Houston Family Law Pricing

Clear, upfront pricing for common family-law matters in Houston, Harris County, and Fort Bend County—plus statewide options for select services.

Start Here: Find Your Price

• Agreed / Uncontested (Flat Fee)
• What’s Included (and What Isn’t)
• Common Add-Ons
• If Your Spouse Won’t Sign (Service / Default)
• Contested / Served Divorce (Retainers)
• QDRO Pricing
• Divorce by Publication
• Trial & Appeal Pricing
• Hourly Rates
• Payment Plans & Financing Options
• Consultation Options
• FAQs
• Ready to Get Started

Agreed / Uncontested Flat Fees

Flat-fee pricing applies when both parties agree on the terms and will sign the required documents.
Texas has a statutory waiting period for divorce; many agreed cases can be completed in as little as 61 days once documents are signed and ready for prove-up.

Note: If the other party refuses to sign, avoids service, or files an answer contesting issues, the case typically moves out of the flat-fee lane. We’ll review your options before moving forward.

Upfront Payment

For agreed matters, clients typically start with $999.

$999 Flat-Fee Services

• Uncontested divorce (no children) + up to 3 property transfers — $999
• Adult name change — $999
• Minor name change — $999
• Agreed modification to parent-child relationship — $999
• Prenuptial/Postnuptial agreement (no children) — $999

$1,999 Flat-Fee Services

• Uncontested divorce (with children) + up to 3 property transfers — $1,999
• Prenuptial/Postnuptial agreement (with children) — $1,999
• Original suit to establish parent-child relationship — $1,999
• Original petition affecting the parent-child relationship — $1,999
• Agreed adoption — $1,999

Statewide Note (Nuptial Agreements)

Prenuptial and postnuptial agreements are offered as fixed-fee services statewide (no extra county filing fee add-on).

What’s Included (and What Isn’t)

What the Flat Fee Includes

Flat-fee pricing is intended to be “all-in” for attorney and paralegal time associated with agreed cases, plus several standard administrative items.

• Filing fee
• One certified copy
• Notice to employer on a wage order for child support (when applicable)
• All attorney and paralegal time for the agreed scope
• Copies and postage
• In-person notary services

What’s Not Included (Common Examples)

Some matters remain agreed but require additional work, additional filings, or third-party costs. Clients are responsible for “other costs” beyond what is included above, including (as applicable):

• Appraisals, forensic accounting, business valuation, or other expert fees
• Additional court appearances beyond the agreed prove-up
• Unusual/emergency motions, temporary orders hearings, or contested hearings
• Special process servers or skip tracing
• Plan administrator fees for retirement division (varies by plan)

Cases With Children: When Mediation May Be Required

Flat-fee cases involving children generally assume Texas presumptions for child support, conservatorship, and possession/access.

If you want to deviate substantially (for example, requesting no child support or non-standard possession terms), mediation may be required to place the agreement into a mediated settlement agreement (MSA) before presentation to the judge.

Common Add-Ons (Agreed Matters)

• QDRO — $600 (Note: if dividing an IRA, a QDRO is not needed.)
• Mediation (when deviating from Texas presumptions) — $300 for 1 hour (includes custom provisions + mediator’s fee for both sides only when the mediator charges $75/party).
  If parties pay the mediator directly, the firm fee is $150 for one-hour mediation.
• Property transfers over 3 — $100 per additional transfer (does not include apostilles)
• Apostilles (Texas only) — $200 per document (includes postage and filing fee; 5–7 day turnaround)
• Federal apostilles or apostilles for other states — $750 retainer billed hourly
• Children born during marriage but not of the marriage — $500 per biological parent whose parentage must be addressed
• Uncontested matters filed outside Harris/Fort Bend — $250
• Remote notary — $20

If Your Spouse Won’t Sign (Service / Default)

If your spouse will not sign a waiver, you may need formal service. Service costs depend on location:

• Service in Texas — +$1,000
• Service out of state — +$1,500
• Service in a foreign country — from $2,000 (confirm with an attorney)

If your spouse is served and does not file an answer, fees may not increase further and you may proceed toward a default judgment. If the case becomes contested, we will review next-step fees with you before moving forward.

Contested / Served Divorce (Retainers)

Default Divorce Retainers (Harris & Fort Bend)

If you want the spouse served and are pursuing a default posture:

• Harris & Fort Bend — $5,000 retainer (typically $2,500 down with a payment plan for the remainder)
• Outside Harris & Fort Bend — $7,500 (typically $3,750 down)

Contested Divorce Retainers (Client Has Been Served)

If you have been served and the case is contested—especially where there are children, custody disputes, property disputes, and temporary orders— the matter generally proceeds under a retainer (subject to revision based on complexity and facts):

• Harris & Fort Bend — $5,000 retainer (typically $2,500 down with a payment plan for the remainder)
• Outside Harris & Fort Bend — $7,500 retainer (typically $3,750 down)

QDRO Pricing

QDRO Add-On in Agreed Matters

When a QDRO is required as part of an agreed case, the flat-fee add-on is $600.

Petition to Enter a QDRO (Hourly Contract)

For a stand-alone Petition to Enter a Qualified Domestic Relations Order (QDRO) handled under an hourly contract, the retainer is $3,000 per case</em (same price across Texas counties).

When Do You Need a QDRO?

Many employer retirement plans (such as 401(k)s and pensions) require a QDRO to divide benefits. If you are dividing an IRA, a QDRO is generally not needed.

Divorce by Publication (Spouse Can’t Be Found)

Divorce by publication often takes longer (many months and sometimes up to a year) and is handled hourly statewide. Typical retainers include:

Without Children (Last Known Address in Same County)

• $3,000 total: $1,750 down to file, then $1,750 to complete the divorce

Without Children (Spouse Last in Another County)

• $3,000 total: $1,750 down to file, then $1,750 to complete the divorce

With Children and/or Property Issues

• $4,000 retainer: $2,000 down to file, then $2,000 to complete (often via auto debits)

Clients may also be responsible for an attorney ad litem fee (approximately $1,500–$2,000) set by the court and not included in the retainer.

Trial & Appeal Pricing

Premium Tier — New Client Priority Handling (Minimum Deposit)

• Bench Trial — $10,000. Due in full 30 days before trial.
• Jury Trial (fewer than 60 days to trial) — $25,000. 50% due up front.

Appeals

• Appeal Brief — $5,000 minimum retainer. Covers all attorney time to brief a trial record of up to two (2) trial days. The $5,000 minimum applies no matter how short the trial — even a 3-hour trial bills at the $5,000 minimum.
• Trial longer than 2 days — add $2,500 per additional trial day of attorney time, paid in advance. (Example: a 3-day trial = $5,000 + $2,500 = $7,500 attorney time.)
• Additional appeal work (oral argument, motion for rehearing, post-submission briefing) — $2,500 per day, advance payment required.

Court Costs Paid by Client

In addition to attorney time. Amounts are averages and are set by the court, not our firm.

• Court Reporter’s Record (the word-for-word record of what was said at trial) — averages $1,500 per trial day. The court reporter quotes and bills the final amount; client is responsible for any balance above the average.
• Clerk’s Record (the district clerk’s certified file of all pleadings, orders, and the judgment) — averages $500. Both records are required for the appeal.
• Appellate Filing Fee — averages $205.

Estimated Total to Start an Appeal — by Length of Trial

*Court costs estimated at $1,500/trial day for the reporter’s record + $500 clerk’s record + $205 filing fee. The court reporter and district clerk set the final amounts; client pays any balance due. Additional appeal work beyond the brief is billed at $2,500 per day, in advance.

Deadline Alert: In most Texas cases, the notice of appeal must be filed within 30 days after the judge signs the final order. Miss the deadline and the appeal is usually lost forever — call before your clock runs out.

Work performed during regular business hours will consume the retainer more quickly. Weekend strategy sessions are available and may be scheduled for case brainstorming, evidence review, and witness or case preparation.

Hourly Rates

Some matters are best handled hourly because the scope is unpredictable (contested custody, discovery disputes, emergency relief, complex property, business valuation, publication, and more). Hourly rates include:

• $510/hour — Michael G. Busby, Jr., Attorney
• $450/hour — Andrew Iwata, Attorney
• $450/hour — Elsa Soto, Attorney
• $175–$270/hour — Paralegals
• $150/hour — Law clerks
• $140/hour — Legal assistants
• $140/hour — Office clerks

Payment Plans & Financing Options

Cost shouldn’t be the reason you delay getting legal protection in place. In addition to standard payment methods, we offer pay-over-time options through our billing platform (eligibility and terms vary). If you need alternatives, here are other common payment approaches clients use.

Pay-over-time (through our billing platform)

• Installment financing (subject to approval) — monthly payments over time, with terms set by the financing provider.
• Scheduled recurring payments — for retainers on contested cases, a payment plan is often available with 50% due at intake.

Other options clients ask about

• PayPal Pay Later (where available) — installment options offered through PayPal at checkout.
• Card-based installments — some clients use credit card installment programs or card-linked installment services.

Note: Financing is optional and subject to provider approval and availability. We can share options as a convenience, but rates and approval decisions are made by the provider.

Consultation Options — Three Ways to Meet With Us

We offer several ways to meet, including after-hours and weekend options. Paid consultations are paid before scheduling.

Initial Consultations

• In-Office Consultation — No Charge. Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. There is no charge unless you retain the firm; if retained, the consultation time is charged against your retainer.
• Phone Consultation (30 minutes) — $100. Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Paid before scheduling.
• Evening Zoom Consultation — $250. Monday through Thursday, 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., and available on weekends. Paid before scheduling. Can’t get away from work? Meet with us from home after hours.

Follow-Up & Strategy Sessions

• Second Visit Consultation — $250. Paid before scheduling or at the time of visit. Weekend strategy session available.
• Third Consultation / Weekend Strategy Session — $350. Comprehensive strategy meeting to review case developments, evaluate options, discuss litigation strategy, and prepare for upcoming hearings, mediation, trial, or settlement negotiations. By appointment only.
• Second Visit or Weekend Consultation with Managing Attorney — Available Upon Request.
• Alternative Practice Area Consultation — $250.

Prospective clients requesting weekend consultations are responsible for meal expenses during the meeting.

Alternative Practice Areas

In addition to family law, we consult on:

• General Civil Litigation
• Exemption Planning
• Probate
• Creditor Defense
• Asset Protection & Financial Recovery Strategy Meeting
• Real Estate Asset Structuring Consultation

FAQs

Ready To Get Started?

If you want to know the most accurate price range for your case, the fastest path is to confirm: whether your matter is agreed, whether children are involved, whether service is needed, whether you need more than three property transfers,and whether retirement division requires a QDRO. Once those facts are clear, we can usually place you into the correct flat-fee tier or retainer path quickly.

Ready to get started? Call us at (713) 974-1151 or fill out our contact form.