How much does a divorce attorney cost in Texas?

Texas family law attorneys charge $250–$500+ per hour. Uncontested divorces typically require 20–40 hours of attorney time ($5,000–$20,000 total). Contested divorces — where spouses disagree on property, custody, or support — can easily exceed 100 hours ($25,000–$50,000 or more). The average contested Texas divorce through trial runs $30,000–$75,000 when both sides hire attorneys.

What are the filing fees for divorce in Texas?

Filing fees vary by county but generally range from $250–$350 for the initial petition. Harris County charges approximately $315, Tarrant County $300, and Travis County $295. You may also pay additional fees for serving papers ($50–$75) and for a temporary restraining order ($25–$50). Some counties offer fee waivers for low-income filers.

What is the difference between contested and uncontested divorce costs?

An uncontested divorce — where both spouses agree on all major issues — can cost $3,000–$10,000 in total legal fees, plus court costs. A contested divorce where the case goes to trial typically costs $25,000–$75,000 or more. The single biggest cost driver is litigation time: every contested hearing, deposition, and document request adds attorney billable hours. Mediation can cut contested costs significantly (see below).

How much does divorce mediation cost in Texas?

Divorce mediators in Texas charge $150–$400 per hour. Most divorce mediations take 3–8 hours total ($450–$3,200). Some mediators offer flat-rate packages of $1,500–$4,000 for a full day of mediation. Mediation is significantly cheaper than going to trial — a single half-day trial can cost $5,000–$10,000 in attorney time alone. Court-ordered mediation is common in contested cases and typically costs $200–$500 per party per session.

Can I get a cheap or free divorce in Texas?

Texas courts allow self-representation (pro se), and you can file your own divorce without an attorney if the case is truly uncontested. Court filing fees (~$300) are the minimum cost. TexasLawHelp.org provides free DIY divorce forms. However, if there are children, significant assets, or any disagreement, skipping an attorney is risky — a missed filing requirement or incorrectly valued asset can cost far more in the long run than paying for legal help upfront.

What is a Decree of Divorce and do I need an attorney to get one?

The Decree of Divorce is the final court order that legally ends your marriage. In an uncontested case, you do not need an attorney — both spouses can draft a settlement agreement and present it to the court for approval. A judge will review it and sign the decree if it meets legal requirements. CourtCompass helps you generate the Motion to Modify Parent-Child Relationship and related documents, but the final divorce decree requires either agreement or a court hearing.

Does fault affect divorce costs in Texas?

Texas is a no-fault divorce state — you do not need to prove wrongdoing to get divorced. However, fault can affect the division of property and custody outcomes. Adultery, cruelty, and abandonment can be cited as grounds, but proving fault requires evidence and testimony, which adds litigation time and cost. In practice, most Texas divorces proceed on "insupportability" grounds (no fault) regardless of what actually happened.

What is a Qualified Domestic Relations Order (QDRO) and does it cost extra?

A QDRO is required if your divorce involves dividing a retirement account (401k, pension, TSP). Attorneys typically charge $500–$2,000 to draft a QDRO, and the retirement plan administrator may charge $300–$1,000 to review and execute it. QDROs are a common hidden cost in high-asset divorces — always address retirement division early in the process.

How Much Does Divorce Cost in Texas? (2026 Breakdown)

Most people going through a Texas divorce have no idea what it will actually cost. Attorney fees, court costs, mediation, and hidden expenses — here is the real breakdown, and how to prepare your court documents for $29.99/month instead of $50,000.

Prepare Court Documents — $29.99/mo See Cost Breakdown

Updated May 2026 · Texas Family Court Filing Fees

Where the Money Goes

Texas Divorce Costs: A Complete Breakdown

Divorce costs in Texas range from $3,000 (uncontested, minimal assets, no children) to over $75,000 (contested, high-conflict, with significant assets or custody disputes). Here is where the money actually goes:

Attorney Fees

$5K–$75K

Uncontested: $5K–$15K. Contested: $25K–$75K+. Houston and Dallas attorneys charge $300–$500/hour on average.

Filing Fees

$250–$350

County filing fees vary slightly. Harris County ~$315, Tarrant ~$300, Travis ~$295. Add $50–$150 for service of process.

Mediation

$450–$4,000

Most mediations cost $1,500–$3,200 total. Court-ordered mediation is common in contested cases and adds $200–$500 per session.

QDRO (if applicable)
$800–$3,000
Required to divide 401k, pension, or TSP assets. Drafting + plan administrator review costs $800–$3,000. Often forgotten — a common hidden cost.

Discovery / Appraisals

$1K–$5K

If you own real estate, businesses, or significant assets, appraisals and financial discovery add $1,000–$5,000 in attorney time.

Trial (if needed)

$10K–$30K+

A contested trial with both sides presenting evidence runs $10,000–$30,000+ in additional attorney time alone — not including expert witnesses.

The bottom line: If your divorce is uncontested (you and your spouse agree on all major issues), you can manage costs in the $3,000–$10,000 range with minimal attorney involvement or by using CourtCompass for your document preparation. If your divorce is contested — especially with children or significant assets — budget for $30,000–$75,000.

Know Your Options

Attorney vs. CourtCompass: What Are You Actually Paying For?

Most of what attorneys do in an uncontested or minimally contested divorce is document preparation — drafting petitions, settlement agreements, and proposed orders. If you are paying a $400/hour attorney to fill out forms you could fill out yourself, you are spending $50,000 on something CourtCompass does for $29.99/month.

What You Need	Traditional Attorney	CourtCompass
Court document preparation	$3,000–$15,000	$29.99/month
Texas child support calculation	$500–$1,500 billable hours	Free calculator
Motion to Modify drafting	$1,500–$4,000	Included in plan
Contested custody litigation	$25,000–$75,000+	Not included
Legal advice & representation	Included	Not included
Best for	Contested cases, abuse allegations, high-asset division	Uncontested divorces, modifications, document prep

CourtCompass is not a replacement for an attorney in contested matters. But for the majority of Texas parents going through an uncontested divorce or custody modification, spending $29.99/month to generate your own court documents is a better first step than spending $50,000 you may not need to spend.

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Texas Divorce Preparation

Checklist for a Qualifying Uncontested Divorce

The Texas Supreme Court Divorce Set guidance here is limited to uncontested divorces with no minor children and no real property. It is not a custody-case checklist and does not apply to every divorce.

Before filing, confirm that you or your spouse has lived in Texas for at least 6 months and in the filing county for at least 90 days. Plan for the 60-day waiting period, which begins the day after filing; confirm timing and local requirements with your court.

Download the Texas Divorce Checklist

Frequently Asked Questions

Texas Divorce Cost Questions Answered

Texas family law attorneys charge $250–$500+ per hour. Uncontested divorces typically require 20–40 hours of attorney time ($5,000–$20,000 total). Contested divorces — where spouses disagree on property, custody, or support — can easily exceed 100 hours ($25,000–$50,000 or more). The average contested Texas divorce through trial runs $30,000–$75,000 when both sides hire attorneys.
Filing fees vary by county but generally range from $250–$350 for the initial petition. Harris County charges approximately $315, Tarrant County $300, and Travis County $295. You may also pay additional fees for serving papers ($50–$75) and for a temporary restraining order ($25–$50). Some counties offer fee waivers for low-income filers.
An uncontested divorce — where both spouses agree on all major issues — can cost $3,000–$10,000 in total legal fees, plus court costs. A contested divorce where the case goes to trial typically costs $25,000–$75,000 or more. The single biggest cost driver is litigation time: every contested hearing, deposition, and document request adds attorney billable hours. Mediation can cut contested costs significantly (see below).
Divorce mediators in Texas charge $150–$400 per hour. Most divorce mediations take 3–8 hours total ($450–$3,200). Some mediators offer flat-rate packages of $1,500–$4,000 for a full day of mediation. Mediation is significantly cheaper than going to trial — a single half-day trial can cost $5,000–$10,000 in attorney time alone. Court-ordered mediation is common in contested cases and typically costs $200–$500 per party per session.
Texas courts allow self-representation (pro se), and you can file your own divorce without an attorney if the case is truly uncontested. Court filing fees (~$300) are the minimum cost. TexasLawHelp.org provides free DIY divorce forms. However, if there are children, significant assets, or any disagreement, skipping an attorney is risky — a missed filing requirement or incorrectly valued asset can cost far more in the long run than paying for legal help upfront.
The Decree of Divorce is the final court order that legally ends your marriage. In an uncontested case, you do not need an attorney — both spouses can draft a settlement agreement and present it to the court for approval. A judge will review it and sign the decree if it meets legal requirements. CourtCompass helps you generate the Motion to Modify Parent-Child Relationship and related documents, but the final divorce decree requires either agreement or a court hearing.
Texas is a no-fault divorce state — you do not need to prove wrongdoing to get divorced. However, fault can affect the division of property and custody outcomes. Adultery, cruelty, and abandonment can be cited as grounds, but proving fault requires evidence and testimony, which adds litigation time and cost. In practice, most Texas divorces proceed on "insupportability" grounds (no fault) regardless of what actually happened.
A QDRO is required if your divorce involves dividing a retirement account (401k, pension, TSP). Attorneys typically charge $500–$2,000 to draft a QDRO, and the retirement plan administrator may charge $300–$1,000 to review and execute it. QDROs are a common hidden cost in high-asset divorces — always address retirement division early in the process.

Going Through a Custody Change Too?

Need Help With Child Custody Documents?

If your divorce involves children and you need to establish or modify custody, CourtCompass also generates the Motion to Modify Parent-Child Relationship. One subscription covers both — calculator and documents.

Texas Custody Guide →

Included in Your Plan

Texas child support calculator + Motion to Modify Parent-Child Relationship + all supporting documents — all for $29.99/month.

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