Divorce is never easy or pleasant. It gets especially hard when spouses need to divide property and debts and define the terms of child custody and support but cannot find common ground on these matters. In such cases, the best option is to hire a lawyer who can represent you in the courtroom, defending your rights and interests.
Knowing the overall divorce price in Texas, many couples are hesitant to do that since attorneys’ involvement can raise the cost of marriage dissolution significantly. That is why they do their best to find cheap divorce lawyers in Katy, TX, not being sure about these specialists’ qualifications and expertise and the ability to ensure the best outcome in the case.
To help you in this endeavor, we prepared a list of 10 top-rated Katy divorce attorneys for your comparison and consideration.
List of Affordable Katy Divorce Attorneys
With the abundance of law firms in Texas, it is not a problem to find good divorce lawyers in Katy whose services do not cost a fortune. However, the decision should be made carefully and reasonably. So, when choosing a divorce lawyer in your location, consider the following factors:
Qualifications;
Experience;
Board certification;
Expertise in similar cases;
Approach to divorce and if it coincides with yours;
Level of comfort in communicating with them;
Affiliation with reliable and trusted Katy divorce law firms;
Fee arrangement (flat, retainer, contingency, hourly, etc.) and how it fits within your budget.
Here is the list of the top 10 best affordable divorce attorneys in Katy, Texas, from which you can choose:
After college graduation, Ms. Syed interned at the Attorney General Child Support Division to better understand family legal matters. She then moved to Dallas to complete law school at SMU Dedman School of Law. During law school, she interned and clerked at various law firms in order to obtain real life experience in criminal, family and business law. While in law school, she also worked as a student attorney at the SMU Tax Clinic in order to help working class individuals and families obtain legal services with tax law. Upon graduation and admittance to the State Bar of Texas, Ms. Syed served as general counsel for several small businesses and real estate companies. During her time as such, she regularly negotiated contracts, purchase sale agreements and sophisticated settlements. She assisted clients in strategic business and tax planning in order to avoid legal pitfalls in the futureMs. Syed believes in passioned advocacy on behalf of her clients and will do her best to obtain the best outcome for her clients. Her practice focuses on criminal and family issues.
Additionally, she is trained in mediation.As a single mother of two grown children, Robin empathizes with her clients’ challenges when facing emotionally charged issues related to children, divorce, and financial struggles. Her passion for helping people and her expertise allow her to guide clients through the legal process and make decisions that benefit their families now and in the future. Robin’s dedication to her clients is evident in her attentive and personalized approach to each case. She is adept at finding creative solutions to conflicts surrounding custody, possession and access, child support, and property division.While Robin understands that some cases require a trial, she recognizes that this may not always be the best approach for sensitive family law matters. Robin has a proven track record of successful negotiations that result in final resolutions that are beneficial to her clients and their families. She also assists clients in conducting a risk assessment as they develop their goals towards temporary and/or final resolutions.
Caitlin has a passion for litigation but also understands that often times cases are best resolved in mediation or outside of Court. When working with Caitlin, you will immediately feel at ease and comforted because she truly does care about each of her clients.
Prior to his election to the Bench, John Schmude served as the President of Schmude Law Firm, which handled hundreds of cases primarily in the area of family law and business law, including complex divorce cases, custody suits, paternity actions, modifications and enforcements. He also served as Vice President of a National Bank & Credit Union consultant firm based in Houston for nearly seven years advising financial institutions with asset sizes of more than a billion dollars.From 2017-2018, at the request of the Office of the Governor of the State of Texas, he served on a Workgroup for the Judicial Commission for Children, Youth and Families, which was established by the Texas Supreme Court in 2007. In 2016, Judge Schmude was given the prestigious Family Protector Award from the Texas Home School Coalition.Judge Schmude’s legal expertise, experience on the bench, advocacy prowess and background in the financial sector, set him apart from and above others in the field, for the handling of any complex family law matter.
Alex Hunt is a trusted family lawyer with experience in a wide range of family law matters, including complex child custody disputes, high-asset property divisions and divorces, and enforcements and modifications of existing court orders. He prides himself on providing ethical, responsive representation to all of his clients. His goal is to always ensure clients’ rights and assets are protected, while keeping costs low and stress at a minimum. Alex’s goal is to always provide client-focused representation. He is passionate about protecting important assets and rights. Clients will receive sound counsel that guides them through the legal process and helps them make important decisions throughout their case.
With 17+ years of experience, he is the founder and managing attorney at Skillern Firm PLLC. Matthew is a strong and skilled family law attorney known for his success at trial . He enjoys highly contested divorce and child custody cases where his skills in strategy and effective performance in the courtroom set him apart. Matthew believes being an effective advocate requires aggressiveness tempered with reason, logic, and compassion. Recognizing that every client and case is different, Matthew advocates the use of negotiation and mediation to resolve marital and family disputes. However, when a matter cannot be resolved through negotiation or mediation, Matthew is unafraid to take the matter to trial.Skillern Firm is a divorce and family law firm located in Houston, Texas, serving Harris and its surrounding counties. Skillern Firm is a full service family law firm for all family law related issues and cases, specializing in complex property division divorce cases and contested custody cases. Matthew and his team at Skillern Firm, treat their clients like family.
While stationed in Gulfport, Mr. Brashear handled a wide variety of matters to include but not limited to: criminal defense, general civil matters, estate planning, will drafting, constitutional law issues, contract drafting, and personal injury matters. Mr. Brashear was raised on the west side of Houston, Texas and graduated from Katy High School where he was an exceptional athlete. Since his tour in the United States Navy and completing his education, Mr. Brashear has moved back to the area and began a private practice. When Jeffrey is not working hard for his clients, you might find him out on a baseball field with his children, playing his guitar, or even fishing in Galveston Bay. Mr. Brashear is currently licensed to practice law by the Supreme Court of Texas. He is a member in good standing with the American Bar Association, The State Bar of Texas, The Texas Young Lawyers Association, The Houston Bar Association, The Houston Young Lawyers Association, and the National Associat
She is also admitted to practice in the United States Federal Court, Southern District of Texas.Today, Ms. Barker studies hard and stays up with the most current laws by taking more than double the number of required credits for continuing legal education. She is a member of the Texas State Bar College and was named a Fellow Member of the Texas State Bar College after passing the 10-year membership milestone. She is also a section member of the Family Law, Oil and Gas, and Real Estate and Probate sections of the Texas State Bar; as well as the Fort Bend Bar, Fort Bend Family Bar, and Harris County Bar.Professional Training:Fort Bend Dispute Resolution Center, Trained MediatorAreas of Practice:Family lawDivorcesModificationsSupportConservatorshipPaternityAdoptionsTerminationsWills, Estates, and ProbateGuardianship and elder lawBar Admissions:Oklahoma, 1994Texas, 1995U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas, 2015Education:Juris Doctor, University of Tulsa, Tulsa, Oklahoma, 1993BBA, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TexasProfessional Associations:Austin County Bar AssociationFellow Member of the State Bar CollegeFort Bend Bar AssociationFort Bend Family Bar AssociationHouston Bar AssociationKaty Bar AssociationHarris County Bar
Tina’s experience in the classroom working with children fueled her passion for being a voice for others, and she brings that same dedication to her legal advocacy.At South Texas College of Law Houston, Tina focused her coursework on trial and advocacy, representing the school in numerous mock trial and moot court national competitions. She was part of the team that won a first-place National Championship title at the Peter J. Johnson National Civil Rights Trial Competition and received several advocacy awards during her time in law school.Tina emphasizes respect and amicability in her cases, and her mediator’s certificate from the Frank Evans Center for Dispute Resolution underscores her commitment to successful conflict resolution. She strives to assist families in fostering healthy co-parenting relationships, rather than adopting positions that could further alienate them.
Her practice has continued to grow while maintaining a focus on family law matters, including adult disabled children, divorce and asset division, modification and enforcement of prior orders, child custody, and child support. She is also experienced in settlement negotiations, mediation, hearings and trial. Kathleen believes that no case is standard and it is her attention to the unique circumstances of each case that leads to success for her clients. A native of the Houston area, Kathleen attended Southwestern University in Georgetown, Texas, receiving a Bachelors of Arts in both Political Science and Business. While at Southwestern, she was an active member of Delta Delta Delta and Vice President of the Southwestern University Womens Lacrosse team. Currently, she is a member of the Katy Bar Association, the Houston Bar Association, Houston Young Lawyers Association, and Houston Young Professionals. Kathleen is an avid sports fan and follows the Houston Astros and Texans with enthusiasm along with her husband and two dogs.
Divorce Attorney Fees in Katy
The average attorney fees in Katy are about $300 per hour, ranging from $140 to $450 per hour. They mostly depend on the location and the lawyer’s experience. The total Katy divorce lawyer cost may be somewhere between $3,000 and $18,000.
Attorneys and law firms may offer different fee arrangements for their clients. Here are the main types of lawyer fees:
Hourly rate is the most common type of arrangement when a lawyer charges hourly for their services. The rates are determined by the region, experience, qualification, and reputation and may differ for different types of cases.
Flat fee is a fixed sum a lawyer may charge for certain types of cases, knowing the approximate time it will take to complete them. It is mostly typical in simple cases with no contested issues or if an attorney only helps with one particular service in the entire case.
Consultation fee may be charged either hourly or on a flat-fee basis. It is usually paid for a single meeting with an attorney to get legal advice.
Retainer fees are very much like a deposit paid upfront as a guarantee that the attorney’s services will be paid for. This set fee is usually calculated by multiplying the hourly rate by some number of hours expected to be spent on the case. Unfortunately, the unused money left after the case is over is not always refunded.
Contingency fees are based on the percentage of the amount the plaintiff is awarded as a result of negotiations or final judgment. While this type of arrangement is highly favored in medical malpractice and personal injury cases, it is not typical for divorces due to ethical considerations.
Additional costs are expenses a lawyer may charge for certain services not included in their fee arrangement. Therefore, it is advisable to clarify what is not part of your attorney’s hourly or flat fee from the very start.
Most often, the total payment will be set by agreement between you and your lawyer. It can include the fixed fee for the initial consultation; hourly rate for the time spent on meetings with you, negotiations with your spouse’s attorney, completing the paperwork, attending the court hearings, etc.; and additional costs for services provided by third parties like fees for notary, photocopies, postal services, etc.
So, let’s try to calculate the cost of your divorce if you decide to hire a lawyer in Katy, considering all the possible options. The following table presents approximate average prices for services that can be used in both contested and uncontested divorces:
Service
Cost
Initial consultation
$250-$300
Base lawyer’s fee (hourly fees x number of hours)
$5,000-$18,000
Additional costs
$100-$450
Katy court filing fee
$350-$400
Process service
$100-$150
Total
$5,800-$19,300
Of course, getting a divorce is expensive and will be much costlier if you decide to hire an attorney. However, there is a good alternative that can help you save your budget. If you file for divorce online, you will not need to spend so much on lawyers’ hourly fees.
You definitely need a lawyer if you have a highly contested divorce, in which you cannot agree with your spouse on some issues. In such cases, an attorney can help you to negotiate, settle the disputes in your best interests, fill in the right forms, file them in a proper way, and obtain the most advantageous outcome for you.
You are strongly recommended to hire a lawyer if:
You have a high-net-worth divorce;
Your divorce involves complex property division disputes;
You suspect that your spouse hides or lies about their assets, income, and expenses;
You require spousal support, and your spouse believes you do not;
You have children and need to settle child custody and support disputes;
Your spouse is highly uncooperative and refuses to make any settlements with you;
You have issues with establishing paternity;
You need any modifications to the previously established orders;
You are a victim of domestic violence.
If you do not have any of the listed issues, you may file for an uncontested divorce and get a cheap divorce in Katy, Texas. When you are able to reach all the agreements with your spouse, all you need to do is get the necessary forms, fill them out, file them with the court, and get your divorce decree at a minimal cost.
Compare Your Options for Divorce in Katy
Divorce Option
Description
Divorce with a Lawyer
While hiring a lawyer is a good option in contested cases, you should be ready for the possible challenges:
Discrepancy between your schedule and the lawyer’s;
Overextended procedure due to multiple disputes and hearings;
Emergence of new disputes in the process of resolving the existing ones;
Psychological strain caused by constant stress in the courtroom;
Excessive expenses on lawyers’ hourly fees.
Texas Divorce Online
A paperwork preparation service can provide you with a quick and easy way to get ready for your divorce process for an affordable price by offering:
An opportunity to complete the paperwork from the comfort of your home;
User-friendly platform with handy tips on completing a questionnaire;
A full package of case-specific forms selected and filled in by the system;
Comprehensive guidelines on how to file the documents on your own;
Affordable flat fee for the full package of forms and instructions.
Although DIY divorce may be the most attractive option due to its low cost, it can entail certain risks that you should be ready for:
Inability to find the right forms that the court will accept;
Mistakes in filing due to unawareness of laws and legal issues;
Lack of support and proper guidance on the right steps to take;
Delays and higher costs resulting from incorrectly filled out forms;
Undesired and unfair outcome in case of a single error in paperwork.
What Is the Cheapest Way to Get a Divorce in Katy?
In Texas, you have two options if you want to minimize your expenses in the divorce process. You may either look for free legal aid or resort to online divorce.
1. Free Legal Aid Services
A range of public and private organizations in the United States provide free or low-cost legal aid. Their services range from legal advice to special programs for low-income or marginalized citizens. However, to qualify for their help, you should provide some proof of indigence, disability, domestic violence, discrimination, etc.
2. Online Divorce Services
Online divorce may be an ideal option for an uncontested divorce in Katy. Such services mostly help with the preparation of documents and guidelines on the further steps. In this case, you will only need to pay some $100-$200 for a set of forms for your individual case and then file them with the court for a certain filing fee.
Erin Bensen is a relationship expert and a writer known for her articles on love and marriage. Being a paralegal, she also writes about divorce and the procedures around it. Erin regularly contributes to Modern Love Counseling and other divorce blogs, offering practical advice and support. Right now, Erin is working on her personal podcast, where she intends to discuss the complexities of relationships and help couples considering divorce.
