High-Asset Divorce in Frisco
Business interests and executive pay in a corporate suburb.
The 60-day wait, and why it is not the timeline
A Texas court cannot grant a divorce before the 60th day after the petition is filed (Tex. Fam. Code § 6.702). People hear "60 days" and plan around it. That number is a floor, not an estimate. It is the shortest a fully agreed divorce with no children and no contested property can take.
What actually sets the length is disagreement. An agreed case where both spouses have already decided who keeps the house can finish shortly after the waiting period. A case with a business to value, a custody dispute, or a spouse who will not produce financial records runs on the court's docket, and the docket belongs to the county.
How This Plays Out in Practice
Business interests and executive pay in a corporate suburb. The specifics turn on facts — the length of the marriage, what is in the estate, whether children are involved, and how much the two of you still agree on. What does not change is the framework: Texas courts apply the Family Code, and the outcome follows from how your facts meet it.
Lisa G. Garza handles these matters from the firm's Dallas and McKinney offices, for families throughout North Texas.
Questions
Do I have to go to court?
Usually far less than people expect. Most Texas divorces resolve at mediation, and many counties require mediation before granting a trial setting. In an agreed case the only courtroom appearance may be a short prove-up hearing, and some courts allow that to be handled by affidavit or remotely.
How long does a divorce take in Texas?
At an absolute minimum, 60 days from the date the petition is filed, because Texas Family Code § 6.702 bars the court from granting a divorce before the 60th day. Agreed cases often finish shortly after that. Contested cases — particularly ones involving custody, a business, or a spouse who will not produce records — commonly run several months to well over a year, and the county's docket has as much to do with it as the facts.
Do I need a reason to divorce in Texas?
No. Texas Family Code § 6.001 allows divorce on the ground of insupportability, which requires no proof of wrongdoing by either spouse. Fault grounds such as cruelty or adultery still exist, and they can affect how a judge divides the community estate, but they are not required to obtain a divorce.
Is everything split 50/50 in a Texas divorce?
No. Texas Family Code § 7.001 directs the court to divide the community estate in a manner that is just and right, having due regard for the rights of each party and any children. Judges routinely award more than half to one spouse based on earning capacity, fault, health, custody of children, or the size of each spouse's separate estate.