Before your divorce can be finalized, you must have a hearing. The hearing allows the judge to review each spouse's requests. The judge will then sign the divorce decree to make the divorce final.
Unless there was family violence, the judge can't finalize a divorce at the hearing until 60 days after the petition for divorce was filed. Keep that in mind when "setting," or scheduling, your hearing.
How you will set the hearing will vary from county to county. Please check with your court for exact details.
Note The COVID-19 pandemic may affect how counties are holding divorce hearings. Check with your court for updated procedures.
This page includes forms, instructions, and answers to frequently asked questions about how to set a hearing for divorce on the uncontested docket. See the Related Forms section for a list of forms.
This page includes forms and instructions and answers to frequently asked questions about how to set a contesting final hearing for divorce. See the Related Forms section for a list of forms.
TexasLawHelp.org has compiled a list of suggestions for how to act and what to expect during your hearing.
According to the Texas Young Lawyer's Pro Se Divorce Handbook, a "prove-up" is a short hearing in an uncontested divorce. At the prove-up, "you appear before the judge and give evidence and testimony as to the terms of your divorce."
During the COVID-19 pandemic, many courts started requesting something called a "prove-up affidavit." They asked for this document because they were not able to hold divorce hearings in person. This affidavit takes the place of the questions that the judge might ask you during the prove-up hearing.
