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Introduction
Marriage dissolution is a common issue in today’s society that involves the termination of the marital union of a couple. The process is the official cancellation of the legal duties and responsibilities of individuals in a marriage, thus dissolving the bonds of matrimony for the married couple. The grounds for requesting a divorce and process of obtaining it vary depending on the laws of each individual state. However, in most cases, the distribution of property, division of debt, custody of children, and designation of parenting obligations are among the critical elements involved in the legal process. Technological advancements have resulted in the ability to have a quicker and more straightforward approach to divorce. In Texas, web divorce has seen tremendous growth in recent years, raising questions on how the procedure is done and whether it is reliable.
Why choose divorce over the internet?
Online divorce is only enforceable if the divorce is uncontested by the couple. Both parties in the divorce need to agree to all terms of the divorce, which ensures a fast and inexpensive dissolution of the marriage. One of the most attractive features of web divorce is the affordable price. By using an online platform, you won’t have to hire an attorney. Statistics show that the process is affordable, ranging from $100 to $1,000 (Eichenberg, Huss, and Küsel, 2017). The services also provide for a faster and easier divorce since the proceedings are uncontested.
Additionally, online divorce is convenient. Since everything is done online, you will have greater flexibility and control over the process. There is no need to make trips to the court, to visit attorneys, to take time off work, or to hire a babysitter or pay for childcare.
Process of Online Divorce in Texas
In Texas, there are lots of online divorce service providers to choose from, and though each has its own system, they all follow similar procedures in assisting the couple with filing for divorce. The following are the three main steps involved in any divorce over the internet:
Determining Eligibility
The first step in an online divorce is for the complainant to verify that their marriage dissolution is eligible to use the online format. The process involves responding to essential questions that determine if the services apply to their marriage situation. The responses are given in forms presented on the website to assist in expediting the procedure. The information provided by the customer includes the residency information of both spouses, the willingness of the spouses to sign the divorce papers, and other factors.
Marriage Information
The second step in carrying out an online divorce is to provide all the relevant details about the case to the service provider. This will include any information pertaining to residency, assets, debts, and children (Smith, 2017). This information is essential for determining and completing the necessary forms for your specific case.
Completed Documentation
After successfully sharing all the required information, the third step in the online divorce is to pay the processing fee. After this, the proper divorce documents are generated by the website. The divorce papers are completed based on the information you provided. They just need to be printed and signed by both parties. If any oversights are found, or if changes are needed in the documents, they can be amended through the website.
Timeline for the divorce if both parties are in agreement
The timeline for the divorce can vary depending on several factors. But if everything is in order, and the couple is ready to move forward with an uncontested divorce, it can be done in the shortest possible time frame, which is 60 days in Texas. The state has a mandatory waiting period of 60 days after the petition is filed, after which the judge will sign the divorce decree officially ending the marriage.
In the case of a contested divorce, the timeline can extend up to 24 months before it is fully processed. Most contested divorces take around 12 months, but how much time it takes will depend on the extent of the disagreements and how quickly the court processes the various stages of the contested divorce.
Some Complications involved in Online Divorce
Despite all of the advantages offered by the availability of a digitized dissolution of marriage, the process still has its potential challenges and complications. Problems can emanate due to a lack of understanding of the gravity of the decision to get a divorce, which is often accompanied by a rash decision to expedite the problem after simple misunderstandings (Hawkins, Galovan, Harris, Allen, Allen, Roberts, and Schramm, 2017). People who obtain a divorce surrender the right to assets, custody, and other benefits when they apply for a divorce. Therefore, it is recommended that a couple obtain legal advice to fully understand the rights they are giving up when opting for a fast and inexpensive divorce procedure using the online platforms.
Another issue that not every online divorce site is reliable. Some sites use invalid or outdated paperwork. As a result, the paperwork is not admissible to court forcing you to have to start all over again. To avoid scams, you will need to carefully review the website before giving them any money. Stick with an online service that has been around a long time. Look at their online reviews and see what past customers are saying about them. This is the best way to ensure that you are choosing a service you can trust..
An example of a reliable online divorce service
In Texas, one of the most reliable online divorce service providers is Texas Online Divorce. They offer fast and court-approved divorces in the region. The services are carried out without the need for an attorney, and their costs are relatively affordable at $139 (Texasonlinedivorce.com. 2020). Their procedure is relatively simple, following the template described above. The website requires the client to fill some details to make sure they qualify for an online divorce. This is followed by an online divorce interview to gather the information needed to complete your forms. The company even gives you easy to follow instructions for filing your completed documents with the local court. The ease of access to the website, affordable fees, and guarantee of court acceptance makes this a reliability platform for your online divorce proceedings.
Conclusion
Digital solutions that help in carrying out an online divorce expedite the procedure and ensure that divorce proceeding is affordable. This quick service offers a variety of benefits to a couple in need of a divorce. There is no need for a lawyer, the marriage can be dissolved with less stress, and conducting a divorce online is broken down into three simple steps that allow for the spouse to get completed divorce papers easily and efficiently. If a couple is ready to have an uncontested divorce, they can complete the whole process in as little as two months (the minimum time allowed in Texas). This is much better than the 24 months it can take for a contested case.