Couples sometimes decide to live together and share their lives with no intent to marry formally or by common law. If the couple wants to formalize their relationship in some way and gain some additional rights that are not available if they simply cohabitate, they can register their relationship as a domestic partnership. The state does not recognize domestic partnerships, but certain cities and counties do.
When a married couple ends their relationship, they must divorce. A cohabitating couple can simply move out and move on. A couple in a registered domestic partnership must take legal steps to end it.
When you are involved in a domestic partnership, and your relationship is over, speak with a domestic partnership dissolution lawyer in The Colony. Our skilled divorce attorneys help you resolve any outstanding issues, terminate your legal partnership, and move forward with your life.
A domestic partnership is a committed relationship. Domestic partners often accumulate property together and may share children. Ending a domestic partnership requires the partners to divide their property and decide how they will co-parent their children.
Some domestic partners have a written agreement, similar to a prenuptial agreement, that describes how they will manage property division. A court will honor the agreement if it complies with applicable contract law principles. An attorney in The Colony could review the domestic partnership dissolution agreement to determine whether it is legally enforceable or vulnerable to a challenge.
Texas Family Code §153.603 requires parents who intend to live apart to have a parenting plan describing where the children will live, how much time they will spend with the non-residential parent, the allocation of parental decision-making authority, and similar issues. A judge must review the plan. If the parents agree on a plan and the judge determines it supports the children’s best interests, the judge will issue the plan as an enforceable court order.
Couples who do not have a formal domestic partnership agreement should try to resolve any disputes over property or child custody as soon as they decide to separate. Couples who manage the details of the dissolution themselves save time and money and, most importantly, keep the decision-making authority in their own hands.
Couples who communicate well and who have relatively simple finances can often come up with a domestic partnership agreement without outside help. They can create a document describing their decisions and a lawyer in The Colony could formalize it in a legal document to submit to the court.
Couples who are in substantial conflict may not be able to negotiate an agreement without help. Mediation is often effective, or the parties could each hire lawyers who could negotiate between themselves. Any of these solutions is speedier and more cost-effective than leaving the dispute for a judge to decide.
A domestic partnership requires a couple to submit a form to the local government establishing the partnership, and ending a domestic partnership also requires the couple to submit a form. The contents of the form may vary between jurisdictions, but it typically requires both parties’ signatures.
When the couple has property to divide, they would submit their agreement, if they have one, with the notice of dissolution. Similarly, when the couple shares children, they must submit their parenting plan with their notice. If they cannot agree on a plan, each parent would submit a plan describing their preferred arrangement.
When the couple agrees on all issues and the judge accepts their written agreements, the court may not hold a hearing. The judge would just grant the termination and issue a parenting plan as a binding custody order. The court will hold a hearing if the couple has not agreed on all relevant matters. Anyone facing a hearing in The Colony on the dissolution of a domestic partnership should be represented by an attorney.
Terminating a domestic partnership is not complicated, but it does require the couple to separate their property and establish a co-parenting plan if they share children. Many couples need help accomplishing these tasks.
Speak with a domestic partnership dissolution lawyer in The Colony about the steps you must take to terminate your legal relationship with your partner. Reach out to our office today to schedule a consultation.
Our Law Firm’s approach to your case is based on individual circumstances. Whether it is a simple negotiated settlement, or it requires an aggressive approach, we will protect and defend your best interests.
