Lewisville Divorce Lawyer

Lewisville’s Divorce Attorneys Since 2007. Voted #1 Three Years Running.

Since 2007, Haugen Law Firm, P.C. has helped individuals and families throughout Denton County navigate divorce with clear-eyed counsel and a strategy built around their specific circumstances. Our office is in Old Town Lewisville, and we’ve handled divorce matters ranging from uncontested and high-net-worth to military divorce for clients across the county. Founding Attorney John Haugen is a West Point graduate and former U.S. Army Captain, and that background shapes how we approach every case: with discipline, preparation, and a commitment to the client’s long-term outcome. We were voted #1 by Best of Lewisville and Flower Mound for three consecutive years. We offer remote consultations, and our team is available en español.

Divorce is difficult regardless of whether it was a mutual decision. Even an amicable split involves real consequences for property, support, and custody that carry lasting financial and personal weight. Sorting through the paperwork and legal requirements takes time and focus, which is why having experienced local counsel from the start matters. Haugen Law Firm, P.C. handles the full range of Denton County family law matters, including child custody, paternity, and alimony.

Haugen Law Firm, P.C. has helped many clients with significant assets work toward a fair division of property during divorce. If you’re dealing with a high-net-worth divorce, our familiarity with complex asset division means we can protect your interests at every stage.

Ready to take the next step? Call us at (972) 460-6798 or contact our team online to schedule a consultation with a Lewisville divorce attorney.

Types of Divorce We Handle

The right approach to your divorce depends on your circumstances. We represent clients ranging from those with straightforward uncontested cases to high-earning executives and active-duty service members, and every case gets a strategy built around it.

• Uncontested Divorce cases may be resolved without a courtroom battle
• Contested Divorce may require aggressive representation in court

What Family Law Issues Can We Assist With?

Common family law issues our Denton County family law attorneys handle include:

• Alimony
• Child custody and visitation
• Child support
• Divorce modifications
• High net worth divorce
• Military divorce
• Property division

When litigation isn’t the right path, we can help you resolve matters through mediation or collaborative law.

How to File for Divorce in Texas

Before a marriage can be legally dissolved in Texas, several requirements must be met. While every case is different, the general steps follow a predictable sequence.

• Meet Texas Residency Requirements – At least one spouse must have lived in Texas for a minimum of six months and in the county where the divorce is filed for at least 90 days before filing, as required under Texas Family Code Section 6.301.
• File the Original Petition for Divorce – One spouse files an Original Petition for Divorce with the appropriate district court, officially opening the case and outlining requests regarding property, children, and support. In Denton County, filings are submitted electronically through the Texas eFile system with the Denton County District Clerk.
• Serve Divorce Papers – The other spouse must be formally served with the divorce paperwork unless they sign a waiver of service.
• File an Answer – The responding spouse has a limited time to file an Answer stating whether they agree or disagree with the requests in the petition.
• Observe the Mandatory Waiting Period – Texas law requires a 60-day waiting period from the date the petition is filed before a judge can finalize the divorce. An exception applies in cases involving family violence.
• Exchange Financial Information – Both parties disclose income, assets, debts, and expenses to allow for fair property division and support decisions.
• Negotiate or Mediate – Many couples resolve issues through negotiation or mediation, avoiding the time and expense of trial. When minor children are involved, Denton County may require a Parent Stabilization Class, a mandatory four-hour course for which parents receive a completion certificate to file with the court.
• Finalize the Divorce – Once all issues are resolved, the judge signs the Final Decree of Divorce, making the divorce legally complete.

Grounds for Divorce in Texas

If you meet the residency requirement, you can file for either a fault or a no-fault divorce. A fault divorce attributes the end of the marriage to your spouse’s conduct.

Texas recognizes the following fault grounds for divorce:

• Abandonment
• Adultery
• Conviction of a felony
• Cruelty

Texas also recognizes no-fault grounds, where neither spouse is blamed for the breakdown of the marriage:

• Insupportability – the marriage has become insupportable because of discord or conflict of personalities that has destroyed any reasonable expectation of reconciliation.
• Living apart for at least 3 years – the spouses have lived separately without cohabitation for at least three continuous years.
• Confinement in a mental hospital – a spouse has been confined in a mental hospital for at least three years due to a mental disorder, and improvement is unlikely.

A fault finding isn’t just symbolic. A judge can shift property division in favor of the non-faulting spouse when determining what is just and right.

What Is a Contested Divorce in Texas?

When spouses can’t agree on all terms of the divorce, a contested divorce is required. Those terms can include custody, support, and property division.

Contested divorces typically take longer than uncontested ones due to court scheduling, discovery, and potential trial. But they serve an important purpose: contested proceedings are the right tool when one spouse may be hiding or dissipating marital assets, or when the parties genuinely disagree about what custody arrangement serves the child’s best interests. A contested divorce isn’t a failure. It’s sometimes the only way to pursue a fair outcome.

How Long Does a Texas Divorce Take?

Texas law requires a 60-day waiting period from the date the Original Petition for Divorce is filed, making 61 days the earliest a divorce can be finalized. For most contested or complex cases, though, the realistic timeline is six months to over a year, depending on the issues involved. Court scheduling, discovery, and negotiation all factor into the total timeline.

What Happens to Your 401(k) in a Texas Divorce?

Contributions to retirement plans made during a marriage are community property under Texas law, regardless of which spouse made them. In most cases, a 401(k) or pension will be divided between the spouses during divorce proceedings. Dividing these accounts requires a Qualified Domestic Relations Order (QDRO). Withdrawals or loans from the account shouldn’t be made while proceedings are ongoing. Courts aren’t required to split retirement accounts evenly – the judge determines a just and right division. Account values are typically assessed as of the date of the divorce, though the specific valuation date may be negotiated and set in the Final Decree.

Why Lewisville Residents Choose Haugen Law Firm, P.C. for Divorce

Choosing the right divorce attorney in Lewisville makes a real difference in how your case unfolds and how you feel throughout the process. Haugen Law Firm, P.C. has served Denton County divorce clients since 2007, earning recognition as the #1 Best of Lewisville and Flower Mound firm for three consecutive years and a Top 3 Best Criminal and Family Law Firm in Denton County by Best of Denton County. We hold a Lead Counsel Rating and bring that same standard of preparation to every client we represent.

We develop a customized legal strategy for each case rather than applying a uniform approach. Whether your divorce can be resolved through negotiation or mediation, or whether it requires courtroom advocacy, we’re prepared for both. We also help clients build a post-divorce plan for what comes next. Remote consultations are available, and we offer significant discounts to military members, first responders, and teachers.

Our divorce attorneys serve clients throughout Denton County, including Flower Mound and Lewisville. If you’re considering filing, don’t wait to get legal guidance in your corner.

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