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Transparent, Upfront Pricing

Houston Family Law & Divorce Pricing

Clear, upfront flat fees from $999 for family-law matters in Harris and Fort Bend Counties.

Flat-fee services

Agreed / Uncontested Flat Fees

Flat-fee pricing applies when both parties agree on the terms and will sign the required documents. An agreed divorce may be completed in as few as 61 days. Agreed matters start with $999 down, with any remaining balance due within 45 days.

$999

Uncontested divorce, no children

  • Uncontested divorce (no children) + up to 3 property transfers
  • Adult name change
  • Minor name change
  • Agreed modification of the parent-child relationship
  • Prenuptial / postnuptial agreement (no children)
$1,999

Uncontested divorce with children, & related cases

  • Uncontested divorce (with children) + up to 3 property transfers
  • Prenuptial / postnuptial agreement (with children)
  • Establishing parentage (paternity / parental rights)
  • Custody, visitation & support order (SAPCR)
  • Agreed adoption

Reading the prices: + adds to your flat fee · ~ is an estimate · retainers are deposits toward the agreed work, not guaranteed total costs. Ranges and minimums depend on the listed scope, staff member, trial length, or judgment amount.

What's Included (and What Isn't)

Included in your flat fee

  • Court filing fee
  • One certified copy
  • Notice to employer on a wage order
  • All attorney and paralegal time for the agreed scope
  • Copies and postage
  • In-person notary services

Not included

  • Appraisals
  • Forensic accounting
  • Business valuation
  • Additional court appearances
  • Emergency motions
  • Special process servers
  • Plan administrator fees

Cases With Children: Our Mediation Requirement

Flat fees assume the Texas presumptions for child support, conservatorship (legal decision-making), and possession/access (the parenting schedule). Requests for no child support or departures from the Standard Possession Order are outside that scope. If you want different terms, our firm requires mediation to put the agreement in a mediated settlement agreement. Mediation and custom provisions can be added at the rate shown below; court approval remains necessary.

Common Add-Ons (Agreed Matters)

  • QDRO
    $600
  • Mediation (1 hour)Includes custom final-order provisions and both parties’ mediator fees when the mediator charges $75 per party. If you pay the mediator directly, our fee is $150 for one hour.
    $300
  • Property transfers beyond 3per additional transfer; apostilles are separate
    $100
  • Apostilles (Texas)per Texas document, including postage and filing fee; typical turnaround 5–7 days
    $300
  • Federal apostilles / other statesretainer, billed hourly
    $750
  • Children born during the marriage but not of the marriageper biological parent other than the spouse whose parentage must be addressed
    $500
  • Uncontested matters outside Harris / Fort Bendonly when a court appearance is required to prove up the case; no charge for affidavit prove-ups or prenuptial/postnuptial agreements
    $250
  • Remote notary
    $20

Service, default & contested cases

If Your Spouse Won't Sign (Service of Process)

If your spouse refuses to sign the waiver in an agreed matter, service of process is added to your flat fee at the rates below. If no answer is filed, there are no further fees for the default judgment under that arrangement. If the case becomes contested, an attorney will review the fees with you. The separate default-case retainers below apply when you engage us to start a default divorce.

  • Service in Texas
    +$2,000
  • Service out of state
    +$3,000
  • Service in a foreign countryminimum additional fee; an attorney confirms the country-specific scope
    from $4,000

Default & Contested Divorce (Retainers)

A default engagement begins when you want your spouse served; a contested engagement addresses a disputed case, including when you have been served. These retainers are billed against hourly work, not fixed total prices. Contested cases involving children, custody, and property include temporary orders, and the minimum retainer may be revised upward. Your agreement identifies the applicable scope and payment arrangement.

  • Default divorce — Harris & Fort Bendretainer — $3,000 down with credit card authorization for the remaining $3,000
    $6,000
  • Default divorce — other Texas countiesretainer — $3,750 down with credit card authorization for the remaining $3,750
    $7,500
  • Contested divorce — Harris & Fort Bendminimum retainer — $3,750 down with credit card authorization for the remaining $3,750; subject to upward revision
    $7,500
  • Contested divorce — other Texas countiesretainer — $5,000 down and a payment plan for the remaining $5,000
    $10,000

QDRO Pricing

A Qualified Domestic Relations Order (QDRO) divides an employer retirement plan such as a 401(k) or pension. IRAs do not require a QDRO.

  • Add-on in an agreed matter
    $600
  • Stand-alone QDRO petitionretainer per case, billed hourly; same price in all Texas counties
    $3,000

Divorce by Publication (Spouse Can't Be Found)

When a spouse cannot be located, we proceed by publication. These cases are handled hourly statewide and often take several months to a year.

  • Without children (same or other last-known county)hourly retainer — $2,500 down to file, with credit card authorization for the remaining $2,500
    $5,000
  • With children or jointly owned propertyhourly retainer — $3,000 down to file, with credit card authorization for the remaining $3,000
    $6,000

The court may set an attorney ad litem fee of approximately $1,500–$2,000. This is paid to the court-appointed attorney and is not included above.

Trial & Appeal Pricing

Premium trial service — new-client priority handling

  • Bench trialminimum deposit, due in full 30 days before trial
    $15,000
  • Jury trial (fewer than 60 days out)minimum deposit — 50% upfront, balance within 5 calendar days; no attorney-in-charge designation or notice of appearance is filed until fully funded
    $35,000

Appeals

  • Appeal brief (trials up to 2 days)minimum retainer covering attorney time for the brief; applies even to a trial shorter than one day
    $8,000
  • Additional trial daysper trial day after the first two days; paid in advance
    $4,000
  • Additional appeal workper day, paid in advance, for oral argument, rehearing motions, or post-submission briefing
    $4,000

Court costs (paid by the client)

  • Court reporter's recordper trial day; the reporter quotes and bills the final amount
    ~$1,500
  • Clerk's record
    ~$500
  • Appellate filing fee
    ~$205

Estimated totals by trial length (including court costs)

  • Up to 2 days
    $10,205–$11,705
  • 3-day trial
    $17,205
  • 4-day trial
    $22,705
  • 5-day trial
    $28,205

These starting estimates include the brief and average record and filing costs. The reporter, clerk, and court set the final charges; you pay any balance above the estimate. Work beyond the brief is separate at $4,000 per day, paid in advance. Appeal deadlines depend on the order and type of case, so contact us promptly to review your deadline.

Hourly Rates

  • Michael G. Busby, Jr., Attorneyper hour
    $600
  • Andrew Iwata, Attorneyper hour
    $475
  • Elsa Soto, Attorneyper hour
    $475
  • Paralegalsper hour
    $175–$270
  • Law clerksper hour
    $150
  • Legal assistantsper hour
    $140
  • Office clerksper hour
    $140

Judgment Enforcement & Domestication

Fees depend on the judgment amount and the work required. Fixed-fee services, hourly representation and contingency contracts are separate options. We confirm the applicable arrangement and scope before engagement.

Fixed-fee option — judgments under $50,000

  • Consultation for a fixed-fee packagerequired before engagement
    $100
  • Foreign judgment domestication — fixed-fee optionconfirm eligibility and scope; hourly and foreign-country matters are quoted separately below
    $999
  • Garnishment, execution, post-judgment discovery or turnoverplus one-third of the collection; package includes the abstract of judgment, registered-agent and asset searches, constable service verification, and writ and notice preparation
    $999

Hybrid representation — minimum retainers by judgment amount

  • Under $250,000
    $7,500
  • $250,000–$500,000
    $10,000
  • $500,001–$1,000,000
    $15,000
  • $1,000,001–$2,000,000
    $20,000
  • $2,000,001–$3,000,000
    $25,000
  • $3,000,001–$4,000,000
    $30,000
  • $4,000,001–$5,000,000
    $35,000
  • Over $5,000,000further increases may apply
    $40,000+

Hourly domestication & international judgments

  • Sister-state judgment — Harris or surrounding countiesstarting retainer for hourly representation
    $1,000
  • Sister-state judgment — other Texas countiesstarting retainer for hourly representation
    $2,500
  • Judgment from another countryfee set for your case
    By quote
  • International judgment consultationper session
    from $250

Contingency option — judgments over $50,000

  • Collection under a contingency contractof the collection, plus costs; no upfront fee under this option
    ⅓

Hybrid retainers are minimums and may increase with scope and complexity. Retainers are paid in advance. Unused funds remain in trust and are refunded on written request after the matter concludes, less earned fees. Contact us to confirm the applicable option, including judgments of exactly $50,000.

Logistics & getting started

Payment Plans & Financing Options

Agreed flat-fee matters start with $999 down, with any balance due within 45 days. Default, contested, publication, and trial matters follow their listed deposit and balance terms. Optional financing is subject to provider approval.

  • Installment financing (subject to approval)
  • Scheduled recurring payments toward retainers
  • PayPal Pay Later
  • Card-based installment programs

Consultation Options — Staff Intake & Attorney Meetings

In-office staff intake

No Charge

With staff personnel, Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–4:00 p.m. No charge unless you retain the firm; if retained, consultation time is charged against your retainer. Attorney consultations have a separate fee below.

Phone (30 minutes)

$100

Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–4:00 p.m. Paid before scheduling.

Evening Zoom with an attorney

$350

Monday–Thursday, 7:00 p.m.–9:00 p.m.; also available Saturday and Sunday. No Friday evening Zoom appointments. Paid before scheduling.

Attorney consultations, follow-up & strategy sessions

  • Initial in-office attorney consultationMonday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–4:00 p.m.; paid before scheduling
    $350
  • Appeal consultationreview of trial outcome, deadlines, merits, costs, and strategy; prepaid, by appointment
    $350
  • Second visit / managing-attorney consultationpaid before scheduling or at the visit; includes weekend strategy. A second visit or weekend consultation with the managing attorney is available on request
    $350
  • Third consultation / weekend strategy — prospective clientsplus costs; by appointment, Friday 6–9 p.m. (dinner only), or Saturday/Sunday noon–5 p.m.
    $350
  • Third consultation / weekend strategy — existing clientsno separate consultation fee; by appointment at the same weekend times
    Costs only
  • Alternative practice area — weekends onlycivil litigation, exemption planning, probate, creditor defense, asset protection, financial recovery, or real estate asset structuring
    $350

Lunch and dinner appointments are available on request: Friday 6–9 p.m. (dinner only), or Saturday/Sunday noon–5 p.m. Prospective clients pay meal expenses, including both meals for a managing-attorney weekend consultation. Third-consultation and weekend strategy meetings cover case developments, evidence, litigation options, and preparation for hearings, mediation, trial, or settlement. Judgment-package and international-judgment consultations follow the separate rates in Judgment Enforcement & Domestication.

FAQs

How much does an uncontested divorce cost?
An agreed divorce with no children is a $999 flat fee, and with children it is $1,999. Both include up to three property transfers and attorney and paralegal time for the agreed scope. Start with $999 down; any remaining balance is due within 45 days.
What if our terms are not standard?
Flat fees assume the Texas presumptions for support, conservatorship, and possession. For different terms, including no child support or departures from the Standard Possession Order, our firm requires mediation. One hour with custom final-order provisions is $300 including both mediator fees when the mediator charges $75 per party; our fee is $150 if you pay the mediator directly.
What is the difference between a QDRO add-on and a stand-alone QDRO?
A QDRO prepared as part of your agreed divorce is $600. A stand-alone QDRO petition has a $3,000 retainer per case, billed hourly, in every Texas county. Plan-administrator fees are separate.
What happens if my spouse won't sign?
For an agreed matter where your spouse refuses the waiver, service adds $2,000 in Texas, $3,000 out of state, or at least $4,000 abroad. If no answer is filed, the default judgment has no further fees under that arrangement. If the case becomes contested, an attorney reviews the fees. A new default-divorce engagement uses the separate default retainers shown above.
Do you handle matters outside Harris and Fort Bend counties?
Yes. Outside Harris and Fort Bend, agreed matters add $250 only when a court appearance is required for prove-up. There is no extra charge for affidavit prove-ups or nuptial agreements. Default-divorce retainers are $7,500 outside those counties versus $6,000 locally; contested-divorce retainers are $10,000 outside those counties versus $7,500 locally.
Is the consultation really free?
For family-law matters, weekday in-office staff intake has no charge unless you retain the firm; if retained, the consultation time is charged against your retainer. An initial office meeting with an attorney, an evening Zoom attorney consultation, or an appeal consultation is $350. A 30-minute phone consultation is $100. Paid initial consultations are paid before scheduling.
How much does a contested case cost?
The minimum contested-divorce retainer is $7,500 in Harris and Fort Bend, with $3,750 down and card authorization for the balance. Outside those counties it is $10,000, with $5,000 down and a plan for the remaining $5,000. These are hourly retainers, not total prices. Cases involving children, custody, and property include temporary orders; the retainer may increase with the scope.
What are your hourly rates?
Michael G. Busby, Jr. bills at $600 per hour. Andrew Iwata and Elsa Soto each bill at $475 per hour. Paralegals bill $175–$270, law clerks $150, and legal assistants and office clerks $140 per hour.
What does a trial or appeal cost?
For premium new-client priority handling, the minimum bench-trial deposit is $15,000 due in full 30 days before trial. A jury trial fewer than 60 days away requires $35,000: half upfront and the balance within 5 calendar days, before an appearance is filed. Appeal briefs require at least $8,000 for up to two trial days, plus $4,000 for each additional trial day and separate court costs. Work beyond the brief is $4,000 per day, paid in advance.
What if my spouse cannot be found?
Publication cases are billed hourly statewide. Without children, the retainer is $5,000 with $2,500 down; with children or jointly owned property, it is $6,000 with $3,000 down. Credit card authorization is required for the remaining balance. The court-appointed attorney ad litem fee, estimated at $1,500–$2,000, is separate.
Can I pay over time?
Agreed flat-fee matters start with $999 down, with any balance due within 45 days. Other matters follow their listed retainer or trial-payment schedule. Financing options include installment financing subject to approval, recurring retainer payments, PayPal Pay Later, and card-based installment programs.
What does judgment collection cost?
For judgments under $50,000, fixed-fee packages require a $100 consultation. The listed writ, discovery or turnover services are $999 plus one-third of the collection. Hybrid attorney-of-record retainers start at $7,500 and increase with the judgment amount and complexity. A separate contingency option for judgments over $50,000 charges one-third of the collection plus costs, with no upfront fee. We confirm eligibility, scope and the applicable contract before engagement.
What does judgment domestication cost?
The fixed-fee option lists foreign judgment domestication at $999 for eligible judgments under $50,000. Separate hourly representation for sister-state judgments starts with a $1,000 retainer in Harris or surrounding counties, or $2,500 in other Texas counties. Foreign-country judgments require a custom quote; international consultations start at $250 per session. We confirm which arrangement applies to your matter.

Ready To Get Started?

Your exact price depends on a few questions: is the matter agreed, are children involved, is service needed, how many property transfers, and is a QDRO required? Call us or send a message and we'll give you a clear quote.

This page provides general information about typical fees and is not legal advice. Submitting a form or contacting us does not create an attorney-client relationship. Final pricing depends on the specifics of your matter.