Family Law Attorneys in Waco, TX

Waco families going through divorce, custody disputes, or support changes will have their cases heard in McLennan County. A Texas-licensed family law attorney serving Waco will review your circumstances at no cost.

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How we match your Waco family law case

When you submit a Waco family law matter, we route it through a national network of independent partner firms and put it in front of the one that fits best — based on the kind of case it is, what it is likely to involve, where it has to be handled, and who has capacity to take it on now.

Case type

A family law matter needs someone who handles family law work day to day, not a generalist. Practice area is the first filter.

Size and complexity

Some firms are built for catastrophic injury and multi-party litigation; others resolve straightforward claims quickly. We weigh what your matter is likely to involve against how each firm actually works.

Jurisdiction and licensing

Your matter is decided under Texas law, so it goes to an attorney licensed in Texas who regularly appears where your case would be heard.

Capacity and fit

Availability, conflicts of interest and language all matter. If the best-fit firm cannot take your case, we route it to the next one that can — or tell you plainly when no one in the network is the right answer.

Every partner reviews your case for free. Injury and workers’ compensation matters are handled on contingency — no fee unless you win. Other matters are quoted upfront, before you commit to anything.

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Family Law cases in Waco

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Waco families move between neighborhoods, school districts, and jobs along the I-35 corridor, and Baylor University and the region's hospitals and plants draw people here from across Texas and out of state. Divorce, custody, and support cases for residents are heard in the district courts in McLennan County, which handle family matters in Texas. Local judges expect parenting plans that work with real school calendars and commutes to Temple, Dallas, or Austin. Residency and service requirements often decide where a case can start. DearLegal matches you with a Texas-licensed attorney who handles family law cases in Waco, with a free review.

Divorce, custody, and support cases for Waco residents are filed in the McLennan County District Courts.
Texas has residency requirements for the state and the county before a divorce can be filed here.
Families split between Waco and nearby Bell, Falls, Hill, or Limestone counties often argue over which county is the proper venue for a custody case.

Texas family law rules at a glance

Waco cases run under Texas law. The full walkthrough — timeline, when to call, case types, and what a recovery can include — is on the Texas page.

Read the full Texas family law guide →

Residency Requirement: 6 months
6 months in Texas, 90 days in county (Tex. Fam. Code § 6.301); 60-day cooling-off period
Property Division System: Community Property
Community Property — just and right division (Tex. Fam. Code §§ 3.002, 7.001)
Custody Standard: Conservatorship
Conservatorship — joint managing conservatorship presumed (Tex. Fam. Code § 153.131)
Child Support Guidelines: 20%
Percentage of Obligor Income — 20% one child, 25% two, 30% three, 35% four, 40% five+ (Tex. Fam. Code § 154.125); capped at $9,200/mo net income (2019)
Spousal Support Framework: 20%
Spousal maintenance under Tex. Fam. Code Chapter 8 — strict eligibility, capped at $5,000/mo or 20% of payor income; duration limited (5/7/10 years based on marriage length)
Typical attorney fee: Hourly
Hourly / Flat Fee

Exhibit D

How much do Waco family law attorneys cost?

Typical fee schedule

Texas · Family Law

Fee modelHourly / Flat Fee

Feequoted per petition or matter

Filing costsitemized upfront

Case reviewFree

Illustrative only. Your fee terms are set in a written agreement with your attorney and may include costs and expenses regardless of outcome.

Family Law matters in Texas are usually a flat fee per filing — quoted before you commit, not billed by the hour.

Family law cases in Texas are not handled on contingency. Texas Disciplinary Rule of Professional Conduct 1.04(e) — patterned on ABA Model Rule 1.5(d) — prohibits contingent fees in any matter where the fee is contingent on securing a divorce or on the amount of alimony, support, or property settlement. Texas family law attorneys charge hourly (billed against a retainer) or a flat fee for uncontested matters. Courts may award fees under Tex. Fam. Code §§ 6.708 and 106.002.

A good attorney walks through every number at your free consultation — before you sign anything.

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Exhibit F

Waco family law questions, answered

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Divorce and custody cases are heard in the district courts of McLennan County, which handle family matters in Texas. Filing generally requires that you have lived in the state and in the county long enough to meet the residency rules. An attorney can confirm whether you qualify to file here now.

Texas courts decide conservatorship and possession based on the child's best interest, weighing stability, each parent's involvement, the child's school and community ties, and any history of violence or substance abuse. Practical details matter locally, including school calendars and the distance between homes if one parent commutes toward Temple, Austin, or Dallas.

Texas does impose a waiting period between filing and finalizing most divorces, and contested cases usually take considerably longer than the minimum. Because timelines and deadlines vary with the county's docket and the issues in dispute, ask a Texas attorney what to expect in McLennan County for your case.

At minimum, 60 days from filing — Texas’s cooling-off period under Tex. Fam. Code § 6.702. Uncontested divorces typically finalize at or shortly after 60 days. Contested cases generally take 6–12 months, longer in busy metros like Harris (Houston), Dallas, and Bexar (San Antonio) counties.

Yes. Insupportability is the primary no-fault ground under Tex. Fam. Code § 6.001 — discord or conflict of personalities that destroys the legitimate ends of marriage. Texas also recognizes 6 fault grounds: cruelty, adultery, conviction of a felony, abandonment for 1+ year, living apart for 3+ years, and confinement in a mental hospital for 3+ years.