Petition for Divorce

A divorce action in Harris County, Texas is initiated by the filing of an Original Petition for Divorce. It names the parties and any minor children.

The petition must set forth reasons why a Harris County family district court will have jurisdiction rather than another county or even another state.

The petition will state the grounds for divorce, which can be irreconcilable differences or what is termed “no-fault.”  Grounds of fault can include cruelty, abandonment, or adultery.

Many divorce petitions will simply ask the Court to equitably divide the community property of the spouses. Other more contested divorces will include reasons why one spouse should be given a disproportionately larger share of the community estate or be given  reimbursement.

If there are children, the petitioner will ask that the applicant usually be granted either joint managing conservatorship with the right to determine where the child lives and to receive child support, or sole managing conservatorship. The Court will also be asked to determine child support, health coverage and visitation issues.