How Much Does a Divorce in Texas Really Cost in 2025?

If you’re facing a divorce, you naturally want to know what it’s going to cost. There’s no simple answer – expenses vary widely depending on whether you hire an attorney, how much you and your spouse agree on, and how quickly disputes can be resolved. What you can count on is this: the more contested the issues, the higher the price.

What Texas Divorces Typically Cost: A Quick Breakdown

Before getting into the details, here’s a general picture of what Texas divorces cost based on complexity:

Divorce Type	Typical Cost Range
Uncontested, no attorney	$300 – $1,500
Uncontested, with attorney	$2,500 – $7,000
Contested, settled before trial	$7,000 – $15,000
Contested, goes to trial	$15,000 – $30,000+
High-asset or complex litigation	$30,000 – $100,000+

These are estimates. Your actual costs depend on the factors below.

Factors That Make Divorce More Or Less Expensive

Before looking at the numbers, it helps to understand the key variables.

Will you hire an attorney?

Divorces become significantly more expensive when child custody, child support, or substantial property division are involved. Each contested issue adds attorney time, potentially court appearances, and sometimes expert fees.

Do you have kids and complex finances?

Divorces can be quite complicated—and costly—when such issues as child custody and child support are involved. And in terms of finances, how are you going to divide the property? What about spousal support?

How much do you and your spouse agree on the issues?

If both parties largely agree, costs stay manageable. If you’re fighting over multiple issues, especially custody, costs can escalate quickly and unpredictably.

Attorney Fees: Understanding the Costs of Hiring a Divorce Lawyer in Texas

The cost of hiring a divorce attorney in Texas depends heavily on the complexity of your case. Even in straightforward situations, many people benefit from having a lawyer handle the paperwork, negotiate terms, and ensure their rights are protected.

Hourly Rates and Total Costs

The average hourly rate for divorce attorneys in the U.S. is approximately $270–$300, with most falling between $200 and $400 per hour depending on experience and market. In Texas, rates vary by city – Fort Worth and Southlake attorneys may charge more than rural markets, reflecting the complexity of cases they handle.

The more meaningful number is what you’ll actually pay when the case closes. Survey data puts the median total cost for a full-scope divorce attorney at around $7,000, with roughly 42% of people paying $5,000 or less. However, a handful of high-cost cases significantly pull the average upward, which is why median is the better benchmark.

The number of hours your attorney needs to work on your case will vary depending on the complexity of your case, as well as how much you and your spouse agree on the issues in the divorce.

Again, it is worth noting that the total cost of a divorce depends on the unique circumstances of your family, so without the details of your case, it is almost impossible to tell how much you’ll have to pay.

How Disputes and Going to Trial Affect Attorney Costs

Average costs aside, two factors that make a big difference in lawyer costs are the number of issues contested, and whether the partners reach a settlement or go to court on those issues. 

In the survey, average costs for those who didn’t go to trial ranged from $4,000 to $10,400, with those on the lower side reporting no major issues to contest, while those on the higher side had at least one major issue in contention.

For those who went to trial, average costs ranged from $11,600 for trial on one or two contentious issues, and about $21,500 for three or more contentious issues.

Can My Spouse be Required to Pay my Attorney’s Fees?

In Texas, yes – courts have the authority to order one spouse to pay the other’s attorney’s fees. Under Texas Family Code §6.708, a court can award fees based on factors including the financial disparity between spouses and whether one party’s conduct prolonged the litigation unnecessarily.

This is worth knowing if you’re concerned about affording representation. It does not guarantee the court will order it, but it is a legitimate option your attorney can pursue. At MBH, we regularly evaluate fee-shifting as part of case strategy in situations where the financial gap between spouses is significant.

Lowering Divorce Costs with a Consulting Attorney

If you find it hard to hire a full-scope lawyer, it may still be prudent to seek legal counsel at some point in your divorce. This would be to ensure that your rights are protected in any kind of settlement you reach. You may need a consulting attorney for some specific tasks, such as helping you understand and fill out divorce forms, drafting and reviewing proposed settlements, getting ready for mediation, or representing you in court.

In the survey, only about 10% of people hired a consulting attorney for their case. In this way, they saved a significant amount of money on lawyer fees, with the average final bill at about $4,600 and the median fee at $3,000.

How Much Does a Divorce Cost When Children Are Involved?

Custody disputes are one of the most significant cost drivers in Texas divorce cases. When parents cannot agree on a parenting plan, costs rise quickly and can continue climbing even after the divorce is finalized.

Custody Evaluations

If you and your spouse cannot agree on custody, a judge may order a custody evaluation. County-conducted evaluations typically cost $1,000 to $2,500. Private evaluations by a licensed psychologist or social worker can run $5,000 to $15,000 and if both parents refuse to agree on a single evaluator, each may hire their own, doubling that cost.

Guardian Ad Litem

In high-conflict cases, the court may appoint a Guardian ad Litem (GAL) to represent the child’s interests independently. This is an additional attorney whose fees are typically split between the parties.

Parenting coordinator

Courts in Tarrant County frequently appoint parenting coordinators in contested custody cases to help parents resolve disputes without going back to court. Parenting coordinators typically charge $150 to $300 per hour, and their fees are split between both parents.

Ongoing Attorney Time

The more parents dispute visitation schedules, holiday arrangements, and child support calculations, the more attorney time gets billed. Disagreements that continue post-divorce, over weekend visits, school decisions, or modifications, keep the meter running. This is one reason experienced custody attorneys emphasize getting clear, enforceable orders in place from the beginning.

MBH’s child custody attorneys in Fort Worth and Southlake handle both initial custody determinations and contested modifications. If you’re facing a high-conflict custody situation, having litigation-ready counsel from the start protects you from costly mistakes later.

Court Fees and Other Legal Expenses: What You Need to Know About the Costs of Filing for Divorce

With a full-scope attorney, your biggest expenses will be the lawyer fees. There are, however, some additional expenses. You’ll need to pay filing fees as well as other court expenses (more on that below). And depending on your circumstances, you may also need to pay real estate appraisers, tax advisors, child custody evaluators, and other experts. The average cost for these fees was about $1,500, with the median at $500.

Divorce Costs without a Lawyer

If you and your partner go through the divorce either on your own or with the help of a mediator, the costs will likely be far lower than with an attorney. In the survey, couples that handled their divorce without a lawyer incurred an average of $925 in costs (excluding mediator fees). The more typical (median) cost was about $300. Here’s a look at what went into those expenses.

Divorce Filing Fees

The court charges a filing fee when you file for divorce. If it’s your spouse that kicked off the process by filing the initial petition, you’ll still need to pay a fee for filing your answer to that petition.

Filing fees vary from one state to another, ranging from $100 to $400. The costs may be lower in some states (or counties) if you meet the criteria for simple divorce procedures, such as not having any minor children. In some states, you and your partner can save on these costs by filing the petition together if you’re in agreement about all the issues in your divorce.

You may also incur some smaller court fees for hiring a process server, filing some more documents, and getting a certified copy of the final divorce decree. If you’re unable to pay these fees, you may apply to the court for a waiver.

If you go for a contested divorce without a lawyer, there may be extra expenses for appraisals and evaluations—a judge may, for instance, order custody evaluations if you and your spouse have not agreed on the parenting plan.

Cost of Divorce Mediation

Today, more and more divorcing partners are turning to mediation in a bid to save money, but also to minimize the conflict and stress that comes with a divorce. Mediation can come in handy in a number of situations, such as:

• You want an uncontested divorce, but can’t seem to agree with your partner about an issue or a few issues. You can use a mediator in such cases before filing for divorce.
• Requirement of the state—some states require mediation or allow the judge to require it in some cases once the couple has filed for divorce but are not in agreement about some issues, particularly child custody.
• Getting help from a mediator at some point in the divorce proceedings, whether or not you and your spouse have hired attorneys. 

The cost of divorce mediation varies widely depending on your circumstances and whether you use a court-appointed mediator or go for private mediation. Typical private mediation costs range from $3,000 to $8,000, but the bill is split between you and your partner. Court-sponsored mediations are typically either free or low-cost. However, these mediations typically only cover disputes over child custody.

Expert Fees

High-asset divorces often require outside experts: business valuators, forensic accountants, real estate appraisers, or tax advisors. These fees vary widely depending on the complexity of the assets involved, but budget $1,000 to $5,000+ per expert in a complex case.

Division of Property and Assets: How the Division of Marital Property Affects Your Divorce Budget

Property acquired by either partner during the marriage is considered marital (or community) property and will need to be divided when the partners decide to divorce. In the same way, any debts acquired by either partner during the marriage are considered marital debts and will need to be divided between the divorcing couple.

Even in an amicable divorce, however, deciding which partner gets what can be quite the challenge. Divorce mediations often get derailed by discussions on the division of property. The division of property and assets is, therefore, an important process for each partner to understand before they start bickering over who gets what.

Separate vs. Community Property

When thinking about the division of property, an important distinction you need to be aware of is the difference between separate property and community (marital) property. Fundamentally, in any given state, separate property is anything you or your partner acquired before the marriage. Separate property also includes gifts given to a partner during the marriage, an inheritance acquired during the marriage, or compensation received by one spouse from a personal injury case.

Marital Property

Also referred to as marital assets, marital property may include the following:

• Furniture and art
• Real estate properties
• Businesses owned by one or both partners
• Vehicles
• Jewelry
• Investments and retirements accounts, including 401(k) plans and stock options

Anything purchased or earned by either partner during the marriage, even if it was only in one partner’s name, is considered marital property. This applies as the general rule unless they both signed an agreement of sorts—such as a prenuptial agreement—to keep some assets separate.

In most states, only your marital property is divided between you and your partner, while you both keep your separate property. 

Marital Debts

Like property, marital debts acquired during the marriage are shared between the divorcing partners. Common debts include:

• Mortgages
• Credit card bills
• Tax obligations
• Loans, including those for college, vehicles, etc.

Even if a loan or credit card was filed in one person’s name, both parties would take responsibility if the debt was accrued during the marriage.

Asset Division in Community Property States

If you live in Texas or one of eight other states (California, Idaho, Nevada, Louisiana, Arizona, New Mexico, Wisconsin, and Washington), you’re in a community property state. Anything accrued during the marriage in a community property state is considered community property up until the time of your legal separation. Historically, the laws in these states dictate that community property be divided equally between the partners, but some of the states are moving away from this requirement.

Equitable Property Division

Most states work with a rule known as “equitable division” when dividing property. Under this rule, assets and debts are distributed between the partners in a way believed by the judge to be fair (equitable). This means the property is not necessarily divided equally between the partners.

What Does an Uncontested Divorce Cost in Texas?

An uncontested divorce, where both parties agree on all terms before filing, is the least expensive path. In Texas, if you and your spouse agree on property division, child custody, support, and all other issues, the primary cost is the filing fee plus whatever attorney time is needed to prepare and file the paperwork correctly.

With no attorney, total costs typically fall between $300 and $1,500. With an attorney handling the paperwork and ensuring the decree is legally sound, expect $2,500 to $5,000 depending on complexity.

Texas also has a mandatory 60-day waiting period from the date of filing before a divorce can be finalized, regardless of how quickly both parties agree.

Even in an uncontested divorce, having an attorney review the final decree is worth the cost. Errors in property division language, retirement account handling, or custody terms can be expensive to fix after the fact.

Additional Costs to Consider

Some divorce costs aren’t obvious upfront.

Impact on Children

Even in amicable divorces, children often need support navigating the transition. Parents may choose to hire a child psychologist or therapist, both to help the child process the change and, in some cases, to provide a professional opinion relevant to custody proceedings.

Parenting Coordinator Fees

As noted above, Tarrant County courts commonly appoint parenting coordinators in contested custody cases. These costs are ongoing; they don’t end at the final decree if disputes continue. Budget for them if your custody situation is contentious.

Moving costs

One or both spouses will typically need to establish a new household. Moving costs, security deposits, and duplicate expenses for items that were shared all add to the financial picture.

Retirement account division

Dividing retirement accounts often requires a Qualified Domestic Relations Order (QDRO), a separate legal document prepared after the divorce decree. Preparation costs typically run $500 to $1,500 per account. Attempting to handle this without the right documentation can trigger penalties and tax consequences.

What Is the Best Way to Control Divorce Costs?

The most effective cost controls are also the most practical:

• Reach agreement on as many issues as possible before engaging attorneys in adversarial positions
• Use mediation early – resolving one major issue in mediation is far cheaper than a full hearing
• Be organized: attorneys bill for time spent gathering documents you could have provided upfront
• Avoid using your attorney as a therapist – they are billing at $250–$400/hour for that conversation
• Get clear orders the first time – vague language in a decree creates disputes (and legal fees) later

None of this means you should go cheap on legal representation when the stakes are high. In a high-asset or contested custody case, the attorney who charges less upfront often costs more in the outcome.

Considering Divorce in Fort Worth or Southlake? We Can Help

Divorce is one of the most financially consequential decisions you’ll make. At Mims Ballew Hollingsworth, we work with clients navigating complex divorces in Fort Worth, Southlake, and throughout Tarrant County, from uncontested separations to high-stakes contested litigation involving significant assets or custody disputes.

Our team approach sets us apart: unlike firms that assign a single attorney to your case and move on, MBH attorneys collaborate across cases. That means your file benefits from the combined experience of a team, not just one lawyer working in isolation.

If you’d like to understand what your specific situation is likely to involve and how to approach it strategically – contact us online or call us to schedule a consultation.