Houston International Divorce Attorneys

Helping Texas Clients Navigate the Complexities of International Divorce

Even the most straightforward of divorces can be complex affairs that require careful legal attention. When a spouse no longer lives in the United States, a divorce can become exponentially more difficult to navigate.

Our Houston international divorce lawyers at Myres & Associates PLLC can help you manage and overcome the unique obstacles inherent to divorcing someone who no longer lives in the country. We are familiar with the procedures involved and can help you efficiently move through this especially challenging process. Because the relevant laws and approaches will vary by the foreign countries involved, every international divorce is different, but our team can give you the dedicated support that you need to protect your interests.

If you are struggling to divorce someone who no longer lives in the United States, do not wait to call (713) 322-9810 or contact us online to discuss your legal options.

Filing an International Divorce in Texas

In order to pursue a divorce of any kind in Texas, you or your spouse will need to meet the state’s jurisdictional requirements. You (or your partner) will need to have lived in the state for at least 6 months prior to filing for a divorce. You will also need to have lived in the county where you file for at least 90 days.

A Texas divorce court can often have jurisdiction over a spouse living outside the country if the most recent marital residence was located in the state. The divorce will also need to generally have been filed within 2 years of the termination of the Texas marital residence.

Once you meet the basic requirements of filing a divorce in Texas, you will need to determine how the state’s divorce laws – and those of the United States – integrate with the divorce laws of the country where your spouse is residing. In other words, you need to ensure that a Texas divorce will be recognized by the country where your spouse is currently living. Most countries will recognize a United States divorce if the spouse located abroad is given notice of the proceeding and offered an opportunity to participate.

Things can become more difficult if another country refuses to recognize an international divorce as valid. This can occur if a country does not allow divorce at all, if country officials believe the affected spouse’s rights were somehow violated by the divorce proceedings, or if the country’s laws contradict some element of the divorce decree.

Many countries’ laws governing spousal support, child custody, and division of property will vary greatly from those of the United States and introduce tremendous complications to an international divorce. Our Houston international divorce attorneys can assist you in understanding these discrepancies and how they may impact your case.