Who Gets to Stay in the House During a Divorce?

The family home is the most commonly divided piece of property during Texas divorces. It’s also one area of deepest concern for divorcing couples. Dividing a family home is more than just a financial question. Family homes come with many sentimental attachments, and they can be the center of family life. So, who gets to stay in the house during a divorce?

Texas Law on Division of Real Estate

Generally, Texas is a community property state. Texas law divides property acquired during the marriage equally. Each spouse contributed to the finances, so each should get an equal share. Of course, things can be complicated. When one spouse purchased the family home before the marriage, it may be treated as separate property. Or, a portion of it may be treated as separate property. 

Because you can’t divide a house in two, divorcing couples may decide that one spouse stays in the house and the other gets a greater portion of the assets. They may also decide to sell the home and split the proceeds equally, or that one spouse can stay in the home, and the other gets a portion of the equity.

Temporary Orders While a Divorce Is Pending

At the beginning of the divorce process, your lawyer may ask the court to issue a temporary order affecting things like child custody, child support and the family home. The temporary order may say that one spouse resides in the home while the divorce is pending, until the final resolution of the divorce.

Negotiation, Mediation and the Family Home in Divorce

During the divorce process, you and your spouse will have a chance to negotiate important matters like child custody. If staying in the family home is important to you, let your attorney know. Your lawyer can negotiate on your behalf to help you stay in your home.

Sometimes, couples engage in mediation to resolve their divorces. In mediation, couples can decide how to divide their assets. While a court might divide community property equally without special considerations, couples who are open to working together to make decisions about their futures can have greater control over the outcomes of their divorces.

At the Schneider Law Firm, P.C., we work to protect your interests during a divorce. For a confidential consultation, call our Fort Worth office at 817-755-1852. We can answer your questions about the division of real estate in Texas and about your family home.

Source: 

https://texaslawhelp.org/article/divorce-real-estate

Categories:
Divorce