When you sign up for Family Law Case Review:

• You (and the other party if your case is agreed) will receive a DocuSign email with forms required for your case.*
• Once you (and the other party if your case is agreed) have completed the DocuSign forms, you will receive a link to schedule an appointment with a reference attorney.
• During your appointment, the reference attorney will review your completed forms with you (and the other party if your case is agreed) and:
  • if your case is ready, help you submit your case to the appropriate Judge by email or explain how to schedule a court hearing, or
  • if your case is not ready, explain your next steps - which may include hiring a private attorney.
• Note: If your case is agreed, both parties must attend this appointment.

* The Petitioner should receive the DocuSign forms within 3 business days. Watch for an email from “Case Review via DocuSign.”

If your case is agreed, the other party will receive the DocuSign forms after the Petitioner has completed the Petitioner’s portion of the forms.

The legal process is not fast – even if your case is agreed and even if you hire a private attorney.

If you sign up for Family Law Case Review, please plan to wait for an appointment with a reference attorney and then wait for the Judge to decide your case.

How long you’ll need to wait will depend on:

• the type of case you have,
• the complexity of your case,
• any statutory waiting periods that apply in your case,
• how carefully you fill out your court forms,
• how many other cases the Law Library is reviewing, and
• the Judge's schedule.

If you have property of significant value or are requesting nonstandard orders, you will usually need to hire a private attorney to draft your Final Decree of Divorce. Do-it-yourself Final Decree of Divorce forms are not appropriate for cases involving property of significant value.

Note: If you have property of significant value and agree on terms of your divorce, you can hire a private attorney just to draft your Final Decree of Divorce. Hiring an attorney just to give you legal advice and/or draft a legal document is called limited scope representation. You can then sign up for Family Law Case Review if you’d like help submitting your case to the Judge.

If you’re concerned about your safety or your child’s safety, these organizations may be able to help:

• SAFE Alliance (safeaustin.org) Call the Safe Alliance 24-Hour Hotline 512-267-SAFE (7233) to get help with safety planning, safe housing, and other services.
• Protective Orders (traviscountytx.gov) – Apply for help getting a protective order.
• Texas RioGrande Legal Aid (TRLA) | Free Legal Services – Apply for free legal representation if you have a low income.

In many cases, you can use this online calculator to calculate guideline child support: Monthly Child Support Calculator | Office of the Attorney General - Texas. Talk to an attorney if you have questions.

If your case involves custody and support of a child and you do not have an agreement regarding child support, please apply for help getting a child support order here: Get Started | Office of the Attorney General (texasattorneygeneral.gov).