Where to File for Divorce in Fort Bend County?
Divorce cases must be filed with the district courts that review different family matters. The Fort Bend Justice Center houses such courts in the county, so this is where you can initiate your divorce case.
1422 Eugene Heimann Circle, Richmond, TX 77469.
Phone: (281) 341-4509
Business Hours: Monday–Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
đź“‹ The Requirements for Divorce in Fort Bend County
To file for divorce, you should meet particular residency requirements determined by the local laws. In Fort Bend County, a couple is eligible for filing if at least one of them has been living here for no less than 90 days and has been a Texas resident for a minimum of 6 months prior to submitting the Petition to the court.
đź“Ś Filing for Uncontested Divorce in Fort Bend County
If your case is uncontested, you have a chance to end the divorce process in the shortest time possible but no earlier than 60 days from initiating the action due to the mandatory waiting period provided by the Texas Family Code. Here are the steps to take:
- Check which forms you need in your situation and review the rules and policies practiced in the local court.
- Prepare the initial set of documents, including the Original Petition for Divorce, and file it with the district court clerk’s office.
- Pay a filing fee if you did not request to waive it and get the time-stamped copies of your papers from the clerk.
- Give your spouse one set of document copies and ask them to complete and file either an Answer or a Waiver of Service.
- Complete a state-imposed 60-day waiting period that started when you filed the Petition.
- Meanwhile, prepare the rest of the paperwork required to finalize the divorce case.
- Give your spouse the completed Final Decree of Divorce form to review and sign it if they agree with all the provisions.
- When the waiting period ends, agree on the court hearing date with the court clerk.
- Bring the remaining completed paperwork, including the Final Decree, to the hearing and answer the judge’s questions, if any.
- Give the Decree and other possible orders signed by the judge to the clerk and get the certified copy.
🗂️ Required Divorce Forms in Fort Bend County
When obtaining divorce forms, you should know exactly which ones you need since not all of them would suit your case. The most basic paperwork package required for an uncontested divorce may include:
- Original Petition for Divorce (FM-DivB-100 )
- Civil Case Information Sheet
- Respondent’s Original Answer (FM-DivB-102)
- Respondent’s Waiver of Service Only (FM-DivB-103)
- Information on Suit Affecting the Family Relationship (VS-165)
- Record of Support Order (Form 1828)
- Final Decree of Divorce (FM-DivB-201)
This list is approximate and too generalized. While some of these forms are unnecessary in your unique situations, you might need some others. Make sure to research the matter and consult the court clerk to clarify which documents you must provide.
đź’ł Fort Bend County Divorce Filing Fees
A divorce filing fee in Fort Bend County, Texas, is $350 for cases with and without minor children involved. Additional motions or services, like delivering the papers to the other party, document copies, etc., would entail other expenses you must be ready for. Yet, if you cannot afford such costs, you may ask the court to waive these fees by filing a corresponding request.
You can clarify all the associated costs and the possibility of a fee waiver with the county court clerk. Visit the Fort Bend County Clerk website to learn more on the matter.
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