The heat in Texas affects how we behave? Don’t believe me? Consider how the summertime, precisely the second half of summer, is a peak time during the year for divorces.
Maybe it has to do with the kids being home from school, nerves already being on edge from additional parenting responsibilities, and transitioning them back to school in August. Whatever the reason, it is the experience of the attorneys with the Law Office of Bryan Fagan, PLLC that we get more requests for consultations and have more people sign up for divorces in July and August than at almost any other time of the year.
What we hear from folks in consultations is pretty consistent- you have taken some vacation days away from work to spend time with the family on a faraway beach or even just a close-by swimming pool.
After spending some uninterrupted time with your spouse, maybe the first such opportunity you’ve had in months, your feelings that something isn’t quite right in the relationship have become crystal clear to you. The next thought in your brain is whether or not a divorce is right for you and how to take the first step towards that reality.
No matter your particular circumstances, you have multiple ways to get a divorce. Texas is a “no-fault” divorce state meaning that you and your spouse can get a divorce for literally no reason other than discord or conflict in personalities with no expectation for reconciliation.
This is lawyer-talk for you and your spouse no longer get along, and you can’t reasonably expect to get over those differences and continue as married persons. As the barriers to entry for a divorce are pretty low in our state, the next decision you need to make is whether or not you want to get a divorce.
Deciding to get a divorce in summer- how to make a decision
As we have already discussed, it probably has to do with the time you can spend with your spouse in the summer that causes whatever feelings in the back of your mind to drift towards the front. Perhaps you have tried marriage counseling or therapy with limited or no success.
Maybe your spouse (or you) has been unwilling to undertake this step altogether. Regardless, if you believe that a divorce is necessary for you and your family, there is little stopping you from filing a divorce petition.
If you decide to get a divorce at the beginning of summer, there is a possibility that your case could be resolved in time for school to be back in session in late August or early September. Texas law requires that a divorce resolve itself in no less than sixty days from the date your Original Petition for Divorce is filed.
This is to allow the reconciliation that we noted earlier to take place possibly. Absent that reconciliation, you will need to wait at least sixty-one days to head to court to talk to the judge about signing your Final Decree of Divorce.
It is not likely that your divorce will be completed in two months, but it is possible. If you have complicated property or child custody issues, I can almost promise you that you will be in for a case that stretches at least through the end of the year. On the other hand, if your case is relatively issues-free, then a fast yet effective divorce is altogether possible.
Working with your spouse on the issues to avoid unnecessary conflict
Divorce is all about the competition on some level. It is expected, and it is inherent in the process. I am not here to tell you that there is no surefire way to avoid conflict in a divorce.
However, I can tell you that the spouses that find themselves with relatively quick and painless divorces are those that decide what issues need to be worked on early in their cases, work together, put aside their egos and then come to a consensus on the subjects in question.
Whether through informal negotiation between spouses, attending mediation, or simply utilizing attorneys to further negotiation, the successful spouses in divorce do not shy away from issues or kick the can down the road to be decided in another month.
The most significant factor in this discussion is minimizing disruption to your children. Again, it is unavoidable that your children will be impacted in some way by your divorce. It may not be dramatic, but your children will quickly notice that you or their other parents no longer live in their home.
They may have been exposed to fighting or worse between you and your spouse as well. This can dramatically impact them and require you and your spouse to draw a line between acceptable and unacceptable behavior in conjunction with your divorce.
Let cooler heads prevail in the hot summer months.
Summertime offers you and your spouse an opportunity to file for divorce, negotiate a settlement and have final orders ready for a judge’s review in relatively quick succession.
With your children being out of school, there is more flexibility when you and your spouse can spend time with them while the divorce is being worked out. This is an excellent time for both of you to reconfirm with them that while the makeup of your living arrangements will be different moving forward, the love and commitment that you, as parents, have towards your children will not be changing.
If possible, you should attempt to have both parents remain in your home. Of course, if there is family violence occurring or verbal conflicts that are ongoing, this will not be a reasonable outcome.
However, if yours is a reasonably amicable divorce, why not stay in the home together and spend as much time as possible with your children in the summer. This can keep their mind off of the case and will allow for a more extended period of normalcy before school, and post-divorce life becomes the norm.
Meet with an attorney to brainstorm conflict avoidance strategies and negotiation tactics
Sometimes you may not even realize how amicable or “simple” your divorce can be before you talk to someone with experience in divorce law. While the issues in your case may seem impossible:
A reasonable family law attorney has a knack for breaking these issues down piece by piece and assisting you in identifying areas where you can make inroads with your spouse as far as negotiations are concerned. Why not work out a time to meet with a family law attorney to bounce some ideas off their heads to see their response is. You may find that your situation is more straightforward than you were giving it credit for.
Finally, find yourself a support system and do not be afraid to lean on them during these challenging times. With kids out of school in the summer, plan for group events and get-togethers that can take the emphasis off the divorce and place it on wholesome summer fun.
Take care of your case and do what you can to resolve issues without strife, but remember that you are doing this divorce in no small part because you believe it is best for your children. Place them at the front of your case, and you can achieve incredible successes in a summertime divorce.
Questions about divorce in Texas? Contact the Law Office of Bryan Fagan, PLLC
If you would like to learn more about divorce in Texas, please do not hesitate to contact the Law Office of Bryan Fagan, PLLC. Our licensed family law attorneys are experienced in representing clients in divorces across southeast Texas. It would be an honor to speak to you about doing the same for you and your family. A consultation is free of charge, and we can meet with you six days a week.
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Law Office of Bryan Fagan, PLLC | Houston, Texas Divorce Lawyers
The Law Office of Bryan Fagan, PLLC, routinely handles matters that affect children and families. If you have questions regarding divorce, it’s essential to speak with one of our Houston, TX, Divorce Lawyers right away to protect your rights.
Our divorce lawyers in Houston, TX, are skilled at listening to your goals during this trying process and developing a strategy to meet those goals. Contact the Law Office of Bryan Fagan, PLLC by calling (281) 810-9760 or submit your contact information in our online form. The Law Office of Bryan Fagan, PLLC, handles Divorce cases in Houston, Texas, Cypress, Klein, Humble, Kingwood, Tomball, The Woodlands, Houston, the FM 1960 area, or surrounding areas, including Harris County, Montgomery County, Liberty County, Chambers County, Galveston County, Brazoria County, Fort Bend County, and Waller County.