 60th day after filing under Family Code section 6.702. The real date also depends on paperwork and court scheduling.
If my ex gets the credit card in the decree, am I off the hook?
Not with the creditor. The decree binds you and your ex, but a creditor can still pursue anyone legally on the account.
Which county handles a Mesquite divorce?
Usually Dallas County, at 600 Commerce Street in Dallas. Part of Mesquite is in Kaufman County, so check your address.