§ 01 — Introduction
Divorce is not only a legal process — it is an emotional test. This guide helps you recognize the fear, anger, guilt, and short-term thinking that can make divorce more expensive and more painful than it needs to be
Ebook · PDF & ePub
Guide
2026
CPCP · No. 02
§ 02 — The Substance
Most people meet the Texas family-law system for the first time under the worst circumstances of their life. This guide walks the whole process — from filing to final decree — in ordinary language, so you understand what is happening, what is coming next, and what your choices actually are at each step.
Who this book is for
You are preparing to file, or expect to be served, and want to understand Texas procedure before you sign anything or hire anyone.
You have a case number, temporary orders, or a mediation on the calendar and you want to follow along in language a human can read.
You need to understand Texas custody (conservatorship), possession schedules, and child support before decisions are made about your children.
You have a meeting with a Texas attorney soon and want to walk in informed — asking better questions, wasting less time and money.
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Ch. 2
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Ch. 3
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Ch. 4
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Ch. 5
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Ch. 6
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Ch. 7
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Ch. 8
Texas attorney, author, and speaker. Steve helps people understand divorce, custody, support, and property division — and the emotional decision-making traps that make legal problems harder and more expensive.
§ 03 — What You Take Away
Learn to spot fear, anger, and guilt driving a decision — before that decision becomes a filing, a text, or a courtroom outburst
Texas-specific plain-English coverage of conservatorship, possession schedules, and child support guidelines — the pieces that affect your family for years
Understand terms, timelines, and choices before you meet an attorney. Better questions, better answers, less billable hour wasted on definitions
What mediation is, what it costs to skip it, and how to prepare so it becomes the place your case ends — not another expensive stop on the way to trial
§ 04 — Inquiries
No. It is legal education, not legal advice for your specific case. It is designed to help you understand the process and work more effectively with counsel — not replace them
The emotional and decision-making framework applies to any divorce, anywhere. Texas-specific procedure lives in the companion volume, Texas Divorce Basics
The custody, possession, and child support chapters apply to Texas conservatorship generally — useful for parents in a Suit Affecting the Parent-Child Relationship (SAPCR), too
You receive an instant download link for a PDF and ePub. Read it on your phone, tablet, e-reader, or computer — and keep it on hand throughout your case
This book will make you a much more prepared self-represented party, but Texas family courts are hard on pro se litigants. Read this, then decide whether you truly want to go it alone
The 2026 Edition of Texas Divorce Basics gives you the whole map — process, custody, support, property, mediation, and court — in plain English
