what is the average cost of a divorce lawyer in texas

by Trudie Hamill 7 min read

In Texas, the cost of a divorce lawyer is between $130 and $415 per hour. Average total costs for lawyers range from $3,000 to $15,600 but are significantly lower in cases with no contested issues. The cost of divorce in Texas if it is uncontested is: A little over $300 if you choose a DIY approach.

What is the cheapest divorce in Texas?

Dec 01, 2021 · 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. Fortunately, the cost of a divorce is something the parties have a significant ability to control …

How much does a divorce cost in Texas?

Apr 05, 2022 · How Much Does a Divorce Cost in Texas? Last updated: April 5, 2022 by Kelly Brown One of the most common reasons that married couples get divorced in Texas has to do with financial issues. Having problems with or disagreements over money can put a lot of strain on a relationship. For some spouses, it is the primary reason that they decide to ...

How much does a divorce lawyer cost?

Mar 31, 2020 · Average total costs for Texas divorce lawyers are $11,000- $13,000, but fees are usually lower in cases with no contested issues. If you’re contemplating a divorce in Texas, or you’ve already started the process, you’re probably wondering how much it’s going to cost you and how long it will take before your divorce is final.

What are the divorce fees in Texas?

Feb 26, 2021 · That’s why we are dedicated to helping our clients keep divorce costs down through effective legal representation. What is the Cost of a Texas Divorce? The average cost of a Texas divorce without children is $15,600, according to a 2020 study by 24/7 Wall St. If you have children, you would have to spend much more to finalize your divorce in Texas.

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How much will a divorce lawyer 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.Jul 24, 2020

How much does it cost to get a divorce if both parties agree in Texas?

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 much does a basic divorce cost in Texas?

As mentioned above, in 2015, the average divorce cost in Texas was $15,600. In the same year, the average cost of divorce with children in Texas was $23,500. The price depends on several factors. Well, time changes and costs increase.Mar 4, 2021

How much is a retainer fee for a divorce lawyer in Texas?

$2,500 and $15,000A retainer is an amount of money that is paid to an attorney to secure their services—it is essentially a down payment on your case. It is common for retainers in divorce cases to run $2,500 and $15,000, but the required retainer could be more if the lawyer finds that your case is particularly complicated.

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

Texas law entitles wives and husbands alike to a just and right share of marital assets. Marital assets, or “community property,” are generally assets that either spouse acquired during the marriage. Anything classified as community property is subject to division.Oct 8, 2021

How much does a simple divorce cost?

An uncontested divorce is without a doubt the least expensive type of divorce. Our fees for a local uncontested divorce is R 800.00 if you live in the Western Cape and R 8500.00 if you live in another province, all-inclusive and for an international uncontested divorce R 18 000.00.

Can my spouse make me pay her divorce attorney fees in Texas?

Any Texas resident is entitled to file for divorce; forcing the filing party to pay the other spouse's attorney fees as punishment is not typically an attainable goal. That is not to say obtaining attorney fees is unattainable, but it is not automatic.Apr 9, 2019

How long does divorce take in Texas?

Divorce in Texas is a Lengthy Process. In Texas, a divorce is not final for at least 60 days after a petition is filed. It typically takes about six months to one year or longer to finalize a divorce, depending on the complexity of the issues and the degree of conflict.Jan 6, 2016

Does it matter who files for divorce first in Texas?

In Texas divorce cases, it does not matter who files first. In other words, it does not make a big difference who is the "petitioner" (i.e. the person who files first) or who is the "respondent" (i.e. the person who responds to the divorce petition).Apr 26, 2018

How are retainer fees calculated?

Calculate the Retainer Fee Multiply your hourly rate, with tax included, by the number of hours required to get your retainer fee. Any other expenses should be added to this number, such as supplies or processing and legal fees.

What is a retainer's fee?

A retainer fee is an amount of money paid upfront to secure the services of a consultant, freelancer, lawyer, or other professional. A retainer fee is most commonly paid to individual third parties that have been engaged by the payer to perform a specific action on their behalf.

How do I file for divorce in Texas with no money?

Legal Aid Divorce HelpSouth Texas College of Law Legal Clinic – Phone: 713-646-2990.AVDA – Phone: 713-224-9911.Houston Volunteer Lawyers Program – Phone 713-237-9429.Houston Lawyer Referral Service – Phone: 713-228-0735.Lone Star Legal Aid – Phone: 713-652-0077.

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...

How much does a divorce lawyer cost in Texas?

Average total costs for Texas divorce lawyers are $11,000- $13,000, but fees are usually lower in cases with no contested issues. If you’re contemplating a divorce in Texas, or you’ve already started the process, you’re probably wondering how much it’s going to cost you and how long it will take before your divorce is final.

What expenses do you pay for divorce?

In addition to what you pay your lawyer—or even if you don’t hire a divorce attorney—your divorce will involve other expenses like filing fees, mediation costs, and fees for experts ( such as financial analysts, appraisers, and child custody evaluators).

Why does a divorce take longer?

Finally, your divorce could take longer if your spouse intentionally uses delaying tactics in an effort to make you agree to a less-than-optimal settlement —especially if your spouse has deeper pockets for paying attorneys’ fees.

Why do lawyers charge more per hour?

However, that doesn’t necessarily translate into significantly higher total bills, because they can often resolve problems in divorce cases in less time than their less-experienced counterparts.

How long does a divorce attorney have to be in court?

When a divorce case goes to trial, the attorney is prepping two hours for every one hour spent in court.

What is the biggest expense when getting divorced?

So if you’re like most people getting divorced, your biggest expense will be the lawyer’s bill. And because almost all divorce attorneys charge by the hour, two components go into the total bill: the lawyer’s hourly rate and the number of hours needed to resolve your case.

What do you need to do if you aren't able to settle?

And if you aren’t able to reach a settlement, even more time will be needed to prepare for and represent you at a divorce trial.

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.

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.

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.

Cost of Divorce in Texas

The cost of a divorce in Texas can sound daunting to anyone who hasn’t dealt with it before. When someone who is seeking a contested or uncontested divorce starts doing some research, they’re bombarded with information about the difficulty and expense of it.

Legal Fees for a Contested Divorce in Dallas or Tarrant County

We handle the average contested case in Dallas or Tarrant County for around $2,950 in legal fees. For those with limited resources we can generally work out an affordable payment plan to pay this with as little as $1,000 due up front. However, fees for a contested divorce vary somewhat as they are dependent on the complexity of a particular case.

PRO SE DIVORCE PACKAGES

A Pro Se Divorce package is simply a do-it-yourself divorce kit. Sometimes they consist of blank forms to fill out and others are fully prepared by a divorce attorney. It is not legal for a non-attorney to prepare legal forms for a fee. The advantage of a Pro Se Package is that it may save a small amount of money. The disadvantages are many.

LET MARX, ALTMAN & JOHNSON HELP

A divorce can be a long, expensive process for divorce seekers. With our Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas divorce attorneys at Marx, Altman & Johnson, it doesn’t have to be. Let us help walk you through the confusing legal process and get the most out of your divorce. Contact us today for your free consultation!

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