Quick answer: A Texas divorce suit needs either spouse to have been a Texas domiciliary for six months and a resident of the filing county for 90 days. The court may not grant the divorce before the 60th day after filing, except in family violence cases. Insupportability needs no fault and no separation.
This Texas divorce timeline calculator applies Tex. Fam. Code 6.301 and 6.702. Enter the date Texas domicile began, the date county residence began if different, and your planned filing date: it shows the earliest filing date and the earliest decree, nothing more. A real case usually takes longer, because the court must also resolve property, support and the children.
Texas divorce timeline rules at a glance
| Rule | What Texas says |
|---|---|
| State residence | Either spouse must have been a domiciliary of Texas for the preceding six months when the suit is filed (Tex. Fam. Code 6.301) |
| County residence | Either spouse must have been a resident of the filing county for the preceding 90 days (6.301) |
| Nonresident spouse | A spouse living elsewhere may file in the county where a spouse who has been a Texas domiciliary for six months lives (6.302) |
| Service abroad | Time a Texas domiciliary spends outside the state or county in public or military service counts as residence (6.303) |
| Waiting period | No decree before the 60th day after filing, except for family violence by conviction, deferred adjudication or an active protective order (6.702) |
| Grounds | Insupportability, cruelty, adultery, felony conviction, abandonment for a year, three years living apart and confinement in a mental hospital (6.001 to 6.007) |
How does the Texas divorce timeline work?
- Residency and where to file. See Texas divorce residency and where to file.
- Agreement or dispute. See uncontested versus contested divorce in Texas.
- Grounds. See the grounds for divorce in Texas.
What does this divorce timeline calculator check?
The calculator adds six months to the date Texas domicile began and 90 days to the county residence date, then takes the latest of those dates and your planned filing date. It adds 60 days to that filing date to show the earliest decree, or none if you mark the family violence exception. It does not decide which spouse meets the tests or when the 90 days started if you moved counties. Support and parenting questions that arise during the case are covered by the Texas alimony calculator and the Texas parenting time calculator.
Frequently asked questions
How long must I live in Texas before filing for divorce?
Either spouse must have been a Texas domiciliary for six months and a resident of the filing county for 90 days.
Is there a waiting period for divorce in Texas?
Yes. The court may not grant the divorce before the 60th day after the suit is filed, except in the family violence cases the statute lists.
Does Texas require a separation before divorce?
No. Insupportability needs no separation; the living-apart ground needs three years.
Can I get a Texas divorce by default?
The petition may not be taken as confessed if the respondent does not answer, so the court still hears proof.
Does the calculator tell me how long my Texas divorce will take?
No. It shows only the legal minimums; the real timeline depends on service, the court and whether the spouses agree.