Divorce Representation in Austin

Austin Divorce Lawyer

Clear guidance for decisions about your children, property, finances and life after divorce.

Family Law Attorneys Who Handle Divorce Disputes

Founding partners Janice M. Eggleston and Bryan E. Eggleston focus their practices on Texas family law. Janice handles divorce, child custody, support and marital agreements through negotiation and litigation. Bryan handles contested divorce, custody and property disputes, with preparation for settlement and trial.

Your priorities may involve parenting time, keeping a home, understanding the marital estate or protecting the operation of a business. The firm helps clients identify the issues, gather relevant information and evaluate the practical effects of a proposed resolution.

What Clients Say About The Eggleston Law Firm

“They know the law incredibly well and balance that with care and compassion. Janice is no nonsense, organized, and sharp.”

Jessica H

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“I couldn’t have asked for a more thorough and professional group than I had on my case with his supporting cast.”

Zeke Gowin

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“We are beyond pleased with the skill and dedication they gave to our case.”

Nick Jansen

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Excerpts from individual five-star Google reviews. Each review reflects that client’s experience; results vary by case.

Discuss Your Divorce Concerns

Considering divorce, responding to a filing or concerned about children and finances? Schedule a consultation to discuss your circumstances and next steps.

What Happens After You Contact the Firm?

1. Share the basics. Tell the firm whether you are considering filing, have received court papers or already have a pending case. Identify any hearing date or immediate concern.

2. Ask about consultation arrangements. Discuss scheduling, consultation fees, who would handle your case and what information to bring. You can ask about scheduling before gathering every document.

3. Prepare your priorities and questions. Make a short list of concerns about your children, home, accounts, debts or business. Representation requires an agreement with the firm.

Understand Your Divorce Options

Bring your questions. Discuss which issues need attention, what information will help and the options for negotiation, mediation or court.

How Our Austin Divorce Lawyers Help

An Austin divorce lawyer at The Eggleston Law Firm can help you address divorce matters involving children, property, support and complex finances. We represent clients in Austin and surrounding Central Texas communities, helping them understand their options, identify priorities and prepare for negotiation, mediation or litigation.

A useful strategy starts with the decisions in front of you: where children will live, how parenting time will work, what property and debts exist, how bills will be paid and what a proposed agreement would mean after the divorce.

Children and Parenting

Divorces involving children may address conservatorship and possession, child support, medical support and geographic restrictions. The child’s best interest is central to custody decisions.

Property and Debt

Our attorneys help clients identify the community estate, separate-property claims, accounts, real estate, retirement benefits and debts. Learn more about property division.

Support and Financial Stability

We explain the distinction between court-ordered spousal maintenance and negotiated contractual support. Eligibility for maintenance is not established by income disparity alone.

What to Expect From the Texas Divorce Process

Filing and Responding

A divorce begins with a petition and the required procedures for notifying the other spouse. If you have been served, share the papers and service date with your attorney promptly so the applicable response requirements can be reviewed.

Temporary Arrangements

A pending case may involve temporary orders concerning parenting, use of property, support or payment of expenses. Discuss immediate concerns and existing orders before moving money, changing parenting arrangements or taking other steps that could affect the case.

Information and Discovery

The parties gather and exchange relevant information. Financial records, property documentation, parenting concerns and expert input may be needed before an agreement can be evaluated.

Negotiation, Mediation and Court

Many disputed issues can be addressed through negotiation or mediation. When an agreement cannot be reached, the remaining issues may require a hearing or trial. Preparation matters for either path.

Final Orders

A final decree should clearly address the terms of the divorce. Property transfers, retirement orders and parenting obligations may require additional steps after the decree is signed.

Contested vs. Uncontested Divorce in Austin

A contested divorce involves disagreement on one or more issues. An uncontested divorce involves agreement on the terms that need to be resolved. Both must satisfy applicable court requirements. Compare contested and uncontested divorce.

Contested Divorce

Disputes can concern parenting schedules, property value, separate-property claims, debts, maintenance or child support. A contested divorce may still settle; contested does not mean every issue must be decided at trial.

Agreed Divorce

When spouses agree, the terms still need to be documented appropriately and submitted through the court process. An agreed divorce is not automatically immediate or free of legal complications.

No-Fault Is Different From Uncontested

No-fault describes a legal ground for ending the marriage. It does not mean the spouses agree about children, property or support.

What Are the Grounds for Divorce in Texas?

Texas allows divorce without proving fault under the ground of insupportability. Other statutory grounds include cruelty, adultery, qualifying felony conviction, abandonment, living apart and qualifying confinement in a mental hospital. Each has its own requirements.

The choice of grounds and the relevance of conduct should be assessed against the facts and evidence. Read about adultery and Texas divorce and insupportability.

The statutory framework is in Texas Family Code Chapter 6.

How Long Does a Divorce Take in Austin?

Texas generally requires a waiting period of at least 60 days after filing before a divorce can be granted, with specific statutory exceptions. That is a minimum waiting period, not a promise that a case will finish in 60 days.

The timeline depends on service, the issues in dispute, financial information, experts, mediation, court availability and completion of necessary documents. An agreed case can move differently from a dispute involving custody or substantial assets.

Tell the firm about any scheduled hearing, deadline or urgent concern. Read more about divorce timelines in Austin.

Property, Retirement and Business Interests

Texas courts divide the community estate in a manner that is just and right under the circumstances. This does not require an equal 50/50 division. Identifying community and separate property and documenting ownership are important parts of the analysis.

Accounts, real estate, retirement benefits and debts should be evaluated together. A proposed settlement can affect cash flow, housing, taxes and future obligations. Discuss those practical effects before committing to terms.

Cases involving substantial estates, complex compensation or business ownership may require valuation and specialist input. Explore high-asset divorce and divorce involving a business.

Property division is addressed in Texas Family Code Chapter 7.

Get Advice Before Making a Major Divorce Decision

Considering a property agreement, changing parenting arrangements or worried about access to funds? Discuss the facts and available options with a family law attorney.

Spousal Maintenance and Contractual Support

Court-ordered spousal maintenance is available only when Texas statutory eligibility requirements are met. The court also evaluates factors governing amount and duration. A difference in earnings alone does not establish eligibility.

Spouses may negotiate contractual support, which is different from a court’s maintenance award. Ask how a proposed support provision would operate, including payment terms and enforcement.

Read our Austin spousal maintenance information and the statutory requirements in Texas Family Code Chapter 8.

High-Conflict and Complex Divorce Matters

Conflict may concern children, communication, finances, allegations of misconduct or compliance with temporary orders. The legal strategy should address the particular conduct and available evidence rather than rely on labels.

Business interests, professional practices, investment portfolios, stock compensation and retirement assets can add financial complexity. Counsel may work with appropriate experts when valuation or tracing is needed.

The firm also handles matters involving military divorce, gray divorce and same-sex divorce. Ask how the particular issues in your case will be addressed.

Divorce Cases in Austin and Travis County

Austin families may need to address the family home, school routines, travel between parents’ homes and changing household budgets. Bring those practical concerns to your consultation alongside the court papers and financial information.

Texas generally requires that either spouse has been domiciled in the state for the preceding six months and a resident of the filing county for the preceding 90 days. Special circumstances can affect jurisdiction and filing options; an attorney can evaluate where your case should proceed.

The Travis County Civil and Family Courts Facility is at 1700 Guadalupe Street in Austin. Follow your hearing notice and your attorney’s instructions for your particular setting.

For an existing case, the Travis County District Clerk’s case-record resources provide information about obtaining available public court documents.

Understanding Fees and Your Attorney’s Approach

The cost of a divorce depends on the issues, legal work, experts, mediation and court proceedings involved. Ask for a clear explanation of the proposed work rather than comparing a price without understanding its scope.

Questions to ask:
What is the initial retainer, and when might it need replenishing?
What are the billing rates for attorneys and legal staff?
What expenses might arise for experts, mediation or court?
How often will I receive invoices, and who can answer billing questions?

Ask which attorney will lead the case, who will be your primary contact, how updates will be provided and how time-sensitive concerns should be raised.

Preparing for Your Divorce Consultation

Gather records you can lawfully access, including any filed papers, existing orders, hearing dates, income information, account statements, property and debt records and marital agreements. Our divorce-document guide offers additional context.

Prepare a short list of priorities involving your children, home, finances or business. Note any immediate deadline. If you do not have every document, you can still ask about scheduling and what information would be useful.

Review questions to consider when choosing an Austin divorce lawyer.

Frequently Asked Questions About Divorce in Austin

How much does a divorce cost in Austin?

Cost depends on the legal work and the issues to resolve. Ask about the retainer, billing rates, mediation, experts and anticipated court expenses.

Can a Texas divorce be finished in 60 days?

The general waiting period is at least 60 days after filing, subject to specific statutory exceptions. Completing a case also requires resolving the issues and meeting the applicable court requirements.

Is property always divided equally?

No. Texas courts divide the community estate in a manner that is just and right. Separate-property claims and the relevant circumstances must also be evaluated.

Does no-fault divorce mean we agree on everything?

No. No-fault describes the ground for ending the marriage. Children, property and support can still be disputed.

Will I have to go to trial?

Not every divorce goes to trial. Negotiation or mediation may resolve disputed issues, while remaining disputes may need a court decision.

Can the court order my spouse to pay attorney fees?

Attorney-fee issues depend on the applicable law, requested relief and circumstances. An award is not automatic; discuss it with your attorney.

Can I receive spousal maintenance?

Eligibility is governed by Texas statutory requirements. Income disparity alone does not establish entitlement. Contractual support may also be negotiated separately.

What should I bring to a consultation?

Bring court papers, existing orders, hearing dates, financial records you can lawfully access and a list of priorities. Ask about scheduling even if some documents are unavailable.

Discuss Your Divorce With The Eggleston Law Firm

Considering divorce or dealing with a pending case? Contact The Eggleston Law Firm to discuss your children, property, finances and next steps. We represent clients in Austin, Travis County and surrounding Central Texas communities.

This page provides general information, not individualized legal advice. Contacting the firm does not by itself establish an attorney-client relationship.