Specialty tag(s): Divorce, Pre-Divorce Guidance
Tom Trahan | July 10, 2024
The cost of divorce in Texas can be intimidating and anxiety-inducing. It can also vary widely depending on several different factors, with the price ranging anywhere from a few hundred dollars to thousands. Between legal fees, counsel, and even the type of divorce, the price of a divorce can be very different from one case to the next.
Divorce itself takes a toll on your finances because you are splitting your financial estate with your spouse and trying to restart your life with half your resources. In subtraction to that, the court costs, legal and expert fees, and expenses of dividing and retitling your assets shrink the size of the financial estate being divided.
Our team is prepared to talk you through the anticipated cost of your divorce, the factors associated with higher costs, and how we handle our fee agreements to clarify your financial responsibility.
Your first steps with our firm are an intake call with an experienced paralegal and a consultation with one of our family law attorneys. The paralegal is responsible for making sure our firm has no conflict of interest in representing you (for instance, if your spouse is a previous client, we cannot represent you against them.) The paralegal will then connect you with a divorce attorney at our firm whose experience is appropriate for your unique case and who is available to meet with you.
During the consultation, our attorney listens to your concerns and provides you with valuable initial legal advice applying to your situation. The attorney will also give you their best estimate of the expected cost of your divorce case, based primarily on the complexity of the issues and the level of confrontation between the parties involved. For example, a couple seeking to end a short marriage with no children and few assets that require a transfer of title will have a relatively low-cost divorce. However, if any of these factors change, getting divorced becomes more expensive.
The average cost of a divorce in Texas that involves children, child support, and visitation is around $23,500. Without children, a “typical” divorce could cost around $15,600. But keep in mind that these are just averages: The final cost of your divorce could be much higher or lower, depending on factors unique to your situation.
Divorces are complicated. Cases can involve high-value assets, businesses, or complex financial situations that need to be clarified and settled, which will often result in higher costs.
The more both parties can agree during a divorce, the more straightforward and less costly it will be. However, contentious divorces that require litigation to resolve disputes can become significantly more expensive.
Cooperation and proceeding by agreement, when possible, dramatically reduces the costs of resolving a case. When an agreement is not possible, legal fees and expenses increase with each additional hearing necessary to resolve the issues. Even worse, if either party chooses to battle out issues to prove they are “right” or to punish the other party – for whatever reason – the increase in cost can be significant. Some people in a divorce choose attorneys known for their aggressive style of litigation. These attorneys often follow their client’s demands, regardless of the costs or long-term consequences for the parties or their families. At Goranson Bain Ausley, we are prepared to deal with these battles. At the end of your case, your new life begins, and our commitment is to do what we can to preserve your family and finances.
A longer marriage may involve a longer tracing of assets and the possibility of spousal support. It is also more likely that the couple will have amassed shared assets that would need to be divided equitably. Dividing ownership of a home, retirement benefits, vehicles, and especially business interests can be complicated and require expensive expert evaluations.
Divorces involving children often involves issues of parental decision-making power, parenting time with the children, and child support and insurance costs. Child custody, support, and visitation usually cost more due to the additional legal work required to ensure that the best interests of the children are protected.
The cost of hiring a divorce attorney varies. Experienced attorneys with a strong track record may charge higher fees, but they can also provide valuable experience that could potentially save you money in the long run.
The type of divorce you choose can also have a significant impact on the overall cost.
If you are pursuing an uncontested divorce, in which you and your spouse agree on most matters, such as child support and property division, the cost will be much lower. Sometimes, you may need to pay little more than the filing fees.
Contested divorces, in which the parties cannot agree on one or more issues and require court intervention, are more costly due to the need for legal representation, court appearances, and potentially expert witnesses.
The cost to file for divorce in Texas varies by county, but generally ranges between $250 and $350.
At Goranson Bain Ausley, our experienced attorneys are here to support you every step of the way, ensuring that your best interests are protected throughout the divorce process. Contact us today to schedule a consultation and discuss your options.
Our attorneys are experienced in all aspects of family law and will guide you through each step of the process, ensuring you have the information you need to make wise decisions and prepare for the future.
At Goranson Bain Ausley, we strive to deliver clarity about what comes next and confidence that you and your family’s future are more secure. Contact our team and discover how we can help you.
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