Texas · Divorce & Family Law
How Much Does a Divorce Cost in Texas? Fees and Cost Factors
Learn which expenses affect the cost of a Texas divorce, including filing fees, service, lawyers, mediation, and contested issues.
There is no single Texas divorce price
The cost of a divorce in Texas depends on the county, procedure, and issues the spouses must resolve. The Texas Office of Court Administration explains that actual civil filing totals can vary because local officials set parts of the fee schedule.
Court fees are only one part of the total. Service, copies, mediation, appraisals, experts, custody evaluations, and attorney time may also affect cost.
Uncontested and contested cases have different costs
An uncontested case generally means the spouses have agreed on every issue needed for the final order. A contested case may require discovery, temporary orders, negotiation, mediation, hearings, or trial.
- Property, debt, and retirement accounts
- Child custody, parenting time, and support
- Spousal maintenance
- Business ownership or disputed values
Residency and the waiting period
Texas Family Code Section 6.301 generally requires either spouse to have been domiciled in Texas for six months and resident in the filing county for 90 days.
Section 6.702 generally prevents a divorce before the 60th day after filing, subject to specific exceptions. Sixty days is a minimum, not a guaranteed completion date.
Estimate expenses before filing
Ask the clerk for current filing fees. If hiring counsel, ask whether billing is hourly, flat-fee, limited-scope, or retainer-based and which costs are separate.
Texas publishes forms for some uncontested divorces, but forms cannot evaluate tax effects, retirement division, safety concerns, or enforceability.