Customer Reviews

How to Do Your Own Divorce in Texas (7th ed)

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

The book is a little confusing at first, because the subject matter is so complicated, but overall it was very helpful. It saved me a lot of money in legal fees. Anyone with a no-fault divorce should find it very helpful and simple to use. I had no problem with having my divorce granted. I highly recommend it.

(As of 10/27, it wasn't listed on Amazon, so you might have to go to the Nolo site to get it)
"Hot off the press, the new tenth edition of How to Do Your Own Divorce in Texas, by Ed Sherman (Nolo Press Occidental, 2005). There have been changes to divorce laws in Texas since the previous edition, so it is important that public libraries own this new edition. In addition to all the information, instructions, and advice in the book, there is an accompanying CD-ROM that contains all the forms and worksheets in the book, plus a citations kit and other bonus materials." (South Texas Library System review)
This book was in heavy demand at our library, so many people who couldn't afford a lawyer found it useful. If you have a very complex financial and family situation, maybe you are better off with an attorney.

Much of the advice in this book is incomplete, outdated, or misleading. After spending many hours attempting to use these forms to do my own divorce, I was tossed out of court by a rather displeased judge, and wound up hiring an attorney to re-do everything anyway. This might be a good reference for someone who is thinking about getting a divorce and curious about what the process is like and what is involved, but for actually using it to go to court by yourself, I can't recommend it. It caused me one heck of a headache.

Well, I did my own divorce in 2000 and I used this book. It can be confusing if you are trying to do a more involved divorce. Mine was a simple agreed divorce, with no kids or property to split up... So if you got more things involved, you might want to use a lawyer or do as much as you can by yourself to save you money.

If you're having a very simple, amicable divorce (no property, no kids), this book will take care of all your needs. Forms are easy to fill out and filing/courthouse instructions are easy to follow.

the book did not contain all the forms necessary for my divorce, such as the judge signature portion for the pauper's oath.

This book does not cover some extremely important issues, such as appeals, appeal periods and motions for new trials.
I obtained my divorce in May 2004 using this book to get a Settlement Agreement and agreed divorce ..... and then had to spend $20,000 (YES, TWENTY THOUSAND DOLLARS) in legal fees over the next 6 months to defend a frivolos and unmerited Motion for a New Trial. This was more stressful than the original separation / divorce.
Lawyers probably love this book for all the extra business it creates for them.