How Our Fees Work

Worrying about legal fees can keep people in New Braunfels and Comal County from getting advice they need, sometimes until a problem has grown harder and more expensive to fix. We want the cost of hiring a family law attorney to be something you understand before you commit. This page explains, in general terms, how our fees work for divorce, custody, support, other family law matters and guardianship.

Every case is different, so we do not publish set prices here. Instead, we explain the options and give you specific numbers in your free consultation and in a written fee agreement.

Start With a Free Consultation

Your first consultation is free. It can be by phone, by video, or in person, and it can be in English or Spanish. In that meeting we will:

• Listen to what is happening and what you want to achieve.
• Explain how Texas law applies to your situation.
• Tell you whether the matter looks suitable for a flat fee or needs a retainer.
• Give you a realistic sense of the work involved and what drives cost.

There is no obligation to hire us. Some people leave the consultation knowing they can handle the next step themselves, and that is a good result too.

Flat Fees for Predictable Matters

When the scope of work is predictable, we offer a flat fee. You pay one agreed amount for a defined set of services, and you know the cost in advance.

Flat fees are often a good fit for matters such as:

• Uncontested divorces where both spouses agree on all issues.
• Agreed modifications of custody or support orders.
• Many adult name changes and agreed stepparent adoptions.
• Drafting or reviewing certain agreements, such as a premarital agreement.

What a flat fee includes

Your written agreement spells out exactly what the flat fee covers. Typically it includes the legal work needed to complete the defined task, such as preparing documents, communicating with you, and attending a short final hearing if one is needed.

What a flat fee usually does not include

• Court filing fees and service of process costs, which are paid to the clerk or a process server.
• Work outside the agreed scope, such as a trial if the other side stops agreeing.
• Third-party costs, like appraisals or a mediator’s fee.

If something changes, we talk with you before doing extra work.

Retainers and Hourly Billing for Contested Cases

Contested cases are harder to predict. A contested divorce, a custody dispute or a contested guardianship may resolve after one mediation, or it may require discovery, temporary orders hearings and a trial. Because the work depends on choices the other side makes, these cases are usually handled with a retainer and hourly billing.

How a retainer works

• At the start, you deposit a retainer into a trust account.
• As we work on your case, time is billed at the hourly rates stated in your agreement and paid from the retainer.
• You receive regular statements showing the work done, who did it, and how much time it took.
• If the retainer runs low, your agreement explains when and how it is replenished.
• Any unused portion of the retainer at the end of the case is refunded as your agreement provides.

What affects the cost of a contested case

The total cost of a contested family case is driven mainly by how much work is needed. Factors include:

• How many issues are disputed: children, property, support, or all three.
• How complex the finances are, such as a business, real estate or retirement plans. See high-asset divorce.
• How much discovery is needed.
• Whether experts are needed, such as appraisers or counselors.
• Whether temporary orders hearings are required.
• How willing each side is to negotiate.
• Whether the case goes to final trial.

Our cost of divorce page goes deeper into these factors.

Ways to Keep Costs Under Control

You have more influence over your legal costs than you might expect. A few practical habits help:

• Get organized. Gather tax returns, pay stubs, account statements and existing orders. Our divorce checklist can help.
• Group your questions. One email with five questions is more efficient than five separate calls.
• Choose your battles. Fighting over low-value personal property can cost more than the property is worth.
• Consider mediation. Many Comal County cases settle in mediation, which often costs less than trial.
• Be candid. Surprises late in a case are expensive. Tell us the hard facts early.

Costs Paid to Others

Some costs are not legal fees and go to third parties:

Filing fees change from time to time, so check the current fee schedule with the district clerk. If you cannot afford court costs, Texas has a procedure for filing a statement of inability to afford payment of court costs, and we can talk about whether it applies.

Guardianship Fees

Guardianship cases have some unique costs, such as the physician’s certificate of medical examination, a court-appointed attorney ad litem for the proposed ward, and a bond. In many cases, some costs can be paid from the ward’s estate with court approval. See cost of guardianship.

Everything in Writing

Before we begin, you receive a written fee agreement. It states the type of fee, the scope of the work, what is and is not included, how billing works, and how either side can end the relationship. Read it, ask questions, and sign only when you are comfortable.

Talk With a New Braunfels Family Law Attorney About Fees

If cost is part of what is holding you back, call New Braunfels Family Law at (830) 302-4071. We serve New Braunfels, Comal County and the surrounding counties, and your consultation is free. Hablamos español.

Last reviewed November 13, 2026. General information only, not legal advice.