Guide

How Much Does Divorce Cost in Texas (2025 Guide)

Texas is one of the largest states in the country, and divorce costs vary significantly depending on where you live, whether you have children, and how complex your financial situation is. Here's what to expect in 2025.

Texas Divorce Filing Fees

Filing fees in Texas vary by county but typically range from $250–$350. Some of the most common:

•Harris County (Houston): $300

•Dallas County: $315

•Bexar County (San Antonio): $290

•Travis County (Austin): $310

If you cannot afford the filing fee, you can file an Affidavit of Indigency to request a waiver.

Attorney Fees in Texas

Texas attorney fees depend heavily on whether the divorce is contested:

•Uncontested with attorney: $2,500–$5,000

•Mediated divorce: $4,000–$10,000 total

•Contested divorce: $10,000–$30,000+ per spouse

•High-conflict contested: $30,000–$100,000+ per spouse

Hourly rates for Texas family law attorneys average $250–$450/hour, with Houston and Dallas rates at the higher end and smaller cities like Lubbock or Amarillo at $175–$300/hour.

Community Property in Texas

Texas is a community property state. All property acquired during the marriage is presumed to belong to both spouses equally. However, unlike California's strict 50/50 rule, Texas courts divide community property in a manner they deem "just and right" — which doesn't always mean equal.

Factors the court considers include:

•Each spouse's earning capacity

•Fault in the breakup of the marriage (Texas allows fault-based divorce)

•Who has primary custody of children

•Health and age of each spouse

•Size of each spouse's separate estate

Fault vs No-Fault Divorce

Texas allows both fault and no-fault divorce. Filing a fault-based divorce (adultery, cruelty, abandonment) can affect property division but typically increases costs by $5,000–$20,000+ due to additional evidence requirements and court time.

Additional Costs

•Custody evaluation: $2,500–$7,500

•Guardian ad litem (GAL): $2,000–$5,000

•Property appraisal: $300–$500

•Business valuation: $3,000–$15,000

•QDRO preparation: $500–$1,500

Texas Divorce Timeline

Texas has a mandatory 60-day waiting period from filing. This is one of the shortest in the nation. Typical timelines:

•Uncontested: 2–4 months

•Contested: 6–18 months

•High-conflict with trial: 12–24+ months

How to Reduce Costs in Texas

1. Agree on as much as possible before filing — even partial agreement saves thousands

2. Use the Collaborative Divorce process — both attorneys agree not to litigate

3. File pro se (without an attorney) — viable for simple, uncontested divorces with no children or major assets

4. Use online divorce services — $150–$500 for document preparation on simple cases

5. Choose mediation — Texas courts frequently order mediation anyway; doing it voluntarily saves time

DIY Divorce in Texas

Texas is one of the more DIY-friendly states. If your divorce is truly uncontested (no children, minimal assets, both agree), you can complete the process for under $500 total by:

•Downloading forms from your county court's website

•Filing the petition yourself

•Attending the final hearing (often just 10-15 minutes)

Get Your Estimate

Try our divorce cost calculator with Texas selected to see a personalized breakdown, or use the budget planner to understand how divorce will affect your finances.

Divorce Cost Calculator