When spouses initiate an uncontested divorce, they can avoid unnecessary expenses by going through the process without a lawyer. However, it also means that they have to find and complete the divorce paperwork without outside assistance. This requires time, dedication, and lots of research.
The most common Dallas County uncontested divorce forms that are needed for every case include:
Original Petition for Divorce
The Petition is one of the most extensive documents covering the basics of your divorce. You, as a petitioner, will need to file it with the district court of your county to start the marriage dissolution process. In this form, you have to provide information about you and your spouse, your children, property, the date of marriage and separation, and the divorce grounds. There will also be fields helping you and the court to determine whether it will have jurisdiction over all the parties to the case.
Download Original Petition for Divorce (PDF)
Civil Case Information Sheet
This document is filed together with the Petition. It provides general information, including the contact details of the person who is filling out the paper (it can be either petitioner or a lawyer if the former has chosen to be represented): phone number, email, physical address, zip code, etc. This form also includes parties’ names along with their children’s names, as well as case and procedure type.
Download Civil Case Information Sheet (PDF)
Required Initial Disclosures
According to Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 194.2, spouses involved in a lawsuit must provide each information concerning any property and assets they have in their possession, as well as financial data, such as retirement plans, employee benefits, health insurance, etc. They do so by exchanging Initial Disclosure forms. In case there is a child or spousal support request, they must provide tax returns that were made in the last 2 years as well as information regarding any policies and benefits that may be available to the spouse or child.
Download Initial Disclosures (PDF)
Respondent’s Original Answer or Waiver of Service
The Answer or the Waiver is filed with the court by the respondent – the second party involved in the lawsuit. Once the respondent is served with the copy of the Petition, they may file the Answer with the court, claiming that they are aware that the case has been initiated, received a copy of the Petition, and want to be informed about further proceedings.
In the Waiver of Service, the respondent informs the court that they received the Petition and do not need to be legally served. As long as they are in full agreement with their spouse and the Petition terms do not change, they also do not want to be informed about further proceedings. The respondent cannot file both the Answer and the Waiver – just one of the forms.
Download Respondent’s Original Answer (PDF)
Final Decree of Divorce
A Decree is a document that includes the spouses’ final decisions regarding the divorce case, such as child custody or support, alimony, property division, and others that are reviewed and approved by the judge. After the hearing, it will be necessary to file a Decree with the clerk and get the certified copies to finalize the divorce.
Download Final Decree of Divorce (PDF)
If you and your spouse have kids, you will need forms covering your custody and support agreements. Here is the list of the common Dallas County divorce forms with minor children:
- Standard or Modified Possession Order
This document defines how much time each parent spends with the child, including the specific time and dates. The Standard order is a universally accepted document parents fill out when making visitation decisions. A Modified order is filed in case the standard one does not work for a specific family situation.
- Income Withholding for Support
The Income Withholding form is filed when the custodial parent who will receive child support needs to ensure that the other parent makes payments and does it on time. In this case, the court enters the order that requires the payor’s employer to withhold the specific amount of money from the payor’s monthly paycheck and transfer it to the custodial parent.
Of course, each divorce case is unique, and spouses may require a different number of Texas divorce forms in Dallas County. It may be quite difficult to deal with the paperwork on your own since you have to find the forms that are mandatory and those that match your case. In addition, filling them out often takes days or even weeks, as it might be hard to understand what some questions ask of you. However, you can save time and order your papers from our service for only $159, even if you divorce with children. You will get all the necessary forms, which will be already filled out and ready to be filed based on the instructions you will be provided with.
David Rossi is a full-time writer with a legal background. He previously worked as a clerk in a local court, so he has both a passion for writing about legal topics and the experience to do so. Through his writing, David aims to educate individuals about the complexities of the legal system and provide valuable insights into it. Right now, David is focused on creating his own podcast to share his knowledge of legal topics and access to legal assistance.