Fill and Sign the Original Petition Form

NO. _________________ IN THE MATTER OF § IN THE DISTRICT COURT THE MARRIAGE OF § _________ § ______________________________ § AND § ________ JUDICIAL DISTRICT ______________________________ § § AND IN THE INTEREST OF § ______________________________ § ______________ COUNTY, TEXAS AND § ______________________________ § CHILDREN § ORIGINAL PETITION FOR DIVORCE 1. Parties This suit is brought by ____________________ , Petitioner, who is __________ ( ___ ) years of age and resides at ______________________________ , _______________ , Texas. ____________________ , Respondent, is __________ ( ___ ) years of age and resides at ______________________________ , _______________ , Texas. 2. Domicile Petitioner has been a domiciliary of Texas for the preceding six-month period and a resident of this county for the preceding ninety-day period. 3. Service No service on Respondent is necessary at this time. However if Petitioner is unable to obtain a waiver of service from Respondent, process should be served on Respondent at ____________________________ , _______________ , Texas ________ . 4. Protective Order Statement No protective order under chapter 71 or section 3.581 of the Texas Family Code is in effect, and no application for a protective order is pending with regard to the parties to this suit. ORIGINAL PETITION FOR DIVORCE – PAGE 1 5. Dates of Marriage and Separation The parties were married on or about _______________ ___ , ______ and ceased to live together as husband and wife on or about _______________ ______ . 6. Grounds for Divorce The marriage has become insupportable because of discord or conflict of personalities between Petitioner and Respondent that destroys the legitimate ends of the marriage relationship and prevents any reasonable expectation of reconciliation. 7. Children of the Marriage Petitioner and Respondent are parents of the following children of this marriage who are not under the continuing jurisdiction of any other court: Name: ______________________________ Sex: __________ Birthplace: __________ , Texas Birth date: _____________ ___ , _____ Present address: ________________________________________ Name: ______________________________ Sex: __________ Birthplace: __________ , Texas Birth date: _____________ ___ , _____ Present address: ________________________________________ There are no court-ordered conservatorships, court-ordered guardianships, or other court- ordered relationships affecting the children the subject of this suit. No property of consequence is owned or possessed by the children the subject of this suit. Petitioner and Respondent, on final hearing, should be appointed joint managing conservators, with all the rights and duties of a parent conservator. Respondent should be ordered to make payments for the support of the children in the manner specified by the Court. Petitioner ORIGINAL PETITION FOR DIVORCE – PAGE 2 requests that the payments for the support of the children survive the death of Respondent and become the obligations of Respondent's estate. 8. Division of Community Property Petitioner believes Petitioner and Respondent will enter into an agreement for the division of their estate. If such an agreement is made, Petitioner requests the Court to approve the agreement and divide their estate in a manner consistent with the agreement. If such an agreement is not made, Petitioner requests the Court to divide their estate in a manner that the Court deems just and right, as provided by law. 9. Statement on Alternative Dispute Resolution Petitioner has signed a statement on alternative dispute resolution, which is attached as Exhibit A. 10. Prayer Petitioner prays that citation and notice issue as required by law and that the Court grant a divorce and all other relief requested in this petition. Petitioner prays for general relief. Respectfully submitted, ____________________________ _______________________ ____________________ _______________ , Texas _____ ( ___ ) _____ - ______ ORIGINAL PETITION FOR DIVORCE – PAGE 3 EXHIBIT A STATEMENT ON ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION I AM AWARE THAT IT IS THE POLICY OF THE STATE OF TEXAS TO PROMOTE THE AMICABLE AND NONJUDICIAL SETTLEMENT OF DISPUTES INVOLVING CHILDREN AND FAMILIES. I AM AWARE OF ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION METHODS INCLUDING MEDIATION. WHILE I RECOGNIZE THAT ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION IS AN ALTERNATIVE TO AND NOT A SUBSTITUTE FOR A TRIAL AND THAT THIS CASE MAY BE TRIED IF IT IS NOT SETTLED, I REPRESENT TO THE COURT THAT I WILL ATTEMPT IN GOOD FAITH TO RESOLVE BEFORE FINAL TRIAL CONTESTED ISSUES IN THIS CASE BY ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION WITHOUT THE NECESSITY OF COURT INTERVENTION. ____________________________________ ______________________________