There really is no such thing as a standard divorce. That is, the issues one divorcing couple resolves easily may lead to a months-long argument with another couple.
Still, if there are sticking points in a divorce, they are likely to involve one of the following four areas.
1. Property and debt division
In Texas, the assets and debts you acquired during your marriage are likely community property. This means you and your spouse have an equal ownership interest in the marital estate.
Because assets do not always divide easily, especially after many years of marriage, you and your husband or wife may butt heads.
2. The house
You and your husband or wife may have a sentimental attachment to the house, causing you to fight over what happens to it. If you decide to sell, you may disagree about virtually anything, including sales price and listing agent.
3. Conservatorship of children
If you have minor children living at home, you and your spouse may have vastly different ideas about who should have custody, called conservatorship in Texas.
Divorce sticking points may also include other custody-related matters, like acceptable medical care, education, extracurricular activities, or religious practices.
4. Visitation schedules
Even if you and your soon-to-be ex-spouse see eye-to-eye on conservatorship, visitation schedules may be a different matter. Divorcing couples often battle over which days of the week the children spend with each parent.
Holidays, birthdays and other special days may also be sticking points.
While you and your husband or wife may have some common sticking points, your divorce proceedings may also uncover additional ones. Nevertheless, while it is a good idea to approach all topics with an open mind, it is not uncommon to plan for potential conflict when tackling sensitive topics like property division and child custody.