Filing for divorce in Texas costs roughly $350 without children and up to about $401 with children, paid to the district clerk when you submit your Original Petition for Divorce. The exact Texas divorce filing fee depends on your county and whether child-support services apply. That payment only opens the case. Service of process, certified copies, and other expenses can add several hundred dollars before the decree is signed.
What the Filing Fee Covers
The amount at the counter is a bundle, not a single charge. The largest piece is a $137 state consolidated fee that funds the judiciary, legal aid, and the statewide e-filing system.1State of Texas. Texas Local Government Code LOC GOVT 133.151 On top of that, the clerk adds a local consolidated fee, a family protection fee, and the clerk’s basic filing fee. When children are involved, a domestic relations office fee for initial child-support services is added as well.
In most large counties, a divorce without children lands around $350. With children, Harris County charges $365, while Dallas, Bexar, and Tarrant counties charge $401.2Harris County District Clerk. Fee Schedule Civil and Family3Tarrant County, TX. District Clerk Family Filing Fees Smaller or rural counties may charge a bit less. Call your local district clerk before you file to confirm the current amount.
Serving Your Spouse
Once the petition is filed, the court needs proof your spouse was officially notified. That step, called service of citation, is billed separately. A county constable typically serves the citation for around $85, though the fee varies by precinct.4Travis County, Texas. Constable Fees Private process servers generally charge $75 to $150, depending on travel and how many attempts it takes to find your spouse.
Skipping the Service Fee
If your spouse cooperates, you can avoid the service cost. Your spouse signs a Waiver of Citation in front of a notary at least one day after the petition is filed, including a current mailing address, and you file the signed waiver with the clerk. No constable or process server is needed. It’s one of the simplest ways to cut costs in an uncontested case.
Other Costs That Can Appear
Several expenses can surface as the case moves forward, especially if it becomes contested.
- Certified copies of the final decree, which banks, mortgage companies, and government agencies often require, run about $1 per page plus a $5 certification fee per document.5Harris County District Clerk. Purchase Copies
- Paying your filing fee by credit card through the state portal adds a 2.89% processing surcharge — roughly $10 on a $350 filing.6eFileTexas.Gov. E-File FAQs
- Court reporter transcripts for contested hearings are billed per page and can run into the hundreds even for short proceedings.
- Court-appointed custody evaluations in high-conflict cases commonly cost several thousand dollars, usually split between the parties.
Mediation
Texas courts can order divorcing spouses into mediation whether both sides agree to it or not.7State of Texas. Texas Family Code 6.602 A private mediator typically charges $150 to $300 per hour per party, and sessions often last a full day, with each spouse paying half. Some community organizations and courts offer reduced-cost or free mediation, so ask the clerk about local options before hiring privately.
Parenting Course
When children are involved, judges can order both parents to complete a parenting education and family stabilization course. Texas law caps the charge at $100 per person for a court-ordered course, and if you can’t afford that, the court must direct you to a free or sliding-scale program.8State of Texas. Texas Family Code FAM 105.009 Online courses approved for Texas courts often charge $25 to $65.
If You Cannot Afford the Fee
Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 145 says anyone who cannot afford court costs must be excused from paying them. Instead of paying the filing fee, you file a Statement of Inability to Afford Payment of Court Costs. The form, available from the Texas Judicial Branch website or your local district clerk, asks you to disclose monthly income, government benefits such as SNAP or SSI, bank balances, assets, and monthly expenses like rent, utilities, and childcare.9Supreme Court of Texas. Texas Rules of Civil Procedure
There is no fixed income cutoff. The court weighs the full picture of your finances, including expenses and debts, so earning above a given threshold doesn’t automatically disqualify you. If the clerk or your spouse challenges the waiver, the court holds a hearing, and the judge must issue specific findings before ordering you to begin paying costs. The waiver remains in effect until that happens.9Supreme Court of Texas. Texas Rules of Civil Procedure
How to Pay
Texas runs an official electronic filing portal at eFileTexas.gov where you upload the petition and pay the filing fee. E-filing is mandatory for attorneys in civil and family cases, but self-represented filers can still file in person at the district clerk’s office.10eFileTexas.Gov. eFileTexas.Gov – Official E-Filing System for Texas Online, you can pay by credit card or electronic check; credit card payments carry the 2.89% convenience fee.6eFileTexas.Gov. E-File FAQs If you’re requesting a waiver, select that option in the portal instead of entering payment details. Once the clerk accepts the filing, the system assigns a cause number and stamps the petition, and that file-stamped copy is your proof the case is open.
Costs After the Divorce Is Final
The filing fee you paid at the start doesn’t cover future changes. If you later need to modify custody, visitation, or child support, you’ll file a new motion in the same case. The clerk’s basic fee for a motion within an existing family case is $15, but once the state and local consolidated fees are added, the total climbs much higher and is comparable to the original filing cost in some counties.11Texas Judicial Branch. District Court Civil Filing Fees The state consolidated fee for actions beyond the original filing is $45 under the same statute that governs the initial fee.1State of Texas. Texas Local Government Code LOC GOVT 133.151 If your situation is likely to change after the divorce is final, budget for those fees in advance.