There are a lot of good resources out there to help prepare you for divorce court. In our Dallas family law firm, one of the resources we recommend to client is the Texas Young Lawyers Association pamphlet What to expect in Texas Family Court. It covers topics such as:
What to wear in court: nice pants and shirt with collar for men, or dress or skirt or pants with conservative blouse for women.
Alternatives to court resolution such as mediation, collaborative law, and arbitration.
The steps to take before the court grants an adoption.
Does Texas have legal separation? (Answer, no.)
Common law marriage elements and time frame.
Two different types of conservatorship for Texas parents.
Standard for setting guideline child support in Texas and the role of the Office of the Attorney General in assisting with child support establishment, collection, and enforcement.
How and when can an order regarding children be modified.
The pamphlet also has a list of common terms used in divorce and family law cases in Texas and Dallas, with definitions. This is a very useful resource to help people new to the family law arena understand the lingo.
At the end of the pamphlet it lists all of the district courts in Texas with telephone numbers.
The only downside to this publication is that it was prepared in 2005, so some of the information could be outdated. As with anything you read on the internet, be cautious about relying on it as current information. Even so, this is a good basis for information for people to start their research and understanding about what happens in Texas and Dallas divorce and family law court.