Texas Divorce Cost Calculator
How much does a divorce cost in Texas? It depends on four things more than anything else: whether you and your spouse agree, whether minor children are involved, how complex your property is, and whether the case settles or goes to trial. Answer those four questions below and get an estimated cost range and timeline based on published Texas averages: free, instant, and with no sign-up.
Estimated Total Cost
$0 – $0
| Attorney fees & case costs (est.) | $0 – $0 |
| Court & filing fees (Travis County) | $0 – $0 |
| Estimated timeline | — |
Every divorce is different — the way to keep costs down is a clear strategy from day one. In a free consultation, we can give you a real number for your specific situation.
Disclaimer: This calculator provides a rough educational estimate based on published Texas market averages — it is not a quote, a flat fee, or legal advice, and it does not reflect SMB Law, PC’s specific rates. Actual costs depend on the facts of your case, how contested it becomes, and factors no calculator can predict. Texas requires a minimum 60-day waiting period for most divorces. Use of this tool does not create an attorney–client relationship.
The Short Answer: What Divorce Costs in Texas
An uncontested divorce, where both spouses agree on everything, typically runs $1,500 to $5,000 in attorney fees plus roughly $300 to $400 in Travis County filing fees, and can be done close to the state’s 60-day minimum. A contested divorce typically costs $10,000 to $30,000 or more once attorney fees, court costs, and experts are counted, and high-conflict or high-asset cases can exceed $100,000. Where your case lands depends mostly on how much you and your spouse can agree on, which is why what a divorce lawyer costs varies so widely.
What Drives the Cost Up
Disagreement. Every issue you cannot resolve by agreement (custody, support, property) becomes billable hours, discovery, and hearings. A contested divorce is the single biggest cost multiplier.
Children. A parenting plan and support orders add work in any case; a custody dispute in a contested case can add custody evaluations that alone cost $3,000 to $10,000.
Property complexity. A house and retirement accounts add moderate cost. A business, multiple properties, or a high-net-worth estate can require appraisals, business valuations, and forensic accounting that add tens of thousands.
Trial. Most Texas divorces settle. The ones that reach a courtroom cost dramatically more: preparing for and trying a case can add $5,000 to $15,000 or beyond compared to a mediated settlement.
How Long It Takes (and Why That Affects Cost)
Texas builds in a mandatory pause: with narrow exceptions, a court cannot grant a divorce until at least 60 days after the petition is filed. Uncontested cases often finish within two to four months. Contested cases typically run six to eighteen months, and how long your divorce takes tracks closely with what it costs, because time in dispute is time being billed. The fastest way to shrink both numbers is agreement: mediate what you can, and litigate only what you must.
How to Keep Your Divorce Affordable
Narrow the issues before the lawyers do. Every agreement you and your spouse reach on your own is money kept. Choose mediation where possible: it typically cuts contested costs substantially and keeps decisions in your hands rather than a judge’s. Get organized: complete financial records reduce billable digging. And if you both truly agree, ask about flat-fee uncontested divorce so you know the price before you start. Our Austin divorce lawyers discuss fees openly in a free consultation.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a divorce cost in Texas?
Uncontested divorces typically cost $1,500 to $5,000 plus about $300 to $400 in filing fees. Contested divorces typically run $10,000 to $30,000 or more, and complex or high-asset cases can exceed $100,000. Use the calculator on this page for a range based on your specific situation.
How much does it cost to file for divorce in Travis County?
Filing fees in Travis County run roughly $300 to $400, slightly higher when children are involved. If you cannot afford the fee, Texas courts can waive it with an approved Statement of Inability to Afford Payment of Court Costs.
What is the cheapest way to get divorced in Texas?
An agreed, uncontested divorce is by far the cheapest path: one attorney drafting clean paperwork, minimal court time, and a timeline near the 60-day minimum. Doing it right the first time matters, because fixing a flawed decree later usually costs more than the original divorce.
Is this calculator a quote from SMB Law, PC?
No. The calculator is an educational estimate built on published Texas market averages, and it does not reflect SMB Law, PC’s specific rates. For a real number for your situation, including flat-fee options for uncontested cases, schedule a free consultation at (512) 561-5003.
Talk Through Your Numbers, Free
A calculator gives you a range. A consultation gives you a plan and a real price for your case. Schedule a free consultation with SMB Law, PC or call (512) 561-5003. From our downtown Austin office near the Travis County courthouse, we handle every kind of Texas divorce, from flat-fee agreed divorces to complex contested cases.
