In Harris County, Texas, there are 10 courts dedicated to handling exclusively family law matters. In those ten family law courts, 13,637 original suits were pending in July 2025 alone. Most, if not all, of these families wonder how much does a divorce lawyer cost for their divorce or child custody matter. Unfortunately, there is no clear-cut answer to this question because every divorce and child custody proceeding is different.
The issues that emerge from one family to the next vary widely, as do the emotions and personalities that litigants bring to the process, all of which can increase expenses associated with divorce proceedings. The cost of your divorce or child custody proceeding will hinge on the complexity of the underlying issues as well as the level of acrimony between you and your spouse or your child’s other parent. Most family law attorneys bill hourly with varying rates depending on their level of experience.
At The Stout Law Firm, PLLC, we have a team of experienced family law attorneys ready to assist clients in navigating the difficult process of divorce in the most efficient, cost-effective manner possible. Contact us today to schedule a consultation and discuss your options.
How Much Does a Divorce Cost in Houston, Texas, If I Don’t Hire a Lawyer?
The law does not require you to have an attorney to get a divorce. Litigants who choose to represent themselves are referred to as “pro se” litigants. If you are pro se, you must submit the petition for divorce, appear in court, and file other required documents within the timelines required by the court and Texas law. Although pro se litigants are not attorneys, they are expected to be familiar with the law as it applies to their proceeding and follow it accordingly.
Some divorces may not involve children or extensive assets, or there may be low levels of conflict between the spouses. In those instances, some individuals feel they can handle the divorce process on their own and, in some instances, do so with success. However, it is risky to go through a divorce without an attorney, especially if your spouse has a lawyer. While it may be tempting to simply accept the terms your spouse presents you with to end the process quickly, this can cost you later. You may find yourself stuck in a custody arrangement you do not really think is best for your child or without property which you would have otherwise been entitled to receive, resulting in an unfair division of your estate. If you have an attorney to assist you through the process, he or she will advise you of your rights and fight to ensure those rights are protected throughout the process.
How Much Does a Divorce Lawyer Cost in Houston, TX?
The cost of a divorce depends on many factors, including the level of conflict and the number of contested issues. The more time your attorney needs to spend preparing for hearings, appearing in court, mediating, and negotiating agreements will add to your costs. Many people hire an attorney for full representation, but you can hire a lawyer for certain aspects of your case if you need to budget. For example, if you and your spouse have worked out a parenting plan, you can have an attorney review your agreement before submitting it to the court.
Houston Divorce Attorney Cost Increases with Conflicts, Hearings, and Trial
The total cost of a divorce attorney will depend on the attorney’s hourly rate and the amount of time the attorney must spend on your case. If your divorce is “high-conflict,” the attorney will need to spend more time preparing you for court, attending court hearings, and attempting to work out issues along the way. High-conflict cases involve:
- Repeated reliance on the adjudicative process;
- Anger and distrust; and
- Difficulty in communicating about and coparenting the children.
In high-conflict cases, your attorney’s fees will be higher than they would be if you could agree and cooperate with your soon-to-be ex-spouse. When a trial is necessary to resolve your divorce, the cost of your divorce can more than double.
How Much Does a Divorce Cost In Houston: Major Factors That Can Drive up the Cost of Divorce in Texas
When thinking about how much a divorce costs in Houston, Texas, consider how many issues you need to resolve and how contested those issues are. The longer it takes to reach an agreement, the more expensive the divorce is likely to be. Consider these common issues.
Fault or No-Fault
Texas law includes seven grounds for divorce, including both fault and no-fault divorce. A no-fault divorce allows parties to obtain a divorce without the pleading or proving fault as a reason for the divorce. In Texas, insupportability is the no-fault ground for divorce, which simply means that the marriage cannot continue due to disagreements or conflict of personalities. A no-fault divorce generally costs less because the parties are not required to present additional evidence to prove fault of their spouse in the divorce.
If you request a divorce based on the fault of your spouse, you must prove that your spouse is at fault for the divorce in accordance with one of the fault-based grounds for divorce. You’ll need to present evidence of cruelty, adultery, felony conviction, living apart, confinement in a mental hospital, or abandonment. Your attorney will need time to help you collect and review the evidence and plead and prove the fault-based ground at trial. Most spouses would never agree they are at fault, which means you are more likely to go to trial to prove your case if you plead one of the fault-based grounds for divorce.
Alimony
Texas law requires a spouse to meet specific requirements in order to qualify for spousal maintenance, also known as alimony or spousal support in other jurisdictions. However, if one spouse cannot earn sufficient income to provide for their minimum reasonable needs, the other spouse may be required to make spousal maintenance payments for a specific time period if their spouse meets other eligibility requirements. Cases involving spousal maintenance often increase the cost of divorce because attorneys must spend additional time to either prove their client is entitled to spousal maintenance or defend against a request for spousal maintenance.
Child Custody
When a divorce involves children, you and your spouse must have a parenting plan. The parenting plan can either be agreed to by the spouses or ordered by the court. A parenting plan outlines the rights and duties of each parent, the periods of possession each parent will have with the child, and the child support payments. Child custody is often one of the most hotly contested issues in a divorce and if contested, it can quickly increase the cost of your divorce.
Division of Assets
The Texas Family Code presumes that property obtained during the marriage is community property divided at divorce. The court will order the division depending on its opinion of what is just and right, considering the rights of the spouses and any children. Disagreements over asset division frequently involve lengthy negotiations and, in some circumstances, a trial.
The Stout Law Firm, PLLC, and Comprehensive Houston Divorce Attorneys Cost
When you’re facing divorce, it’s advisable to have an experienced, compassionate divorce attorney to support you through the process. At The Stout Law Firm, PLLC, we’ve helped countless families through both complex, contested divorces and uncontested divorces. Our attorneys are board certified specialists in family law and are experienced with the Texas Family Code and family courts in Texas. While divorce can be emotional and expensive, we can help you simplify the process and obtain a divorce that accomplishes your goals. Contact us today to schedule a consultation.
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