how much will it cost to get divorce in texas with a lawyer

Full Answer

What is the cheapest divorce in Texas?

The surest way to obtain a cheap divorce in Texas is to work with your partner in a collaborative law process and file a joint petition for separation. The cost of filing these papers with the court will differ in every county but should not exceed $400. If you cannot afford to pay this fee, you may be able to obtain a waiver.

How much does a divorce cost in Texas?

There are many benefits to an uncontested flat fee divorce, such as:

• An affordable, one-time fee to handle divorce proceedings
• Greater control over the final agreement
• A peaceful, less stressful resolution
• Less trauma for any children involved
• Greater privacy in sensitive matters
• A much more efficient end result

How much does a divorce lawyer cost?

You'll need to pay your lawyer a retainer ($2,500–$5,000), which is a form of downpayment that your attorney will charge you against until the money runs out. Once that happens, you will either pay an additional retainer or be billed by the hour. Average hourly divorce attorney fees are between $150 and $400.

What are the divorce fees in Texas?

In Texas, there is a fee of between $150 and $300 to file for divorce, however, fee waivers are available. If a petitioner is unable to afford the fee, they may fill out an Affidavit of Indigency to waive the filing fee.

How much does an uncontested divorce cost in Texas with a lawyer?

How Much Does an Uncontested Divorce Cost in Texas? The average cost of uncontested divorce in Texas ranges between $300 and $5,000, depending on whether lawyers are involved. In general, it is the cheapest and the quickest option available in any state.

How long does it take to get a divorce in Texas if both parties agree?

Texas requires a 60-day “cooling off” period once a petition for divorce has been filed. Once the 60-day period has passed, a divorce order may be entered. Therefore, if the parties have come to a full agreement, they could be divorced in as little as two months. Typically, even uncontested cases take 90 to 120 days.

How much does a divorce lawyer cost?

On average, couples pay $5,000 - $10,000 in divorce costs for amicable divorces.

What if I can't afford a divorce lawyer in Texas?

Legal Aid Divorce Help If you cannot handle a do-it-yourself divorce option where you file all the papers yourself, you may qualify for legal aid in your area or a volunteer lawyers program. Some Houston non-profits include: South Texas College of Law Legal Clinic – Phone: 713-646-2990.

What is a wife entitled to in a divorce in Texas?

The answer is that women's rights in a divorce in Texas are the same as men's rights. Whether it be an award of spousal support or the just division of marital assets (called community property), both parties are subject to the same rules and considerations imposed by Texas courts.

How do I start the divorce process in Texas?

Basic steps to filing a divorce in TexasFiling the petition. One of the parties must first file a petition with the court called the “Original Petition for Divorce” (along with paying the requisite court fee). ... Legal notice. ... The hearing. ... The final decree. ... The assistance of a family law attorney.

Can I afford to get divorced?

The Actual Cost of a Divorce In addition to an attorney, you'll have to pay filing fees and other related costs. There is no way around this— and it can definitely be expensive. That doesn't mean, though, that you can't afford to get divorced.

How quickly can you get divorced?

A divorce or dissolution will take at least 6 months to complete, even if your circumstances are straightforward. It might take longer if you need to sort out issues with money, property or children.

Do you need a lawyer for a divorce?

If you and your spouse agree on all the terms of your divorce, you can file for an uncontested divorce without the help of a lawyer. However, it is always advisable to at least have a lawyer look through your agreement in an uncontested divorce to make sure that your rights and interests are protected.

How can I get a free divorce in Texas?

Under Texas Rules of Civil Procedure Rule 145, the divorce filing fee can be waived by filing an “affidavit of Indigency.” An “Affidavit of Indigency” basically asks a court to waive the filing fees because the filing party cannot afford them.

How can I divorce my husband without money?

10 Ways to get a divorce with no moneyStay civil with your soon-to-be-ex.Be careful when enlisting the help of the attorney.Non-profits or legal aid.Employ a mediator.Complete the paperwork on your own.The option of a “simplified” divorce.Fee waiver from family court.Approach your spouse about paying the expenses.More items...•

What is a wife entitled to in a divorce settlement?

Assets that you have built up or acquired during the period of marriage are known as matrimonial assets or marital assets. These typically include property, pensions, savings, personal belongings, and cash in the bank.

How Much Does Divorce Cost in Texas?

According to our survey results, the average Texas divorce cost $15,600, including $12,400 in attorneys' fees. That’s 22% higher than the national...

What Affects How Much Divorce Costs in Texas?

Divorce in Texas is more expensive if minor children are involved because of the amount of time involved in settling custody and support issues. Wh...

How Long Does Divorce Take in Texas?

According to our survey, the average divorce in Texas took 12.5 months resolve, but our Texas readers reported ranges from 7 to 19 months to comple...

What Affects How Long Divorce Takes in Texas?

Although Texas doesn’t have a long, mandatory waiting period—only 60 days—several factors may cause a Texas divorce to drag out for many months, so...

Helpful Links About Texas Divorce

Divorce in Texas (from Divorcenet) http://www.divorcenet.com/states/TexasTexas Child Support Formulawww.lanwt.org/txaccess/change_childsupport.aspT...

Cost of divorce in Texas

A recent USA Today article putting the average cost of divorce in Texas without children at $15,600, and the average cost of a divorce with children in Texas at $23,500 which puts Texas fifth in the nation on the list for most expensive divorces.

Divorce Process in Texas

How expensive or lengthy the divorce process may be for each individual depends on a number of factors. One of the most critical factors in estimating the cost of your divorce depends on whether the divorce is contested or uncontested.

What Costs Are Involved in a Divorce in Texas?

Throughout both contested and uncontested divorces, there are costs along the way. Some of the expenses that arise during and after divorce include:

Do I Need to Hire a Divorce Attorney?

Knowing that a divorce attorney is expensive often dissuades people from hiring one, instead opting to handle their divorce on their own. It is important to remember what is at stake in a divorce, however. Divorce means dividing all of your marital property, dividing parenting time, and possibly even paying child support or spousal maintenance.

Contact Our Experienced Fort Worth Divorce Attorneys for a Consultation

A divorce in Texas can cost a considerable amount of financial resources. Hiring an attorney may add cost to a divorce, but it helps eliminate some of the risk that you lose out on what’s most important to you.

What happens when you divide assets during a divorce?

Each asset, from bank accounts to businesses owned by either spouse presents the opportunity for a disagreement about who gets what. These disagreements require time-consuming negotiations and sometimes a trial.

What is the fault of divorce?

Certain types of fault divorce cases, such as a divorce on the grounds of adultery, tend to cost more. Proving adultery, cruelty, or other fault grounds can affect a final divorce settlement, so allegations of fault are relevant to many divorce cases. If you are seeking a divorce on fault grounds, you must prove that your spouse is at fault by presenting evidence to the judge.

Can you get alimony in Texas?

If alimony, or temporary spousal support, is a contested issue in your divorce, the cost of your divorce may increase. In Texas, certain circumstances must be present for a court to award alimony payments to one spouse in a divorce. The spouse requesting alimony may have to prove that they are unable to support themselves without alimony due to a physical or mental disability or because they are the custodial parent of a child with a mental or physical disability.

What Makes a Texas Divorce So Expensive?

Many people wonder what makes divorce so expensive in the first place.

Process Options That Affect the Cost of Divorce

All divorces end the same way, with a court-entered divorce decree. But there are many different ways to arrive at that result. Each process option has its benefits, and some options simply won't work in certain situations, but it's important to understand every route that could be available to you.

How Much Are Divorce Filing Fees in Texas?

Filing fees are something that almost everyone going through divorce in Texas has to pay regardless of whether or not the divorce is contested. A filing fee refers to the fee charged by the county court to record the divorce. Paying the filing fee officially kicks off the divorce process.

How Much Does a Divorce Attorney Cost in Texas?

The average divorce lawyer in Texas charges between $260 and $320 per hour. Most divorce lawyers collect a large retainer at the beginning of the case, which they draw from after billing for their time. In many cases with contested issues, more than one retainer is needed.

Can I File for Divorce in Texas Without a Lawyer?

You do not need a lawyer to file for divorce in Texas. However, in most cases, it is highly recommended that you at least have your divorce agreement reviewed by a divorce lawyer, who can look for potential problems.

How Long Will a Divorce Take in Texas?

The length of your divorce will depend on the number of issues that are in dispute and need to be resolved as well as:

Getting Help With a Texas Divorce

If you think a divorce may be in your future, it is a good idea to meet with a family law attorney in your county who can answer your questions and give you an idea of what to expect.

How Much Does an Uncontested Divorce Cost in Texas?

The average cost of uncontested divorce in Texas ranges between $300 and $5,000, depending on whether lawyers are involved. In general, it is the cheapest and the quickest option available in any state.

Contested Divorce in Texas: Costs

The average cost of contested divorce in the state of Texas is $15,600, which is a real fortune for many couples. The average rate of a family law attorney is $320 and can be even higher if your attorney is experienced in situations similar to yours or if the case is serious.

How Much Does a Divorce Lawyer Cost in Texas?

Texas divorce lawyers charge from $130 to $415. Divorce lawyer cost per hour is determined based on several factors:

How Much Does It Cost to File for Divorce?

To file for divorce in Texas, you will have to pay around $300 directly to the court. The cost of filing for divorce in Texas varies from county to county, so it is better to contact your local clerk to find out the exact fee.

What are the costs of divorce?

Another driving factor in the cost of a divorce resides in the expenses involved. Common expenses involved in a divorce include: 1 court filing fees; 2 compensating of expert witnesses; 3 document preparation and serving; 4 use of child custody evaluation professionals; 5 mediation

Why is divorce so expensive?

In addition to these factors, investments, owned properties or businesses can also influence cost. The reason is that when many assets are involved , the process can become more complicated.

What are the factors that influence divorce costs?

This includes items such as: if depositions are required; requests for discovery; subpoenas; if your case goes to trial. The last one is a major influence on cost.

What to worry about when facing divorce?

The last thing you need to worry about is how much your case is going to cost.

Is divorce cost higher?

In this case, the divorce cost tends to be higher. If cost is important to you, it’s best to try and resolve your differences with your former spouse to be and come to a mutual agreement on terms. This can help reduce costs for attorneys, mediators and court fees.

Do you agree with your spouse on all issues in divorce?

Do you and your spouse agree on all issues in your divorce? Usually the answer to the first two is an easy, “yes.”. However, it’s the last question that will determine whether your divorce can be uncontested or not. If you find that the answer is, “no,” “maybe,” or “not sure,” then you may have a contested divorce on your hands.

Does the hourly rate of a lawyer affect divorce?

Moreover, the hourly rate of a law firm or attorney in your city is also going to influence cost in a divorce. For instance, an attorney in Bexar County may charge a different hourly rate than an attorney in a different city than San Antonio.

Why do divorces cost more?

As mentioned earlier, divorces that involve children usually cost more than childless divorces, though there are exceptions. There are two main reasons why your divorce may cost more if you have children: 1 You must address the issue of child support; and 2 You must agree upon a custody arrangement and create a parenting plan.

How much does it cost to get divorced in Coryell County?

The filing fee ranges from $250 to $350, depending on the county. For example, in Coryell County, the divorce filing fee is $259. However, if you want to file for divorce with a citation or temporary restraining order, the filing fee will increase.