Board Certified in Family Law
Filing a Frisco Divorce in Denton County
West Frisco families are often surprised to find their case belongs in Denton, not McKinney. The rules can differ, so it pays to start with the right county.
The Courts Building
Denton County's district courts and District Clerk are at the Courts Building, 1450 East McKinney Street, Denton, Texas 76209. Note the street name: it is easy to confuse East McKinney Street in Denton with the city of McKinney, which is the seat of the other county Frisco sits in. Check any address on your paperwork before heading to a hearing.
Denton's Standing Orders
Denton County's district courts publish their own standing order on children, property and conduct in divorces and parent-child cases, along with uniform court rules. Do not assume the Collin County order you may have read about matches it word for word. Read the current Denton order from the county's site or the state's local rules database.
Moves Across the Line
A move within Frisco can change your county. Under Texas Family Code § 6.301, one spouse must have lived in the county of filing for the preceding 90 days, so a recent cross-town move can matter. Later on, a child's move can matter too: under § 155.201, on a timely motion a court must transfer a modification or enforcement case to a Texas county where the child has lived for six months or longer.
Planning Ahead
The case's timeline starts with the 60-day minimum in § 6.702, but Denton hearings, like any county's, depend on your court's calendar. Budget for a drive from Frisco and for time off work. If anything is urgent, such as safety or a child's care, say so at the start, because temporary orders under § 6.502 and related remedies exist for that.
Lisa G. Garza is Board Certified in Family Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization and represents families across North Texas.
Common Questions
Where do Denton County divorces get filed?
With the District Clerk at the Denton County Courts Building, 1450 East McKinney Street, Denton, Texas 76209. Filing itself is generally done electronically by lawyers.
Are Denton and Collin County's standing orders the same?
Do not assume so. Each county publishes its own, so read the one for the county where your case is filed.