Divorce Lawyer in Longview

Count on the Firm that Puts Family First

Are you considering divorce? Separating from a spouse can be intimidating. Let the compassionate team at The Hollwarth Law Firm guide you forward with one-on-one attention and personalized service. Attorney Christina Hollwarth is a trained mediator and litigator with years of experience in East Texas family law. She can help you negotiate the terms of your divorce amicably outside of court or litigate on your behalf if necessary. Above all, we focus on formulating a plan that is best for your family and that prioritizes your children.

When you meet with us, we take the time to understand your priorities, your financial picture, and your goals for your children so we can recommend the right path for you. Whether you are pursuing a traditional or uncontested divorce, we explain how the process works in Gregg County and surrounding East Texas courts, what documents you will need, and what timelines you can realistically expect. As a Longview divorce attorney team rooted in this community, we are familiar with local judges and procedures, which helps us give you practical guidance at every stage of your case.

Reach out to a trusted divorce lawyer in Longview at 903-234-0711 to get started on your case.

Contested vs. Uncontested Divorce in Longview

In an uncontested divorce, both spouses agree to split their property a specific way, decide on custody issues, and work out spousal and/or child support before or simultaneously to filing the suit for divorce. If you and your spouse are separating amicably, it can save you time and money.

For many couples, an uncontested divorce is also less stressful because there are fewer court appearances and less formal discovery, which can reduce conflict and cost. We can walk you through each step, from preparing the initial petition to presenting final paperwork to the judge in the Gregg County or Harrison County courthouse, so you understand what needs to happen and when. When you work with an uncontested divorce attorney Longview clients trust, you can feel more confident that your agreements are complete, enforceable under Texas law, and tailored to your family’s day-to-day realities.

However, not all separations are simple. A contested divorce is one in which the spouses conflict over one or more issues. It may be best to settle these matters through the mediation process or in court. If you and your spouse are parting on poor terms or if you are both fighting for custody of your children, make sure you hire an experienced Longview divorce attorney.

In a contested case, we help you evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of your position, gather relevant financial and parenting evidence, and prepare for hearings so you can present your story clearly to the court. We also regularly work with local professionals, such as counselors or financial planners, when appropriate, so you have a strong support network as you make difficult decisions. By balancing negotiation with firm advocacy, our divorce lawyer can help you work toward resolutions that protect your long-term stability while keeping your children’s needs at the center of each decision.

Grounds for Divorce in Texas

In Texas, the following seven reasons fall within the state’s legal guidelines for filing a divorce case.

• Insupportability - This is a fancy legal name for “discord or conflict of personalities” that prevents a “reasonable expectation of reconciliation.” Insupportability is commonly understood as a “no-fault divorce” – in other words, we simply do not wish to be married any longer, and it does not matter why.
• Separation - In Texas, couples that live apart for three years, without any cohabitation, qualify for divorce under this ground.
• Mental Illness - When one spouse experiences confinement in a mental hospital for three years and has a mental illness that “is of such a degree and nature that adjustment is unlikely.”
• Cruelty - The interpretation of cruelty leaves a lot of wriggle room for a spouse. This ground for divorce demands strong evidence.
• Abandonment - Texas defines abandonment as one spouse who “has left the divorce filing spouse for at least one year.”
• Conviction of a felony and/or adultery - These are exactly what they sound like.

Choosing which ground to file under is an important strategic decision because it can affect how evidence is presented and, in some situations, how a judge views property division or support. We take time to talk through your history, review any documentation you may have, and explain how each ground has been applied in local East Texas courts. Our goal is to help you decide whether a no-fault approach or a fault-based claim is more appropriate for your situation, while also considering how it may impact settlement discussions with your spouse.

Annulment vs. Divorce in Texas

What is annulment? Simply put, an annulment is brought instead of a divorce when there has been some legal impediment to the creation of a legal marriage. In other words, a divorce says “we should not be married because of something that happened during the marriage,” while an annulment says “we should not be together because of something that existed before or during the marriage ceremony.” A divorce case unfolds on the premise that the marriage was valid but should be dissolved, but an annulment requires evidence that the marriage was never valid.

If you believe your marriage may qualify for an annulment, we carefully review the circumstances surrounding your ceremony, any prior marriages, and your living arrangements to see whether Texas law supports that option. We also compare the potential outcomes of an annulment versus a divorce, including how each process may affect property rights, parental rights, and future record-keeping. By having a Longview Divorce Attorney walk you through these differences, you can make an informed choice about which filing best fits your goals and the evidence available.

Grounds for Annulment in Texas

In the state of Texas, you can receive an annulment for one or more of the following reasons:

• One of the spouses was underage at the time of the marriage
• One or both of the spouses were under the influence of drugs or alcohol at the time of the marriage
• If one of the spouses was permanently impotent at the time of the marriage, whether for physical or mental reasons, and the other spouse did not know of it at the time of the marriage
• The marriage was entered into because one spouse used fraud, duress, or force to induce the other spouse into marriage
• One of the spouses lacked the mental capacity to enter into the marriage
• One of the spouses was divorced from a third party within 30 days before the parties’ marriage
• The marriage was granted less than 72 hours after the issuance of the marriage license
• If the spouses are related more closely than first cousins, or
• Either party was legally married to a third party at the time of the current spouses’ marriage to each other.

In most cases, the law requires that the parties cease to cohabit as soon as knowledge of the annulment grounds becomes known.

Because these grounds are very fact-specific, we help you gather supporting documents, witness statements, and other information that may be needed to prove your claim to the court. We also explain what to expect at hearings in local venues such as the Gregg County Courthouse in downtown Longview, including how judges typically address issues like temporary support or possession of a home while the case is pending. Our Longview divorce lawyer clients work with can then help you weigh whether pursuing annulment is likely to be successful or whether a traditional divorce may be a more efficient route.

How Uncontested Divorce Works in Longview

Many families want to know what the step-by-step process looks like when they are hoping for a low-conflict end to their marriage. In an uncontested case, the focus is on cooperation and clear communication so you can move through the legal system efficiently while protecting your children and your finances. We start by discussing your goals, reviewing your assets and debts, and identifying any areas where you and your spouse are already in agreement. From there, our divorce lawyer drafts the necessary paperwork in compliance with Texas Family Code requirements and local rules used in Gregg County and neighboring East Texas courts.

Once the initial petition and supporting documents are filed, there is a mandatory waiting period before the court can finalize your divorce, but we use that time to help you work through any remaining questions. We often prepare detailed settlement agreements that cover parenting time, decision-making for your children, property division, and support obligations, so there are no surprises later. When everything is ready, we guide you through the prove-up hearing at the local courthouse, where a judge reviews your agreement to ensure it is fair and in the best interest of your children. Throughout the process, our goal as your divorce attorney is to keep you informed, reduce unnecessary conflict, and create durable orders that allow your family to move forward with stability.

Things to Consider during a Divorce

Regardless of whether a divorce is contested or uncontested, the process is still complex and emotionally taxing. There are a lot of decisions to be made, many of which can have a huge impact on you and your family’s well-being.

Some of the issues you will need to work through in your divorce are:

• Property division: Texas is a community property state, which means that the community estate is divided in a fair, just, and equitable manner – or roughly 50/50, as we more commonly think of it.
• Child custody: Texas courts decide custody based on what is best for the child. In most cases, they make an effort to give the child a healthy amount of time with both parents.
• Spousal Maintenance: A spouse who cannot meet his or her basic needs because of a lack of marketable skills, a low education level, or a variety of other factors may be able to seek regular payments from the other spouse.
• Child support: The courts will decide how each parent will contribute to the expenses related to any children from the marriage. These payments may last until the child turns 18 or graduates from high school, whichever occurs later.

In addition to these major topics, there are often practical questions about who will remain in the family home, how to handle shared debts, and how to manage parenting time when parents live in different cities or school districts. We work with you to create a long-term parenting plan that reflects your children’s routines, extracurricular activities, and special needs, not just a short-term schedule. For parents in and around Longview, we also consider issues like travel time to local schools or daycare, holiday traditions, and extended family support, so the final orders are realistic and workable for everyone involved.

Don’t be overwhelmed by the many complexities of a divorce. Let our Longview divorce lawyer guide you through the process and advise you on what will be in the best interest of your children. Serving all of East Texas, The Hollwarth Law Firm is the ideal resource for anyone at any stage of a divorce.

Contact our trusted divorce lawyer in Longview at 903-234-0711 today for professional legal assistance with a divorce.

Further reading: Fault vs. No-Fault Grounds for Texas Divorce