Divorce in Katy / Fort Bend County: What to Expect
From filing to final decree — a Katy divorce attorney walks you through the real timeline and decisions.
Divorce in Texas is governed by the Family Code. Here's a practical Katy/Fort Bend-specific overview.
60-day cooling-off period
Texas requires 60 days from filing to final hearing. Uncontested cases typically finalize at 75-90 days. Contested cases can run 6-18 months.
Community property
Texas splits marital assets 'just and right' — usually but not always 50/50. Separate property (pre-marriage or inheritance) stays with the original owner.
Custody / Conservatorship
Texas defaults to Joint Managing Conservatorship. The bigger fight is who has primary residence and which schools the kids attend.
Mediation almost always
Fort Bend judges typically require mediation before trial. Find an attorney who's both a strong negotiator and a competent trial lawyer.
Hire counsel early
Even uncontested divorces benefit from a 1-2 hour consultation with a Katy family law attorney.