Divorce with no children or property
The most straightforward path. With no minor children and no shared assets to divide, an uncontested divorce moves quickly — and you may never see the inside of a courtroom.
Texas Family Law · Divorce
He spent fifteen years deciding divorce cases. Now he handles yours.
David Lopez presided over the 256th District Court in Dallas County for fifteen years. Today that same understanding of how a Texas family court thinks works on your side of the bench — for your children, your property, and your future.
No obligation · Confidential · Hablamos Español
district bench
15Years as a Dallas County family court judge
30+Years of Texas legal experience
3Attorneys dedicated to family law
2Offices — Dallas and San Antonio
01
There are four
types of divorce.
Every divorce filed in Texas falls into one of four categories. Which one is yours determines how long the process takes, what it is likely to cost, and how much is genuinely at stake.
Divorce with children
Custody, visitation and support are decided under the “best interests of the child” standard. Courts weigh stability, well-being, and each parent’s ability to provide a supportive home.
Divorce with property
Texas is a community property state. What was acquired during the marriage is subject to division — and protecting your share depends on knowing what a court will and will not count.
Divorce with children & property
The most complex category, and the most common one we handle. Custody and property are decided together, and every decision in one column moves the numbers in the other.
Not sure where your case falls? Tell us in fifteen minutes and we will.
02
How divorce actually
works in Texas.
Divorce is a significant life transition, and the legal process is not designed to be intuitive. Here is what governs your case before anyone files a single page.
No-faultYou do not have to prove blame
Texas is a “no-fault” divorce state — a divorce can be granted without assigning blame to either spouse. It is enough that the marriage has broken down. Fault still matters in narrow cases, such as when a spouse wasted marital assets during an affair, and a judge can account for that in how property is divided.
PropertyTexas is a community property state
Assets and debts acquired during the marriage belong to the community and are subject to division. That does not automatically mean a straight 50/50 split — it means the court divides what is community, and the argument is over what counts, what it is worth, and what is fair.
CustodyThe best interests of the child
Custody, visitation and conservatorship are decided case by case, always against the “best interests of the child” standard. Courts consider stability, well-being, and each parent’s ability to provide a supportive environment — and generally want both parents building strong relationships with their children.
SupportChild support and spousal maintenance
Child support is calculated against statutory guidelines and the specific facts of your family. Spousal maintenance looks at present earning ability and future opportunity — and weighs heavily when one spouse depended on the other throughout the marriage.
Hon. David Lopez
256th District Court · 2006–2022
03
The other side
of the bench.
Most divorce attorneys have spent their careers arguing to a judge. David Lopez spent fifteen of his being one — hearing the same arguments, from both sides, thousands of times.
He earned his law degree from Texas Tech in 1993 and built his own practice for thirteen years before taking the bench of the 256th District Court in 2006. After leaving the bench in 2022 he served as Chief Legal Officer of a Dallas firm, overseeing its family and civil departments, and founded Lopez Lawyers in 2023.
Experience and knowledge is part of developing a successful law practice. Clients get the skilled legal advice and representation they’re looking for when they need an attorney.
- We put complex legal issues into language you can actually understand.
- We take the time to make sure you know what is happening at every stage.
- We represent you tirelessly — so your voice is heard and your rights are protected.
04
Former Judge David Lopez
now mediates.
Not every divorce belongs in a courtroom. Mediation is a constructive alternative that lets both parties resolve their issues collaboratively, at lower cost and on their own terms. Texas courts frequently recommend — or require — mediation before a case proceeds to trial.
A neutral third party
A mediator does not represent either side. The role is to guide the discussion toward an agreement both parties can accept, keeping the conversation open where litigation would close it.
Faster and less costly
Contested divorces cost what they cost because of the disputes inside them. Resolving those disputes at a mediation table, rather than through a docket, changes the arithmetic.
Fifteen years of perspective
After fifteen years on the bench, David Lopez is committed to finding an equitable divorce that is fair to both parties, prioritizing resolutions that hold up long after the file is closed.
05
The attorneys
on your case.
Three family law attorneys, two offices, and a combined half-century inside Texas courtrooms.
Founder · Dallas
David Lopez
Judge of the 256th District Court for fifteen years, and a practicing attorney for thirteen before that. Texas Tech, bachelor’s in Finance and J.D. in 1993. Founded Lopez Lawyers in 2023 after serving as Chief Legal Officer of a Dallas firm.
Attorney · Family Law
Melissa Loya
Raised in Mexico, Melissa emigrated for college and studied at the University of Texas at El Paso before earning her law degree at Ohio State. She joined Lopez Lawyers in 2023 and has built a reputation as a talented, intelligent and caring advocate.
Attorney · Leads San Antonio
Cynthia Maldonado
Two decades of legal experience, a J.D. from SMU, and years as an Assistant District Attorney in Cameron and Bexar Counties focused on domestic violence and child abuse. She co-authored the VAWA grant that funded Cameron County’s first domestic violence unit.
06
Texas divorce,
answered.
Informed clients make better decisions for themselves and their families. These are the questions we are asked most.
It depends mainly on whether the divorce is contested. An uncontested divorce costs less simply because the process is more straightforward — you may not even see a day inside the courtroom. In contested divorces, cost depends on:
- The extent of the disputes between the spouses
- The potential for custody battles
- The number of assets, including allegations of hidden assets
- The attorney you hire — not only their fees, but their legal competency and negotiating skill
A precise prediction is impossible. The starting point is the filing fee associated with the divorce petition; from there it depends on the circumstances.
You can still file. Some states require a period of separation and others do not, but every state allows no-fault divorce. No-fault simply means the marriage has irretrievably broken down, or that the spouses have irreconcilable differences. Your spouse’s agreement is not a prerequisite.
Because no-fault divorce is available, you generally do not need grounds — except in rare cases such as a covenant marriage. You may still want to file a fault-based divorce if your spouse cheated and wasted marital property during the affair. In that situation a judge can make up for the waste through how assets are distributed to the spouse who did not cheat.
Custody, visitation and child support are determined case by case, always against the “best interests of the child” standard. In general, courts want both parents building strong relationships with their children, and they recognize that both parents are financially responsible for the child. The determination reflects those beliefs.
Alimony — also called spousal support or spousal maintenance — is determined case by case under state guidelines. Most consider both the present earning ability and the future earning opportunities of each spouse. If one spouse depended on the other throughout the marriage, that factor weighs heavily.
Assets and debt are divided according to the state’s approach to property. There are two: community property, where property and debts are divided equally, and equitable distribution, where a 50/50 split is not automatic and what matters is what is fair. Texas follows the community property system.
Spouses in abusive marriages are in the most danger at the moment they seek a divorce. Protect yourself by gathering as much help and support as you can. You can file for a restraining order, and you should consider state and local programs built for survivors of domestic abuse. Build a network of support around you — friends, family, and a family law attorney who takes it seriously.
If you are in immediate danger, call 911. The National Domestic Violence Hotline is available 24/7 at 1-800-799-7233.
Every divorce begins by filing a petition to dissolve the marriage with the court clerk. Which court depends on the county. Once the petition is filed, the other spouse has a set number of days to answer, unless the divorce is mutual. The most efficient way to start is to have a divorce attorney handle it, so the petition is properly filed and timely answered.
Want an answer for your specific situation? Schedule your free 15-minute consultation or call 469-399-0469.
07
Two offices,
one standard.
We are proud to serve clients across Texas. Whether you visit us in Dallas or San Antonio, the commitment is the same: clear guidance, responsive service, trusted advocacy.
Now open
Free consultation
Talk to a trusted lawyer
about your case.
Fifteen minutes, no cost, no obligation. Tell us what you are facing and we will tell you plainly where you stand and what your options are.
Call us directly 469-399-0469- Free 15-minute consultation
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