Some couples don’t need months of legal warfare to end their marriage. If you and your spouse mostly agree it’s over and want the same thing — out — you can get divorced faster and cheaper than you think. And you don’t have to agree on every last detail to start: most of these cases are almost uncontested, with a few open items we help you close.
In Texas, the clean version of this is an agreed (uncontested) divorce — both spouses sign off, and no one goes to war over it. We call our version no-nonsense: efficient legal work to end the marriage and move on. This isn’t about saving your marriage or working through problems; it’s about ending it cleanly when you both want the same outcome.
What Makes This Different
Skip the court battles. No depositions, no discovery fights, no trial prep. You file papers, wait the required 60 days, and you’re done.
Save thousands. Travis County uncontested divorces typically cost $2,500-$4,500 total (including attorney fees and court costs). Compare that to $15,000-$50,000 for a contested case.
Get it done fast. Most uncontested divorces in Travis, Williamson, and Hays Counties wrap up in 60-90 days. The only delay is Texas law requiring a 60-day waiting period after filing.
Keep your business private. No public testimony about your personal problems. Your agreement stays between you, your lawyers, and the file.
The No-Nonsense Guide: a divorce that starts 80% done
We don’t ask what you want your divorce to say. We show you what usually works — and you tell us where you’re different.
A blank form is the hardest place to begin, because it asks you to know answers you’ve never had reason to think about. So our No-Nonsense Guide doesn’t begin there. It starts with the decisions most Texas couples in your situation already make — drafted for you in plain language, using defaults the firm has refined over 25+ years. You look it over, keep what fits, and change the parts that are truly yours. The question stops being “what do you want your decree to say?” and becomes something far easier to answer: “does this look right?”
How it works, in three steps:
- Tell us about you both — about ten minutes. Names, dates, the basics the court needs to file. The moment you finish this part, your attorney can start drafting your petition. You don’t wait for the rest.
- Review your plan, not a blank form. We’ve drafted the standard decisions using the firm’s defaults. Each section shows where you stand — settled, still deciding, or needs a conversation — so you always know what’s left.
- Edit the parts that are yours. Change what doesn’t fit, use the built-in tools for the bigger calls, and flag anything you’d rather leave to your attorney. Your answers flow straight into your documents — nothing re-typed, nothing lost.
What that gets you:
- Drafted, not blank. Roughly 80% of an agreed Texas divorce looks about the same. Those answers are built in as your starting point, so you’re editing at the hardest moment of your year — not starting from scratch.
- “I’m not sure” is a real answer. Every decision lets you defer: flag it for your attorney, come back later, or leave it for the conversation. You never have to know everything to keep moving.
- Tools for the decisions that matter. A possession-schedule chooser that suggests an arrangement based on your kids’ ages, a holiday splitter, an asset allocator, a geographic-restriction map — so you see what each choice means instead of guessing at a paragraph.
- It saves as you go. Stop mid-thought, close the laptop, pick it up on your phone next week. Nothing is lost, and you never start over.
- Plain language, not legalese. “Possession schedule” and “geographic restriction” read like decisions a real person can make.
- Private by default. Everything goes to your attorneys at the firm. Your spouse sees none of it unless you choose to share it.
Why it’s different from the cheap divorce sites: form mills hand you the same blank state forms you could download yourself, then leave you alone with them. The Guide is the front door to a real law firm’s document engine — the same system Cristi uses to draft your decree. The answers you give become your actual documents. You get a law firm’s process, without a law firm’s hourly bill for the routine 80%.
Who This Works For
You might be a good fit for an agreed, almost-uncontested divorce if:
- Both of you want the divorce
- You can discuss money and kids without screaming matches
- Neither spouse is hiding assets or income
- You don’t have complex business interests or retirement plans
- Any kids involved will primarily live with one parent (and the other parent agrees)
This process works well for couples married less than 10 years with straightforward finances. It also works for longer marriages where spouses have already mentally divided everything up.
The Streamlined Process
Week 1: We draft your petition and settlement agreement. You review everything, make changes, and sign.
Week 2: File with Travis County (or Williamson/Hays if you live there). Serve papers on your spouse.
Weeks 3-8: Your spouse signs the waiver of service and final papers. We handle all the paperwork shuffling.
Week 9-10: Submit final decree to the judge. Get your signed divorce decree.
What you handle: Gathering financial documents (bank statements, pay stubs, tax returns). Making decisions about who gets what.
What we handle: All legal paperwork, court filings, and ensuring everything meets Texas requirements.
The Hard Truth About “Agreeing”
Even uncontested divorces require decisions about:
- Property division: Who keeps the house, retirement accounts, debts
- Spousal support: Whether anyone pays maintenance and for how long
- Child custody: Where kids live and how you make decisions
- Child support: Monthly payment amount and who covers health insurance
You don’t have to agree on everything from day one. But you do need to be able to reach agreements through discussion, not litigation.
Travis County Specifics
Travis County moves faster than most Texas counties for uncontested cases. The family courts here see these agreements regularly and process them efficiently.
Required residency: One spouse must live in Travis County for 90 days before filing.
Filing location: Travis County Civil and Family Courts Facility at 1700 Guadalupe Street in downtown Austin.
Average processing time: 60-75 days from filing to final decree.
Williamson and Hays Counties have similar timelines but slightly different local procedures.
When This Won’t Work
Don’t try uncontested divorce if:
- Your spouse won’t cooperate or sign papers
- Either of you wants to fight over custody or money
- One spouse is hiding assets or lying about finances
- There’s domestic violence in the relationship
- Business valuations or complex retirement benefits are involved
In these cases, you need contested divorce representation or collaborative divorce to work through disagreements.
Cost Breakdown
Our fee for uncontested divorce: $2,500
- Includes all paperwork preparation and filing
- Covers court appearances if needed
- Handles communication with your spouse’s attorney
Court costs: $350-$400 (Travis County filing fees)
Your spouse’s attorney: $1,500-$2,500 (if they hire one)
Total cost for both spouses: Usually $4,500-$5,500
Compare this to contested divorce costs of $15,000-$50,000 per person.
FAQs About Fast, Affordable Divorce
How much does an uncontested divorce cost in Austin?
$2,500 for attorney fees plus $350-$400 in court costs. If your spouse hires an attorney, add another $1,500-$2,500. Total for both spouses typically runs $4,500-$5,500.
Do we have to go to court for an uncontested divorce?
Usually no. Texas allows most uncontested divorces to be granted without a court hearing. In rare cases, a judge might want to ask questions about your child custody arrangement.
How long does an uncontested divorce take in Austin?
60-90 days. Texas requires a 60-day waiting period after filing. After that, it typically takes another 2-4 weeks to get your final decree signed by a judge.
Can I file for divorce without a lawyer?
Legally, yes. Practically, it’s risky. One mistake in your paperwork can delay your case for months or create problems later. Most people find the $2,500 attorney fee worth the peace of mind.
What if we can’t agree on everything?
Then uncontested divorce won’t work. You’ll need either contested divorce representation if you’re headed for a fight, or collaborative divorce if you want to work through disagreements with professional help.
Do we need to divide everything 50/50?
No. Texas is a “just and right” division state. You can agree to any split that makes sense for your situation. The key is that you both agree to it.
Next Steps
Ready to get this done efficiently? Here’s what happens next:
Initial consultation: An hour with Cristi ($250, first hour prepaid) to confirm an agreed divorce fits your situation and map the steps. If it is not the right path, she will tell you and point you to the one that is.
Document preparation: Within one week, we’ll have your petition and settlement agreement ready for review.
Filing and follow-through: We handle all court filings and paperwork processing until you get your final decree.
Most uncontested divorces are straightforward. The consultation call helps us spot any potential complications before they become problems.
Schedule a consult to discuss your timeline and get this process started. If uncontested divorce isn’t right for your situation, we’ll explain your other options and help you choose the best path forward.