If you are considering getting divorced in Texas, you are probably concerned about how much your divorce will cost. You may have heard your friends and family members discuss how expensive their divorces were. Unfortunately, divorce is costly. In Texas, the average total cost of a divorce is $20,000. The average hourly fee of a divorce lawyer in Texas is between $260 and $300 per hour. In many cases, getting divorced costs more than a couple’s wedding. You may be asking yourself why traditional divorce costs so much. We will discuss the reasons divorce costs so much below.
The Most Expensive Aspect of Getting Divorced in Texas
Getting a divorce in Texas is not easy, and most people will need to work with an attorney in some way during their divorce case. The actual cost of getting a divorce in Texas is not expensive at all. You will need to pay a filing fee between $250 and $300 to the court. If you cannot afford the filing fee, you can complete an Affidavit of the Inability to Pay.
The expensive costs associated with getting a divorce in Texas are not based on the actual process of filing for divorce but on paying for legal representation from a family law attorney. Most Texas residents who pursue divorce hire an attorney for what’s called full-scope representation. Full scope legal representation is traditional legal representation in which an attorney bills a client for each hour the attorney spends working on his or her case.
The attorney will represent the client from the planning stages to the finalization of the divorce. For most Texas residents getting divorced, their legal bills are the most expensive part of the divorce. Two components contribute to the total legal bill — the lawyer’s hourly rate and the number of hours needed to resolve your divorce case.
Hourly Rates Drive the Total Divorce Cost
Nearly all family law attorneys charge clients based on an hourly rate. An attorney will have a set hourly rate, with an average rate between $260 and $300 per hour. Suppose an attorney charges $300 per hour. The attorney works on a divorce case for 25 hours during the month. At the end of the month, the attorney will send the client an invoice for $7,500. Sometimes people may think they only are charged legal fees when the attorney is in court.
However, a large percentage of our legal fees comes from research, writing, and phone calls. Anytime the attorney is working on your case, you will be paying by the hour. The more legal issues and conflicts that arise in your case, the more time your attorney will need to spend, and the more expensive your divorce will become.
Divorce is a Process
Most marriages last longer than many of us are aware of. According to the US Census Bureau, the average marriage in the United States lasts eight years. During an eight-year time frame, or longer if the marriage lasts longer, a couple joins their property, debt, finances, home, and lives together. Divorce is a long process, not a sprint. Separating a couple’s life can take time, especially since marriage is a serious financial contract with many implications. Some costs and conflicts will happen in every divorce, but with careful planning and help, a divorce does not need to be an expensive, all-out war.
Disputes Raise the Costs of Divorce
The process of divorce does not have to be expensive. An uncontested divorce can easily cost under $5,000. The leading cause of costly divorces comes down to disputes between spouses. The longer the spouses can’t get along, the longer they need their attorneys to represent them and contact the other spouse. The more disputes, the more negotiation becomes necessary. The goal of the divorce process should be to reach an agreement with your spouse and settle all of the issues you can on your own. Unfortunately, many spouses cannot come to an agreement on essential issues in the divorce, such as:
- Spousal maintenance
- Property division
- Asset division
- Child custody
- Parenting time
- Child support
A Divorce Trial Raises the Costs of Divorce
When a couple cannot agree on the issues discussed above, a trial may need to occur. Anytime divorce litigation is on the table, the legal expenses will increase. Both spouses’ attorneys will need to conduct discovery to gather evidence about the other spouse’s claims to prepare for trial. Discovery involves requests for documents, answering questions, taking depositions, and more. The attorneys will need to draft discovery requests and handle requests from the opposing counsel. They will also have to review all the material and prepare for trial. This process is costly and avoidable when the spouses can agree to a settlement.
Divorce Concierge Offers Affordable, Flat-Rate Divorce Services
At the start of the divorce process, spouses hold a significant amount of power in their hands. You can choose to work out a settlement agreement yourselves without the help of an attorney. If you do so, you can ask a Texas court to finalize your divorce after a simple hearing after working with an attorney to draw up your divorce agreement. At Divorce Concierge, we provide our clients with concierge services to help guide them through the divorce process.
We offer two different services, the “Divorce Your Way” and the “Divorce By Us.” Both of these Services provide clients with affordable legal representation. Our clients can rest assured that their divorce documents are thorough, accurate and protect them and their interests. They also benefit from an affordable, flat rate divorce service, so they do not have to worry about surprise expenses.
Contact Divorce Concierge Today
If you are interested in pursuing an uncontested divorce in Texas, we recommend contacting Divorce Concierge. We are located in McKinney, Texas, and offer affordable, flat-rate divorce services for couples pursuing an uncontested divorce. Contact us today to schedule your initial consultation.
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