Divorce without Borders

A divorce is one of the most difficult experiences an individual can go through, but when one spouse resides overseas or there are overseas assets, an extra layer of complexity is added. Having represented individuals with overseas spouses and assets, international divorce attorney Chikeersha Puvvada can provide you with strategic and practical advice on not only what leads to a successful outcome in a Texas divorce court, but also on what will be effective when international issues are involved. Some of the common challenges in international divorce cases that Chikeersha Puvvada has successfully dealt with include serving a spouse overseas, dividing overseas assets in an enforceable manner, protecting the safety and welfare of children when overseas parents are involved, and consulting with and utilizing attorneys and experts from foreign nations. When overseas spouses or assets are involved, you can rely on Chikeersha Puvvada, an attorney with experience in international divorces.

International Divorce FAQs

I live in Texas but was married abroad. Can I file for a divorce in Texas?

To file for divorce in Texas, you must have lived in Texas for the past 6 months, and lived in the county where you plan to file for the past 90 days. As you long as you meet the residency requirements, you can file for divorce in Texas. The Texas Family Code does not require your marriage to have been performed in Texas or even in the United States for you to be able to file for divorce in Texas.

Can I get a divorce in Texas if my spouse lives overseas?

If you meet the residency requirements to file for divorce in Texas, then yes. At minimum you can get a "status" divorce, where the court changes your martial status from married to divorced, but there are no other rulings in a "status" divorce. For rulings on the division of martial property and child issues in your divorce, the Texas divorce court will need personal jurisdiction over your spouse. For more information on personal jurisdiction, read our article Divorcing a Spouse Who Doesn't Live in Texas.

How do I serve my spouse with notice of my Texas divorce case if my spouse lives overseas?

For more information on how to serve a spouse who lives overseas, read our article How to Serve a Texas Divorce Citation in a Foreign Country.

Can I file for divorce in Texas if I live overseas?

If your spouse has lived in Texas for the last 6 months, then you can file for divorce in the Texas county where you spouse lives regardless of the country in which you live.

Will my divorce in Texas be valid in an other country?

That depends entirely on the laws of the other country. The best way to answer this question is to consult with an attorney in the other country before you file for divorce in Texas. Your foreign counsel and Chikeersha Puvvada can work together to see what steps, if any, can be taken in your Texas divorce to make it valid in the foreign country.

Can a Texas divorce court divide my assets that are in another country?

Yes. For more information on how Texas divorce courts deal with foreign assets, read our article Dealing with Out-of-State Property in a Texas Divorce.

Visit our FAQ section to learn more.