Getting divorced in Frisco?
Divorce is rarely just legal — it is your kids, your house, and your finances all at once. The lawyer you choose sets the tone for how hard or how civil it gets. Frisco divorces are filed in the Collin County family courts in McKinney, Texas imposes a 60-day waiting period before any divorce is final, and Texas is a community-property state, which shapes how everything is divided.
Frisco and the wider Collin County area have a strong family-law bar, including several attorneys who are board-certified in family law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization — a credential held by only about one percent of Texas lawyers. The attorneys below appear consistently across Super Lawyers, Avvo, and Justia, with a verifiable family-law focus. Most offer a paid or free initial consultation.
How we built this list: We reviewed legal directory listings (Justia, Avvo, Super Lawyers, Expertise.com, FindLaw, Martindale-Hubbell) along with board certifications, years in practice, and depth of Divorce work. Firms that appeared consistently across independent sources made the list. We do not accept payment for placement or write sponsored reviews. More on our methodology →
Practice focus: Divorce, child custody, support, domestic-violence matters
Founded by John J. Pfister Jr., a Frisco family lawyer with 34 years of experience, the firm focuses on divorce, custody, and domestic-violence cases for Collin County families. Listed across Justia and Avvo as a top-rated family practice.
Practice focus: Divorce, custody, and Texas family-law disputes
A Frisco family-law practice recognized on the Super Lawyers directory, helping local clients through divorce, custody, and related family matters. Listed across Super Lawyers and Justia.
Practice focus: Collaborative divorce, high-net-worth divorce, custody, prenuptial agreements
Led by Jennifer S. Hargrave, who is board-certified in family law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, the firm serves Frisco, Plano, and McKinney with a focus on collaborative and high-net-worth divorce. Hargrave holds a 10.0 Justia Lawyer Rating. Listed across Justia and the firm's website.
Practice focus: Divorce, custody, and family law
Attorney Shelby Hart is board-certified in family law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, a distinction held by roughly one percent of attorneys in the state, and represents Frisco-area families in divorce and custody matters. Listed across Avvo and Justia.
Practice focus: Divorce, custody, and complex family matters
A former judge, Scott Becker brings experience on both sides of the bench to family-law cases, an unusual perspective when negotiating or trying a divorce. He represents Frisco-area clients in divorce and custody matters. Listed across Avvo and Justia.
Practice focus: Divorce, custody, and family law
Attorney Ryan R. Bauerle holds a 10.0 Justia Lawyer Rating and is described as an experienced divorce attorney serving Frisco-area families. Listed on the Justia Lawyer Directory.
Tell us about your situation and we'll match you with vetted Divorce attorneys in Frisco. Free, confidential, no obligation.
Request Free Consultation →Match the firm to your situation and the fight ahead. A simple, agreed case is a different job than a contested one that the other side will fight hard, and the right lawyer for one is not always the right lawyer for the other. Be honest with yourself about which kind of case you have before you choose.
Ask who will actually handle your file day to day, how many cases like yours the lawyer has handled near Frisco, and exactly how the fee works. Because most firms here offer a free or low-cost first meeting, you can compare two or three before you commit — and you should.
The firms above are a starting point, not a verdict. The right lawyer for you depends on your facts, your budget, and how you want to be treated. Use these five signals to compare them.
Relevant, recent experience. “We handle everything” is a weakness, not a strength. You want a lawyer who works Divorce cases in Frisco regularly, not one who takes them occasionally between unrelated matters. Repeated, recent experience with situations like yours is the single best predictor of a good outcome.
Straight talk about your situation. A good lawyer tells you what is strong and what is weak at the first meeting, not just what you want to hear. If everything sounds easy and the outcome sounds guaranteed, be skeptical — real cases carry real risk, and an honest lawyer names it.
Communication you can live with. Most complaints about lawyers are not about losing — they are about silence. Ask who returns your calls, how fast, and whether you will reach the actual attorney or only a screener. Set that expectation before you sign, because it rarely improves later.
Fees in writing, in plain English. You should leave the first meeting knowing exactly what you will pay, what it covers, and what could cost extra. A clear written fee agreement is a sign of a well-run practice; a vague “don't worry about it” is a sign to keep looking.
Local knowledge. A lawyer who works in the Collin County family district courts in McKinney regularly knows how the process actually runs here, how local outcomes tend to break, and which resolutions are realistic. That practical knowledge is hard to fake and easy to verify — just ask.
Texas divorce has a few rules that surprise people. There is a mandatory 60-day waiting period after you file before a divorce can be finalized, so even a fully agreed case takes about two months at minimum. Texas is a no-fault state — you can divorce on grounds of “insupportability” without proving wrongdoing — though fault can still affect property or custody. And Texas is a community-property state, meaning most assets and debts acquired during the marriage are presumed to belong to both spouses and are divided in a “just and right” way, which is not always 50/50. A Frisco lawyer who practices in the Collin County courts knows how the local judges tend to handle these questions.
Divorce costs in Frisco depend almost entirely on how much you and your spouse disagree. An uncontested divorce where you agree on everything is often handled for a flat fee in the $1,500–$5,000 range. A contested divorce billed hourly — typically $250–$500 an hour in this market — commonly runs $5,000–$25,000 or more once custody, support, or significant property are fought over. Most firms ask for a retainer up front and bill against it. Ask each lawyer for a written fee agreement and an honest estimate for your situation.
Whatever the structure, get it in writing before you sign: the fee, exactly what it covers, what is billed separately, and what happens if your case becomes more complicated than expected. A good lawyer walks you through the entire agreement and answers your questions before you commit. If a fee quote feels vague or evasive, treat that as information.
Guaranteed outcomes. No ethical attorney can promise a specific result. If a firm guarantees how your Divorce case will end before reviewing the details, walk away.
The disappearing senior lawyer. You meet a name partner at intake, then never speak to them again while someone junior runs the file unsupervised. Ask in writing who your day-to-day lawyer will be.
No verifiable track record. “We've handled thousands of cases” is marketing. Real evidence is named results, peer recognition such as Super Lawyers or board certification, and a clean record with the state bar.
Pressure to sign immediately. A reputable firm gives you the engagement letter in writing and time to read it. High-pressure intake is a sign of a volume mill, not a careful practice.
Vague fee terms. “Don't worry about the cost” is a red flag. Every legitimate firm puts the fee, what it covers, and what triggers extra charges in writing.
Most firms on this list offer a free or low-cost first meeting. Use it, take notes, and compare at least two before you decide.
Tell us what is going on. We'll match you with vetted Frisco firms from the list above. Most respond within one business day.
It depends on conflict. An uncontested, agreed divorce is often a flat $1,500–$5,000. A contested case billed hourly — usually $250–$500 an hour here — commonly runs $5,000–$25,000 or more once custody, support, or property are disputed. Get a written fee agreement and an estimate for your facts.
At least about two months, because Texas requires a 60-day waiting period after filing before a divorce can be finalized. An agreed divorce can close shortly after that window; a contested one with custody or property fights can take six months to well over a year.
Not exactly. Texas is a community-property state, so most assets and debts acquired during the marriage belong to both spouses, but the court divides them in a way that is “just and right,” which can be unequal. Separate property owned before marriage or received by gift or inheritance is generally not divided.
No. Texas allows no-fault divorce on the ground of “insupportability,” meaning the marriage has broken down. You can still raise fault grounds like adultery or cruelty, and fault can affect property division or custody, but it is not required to end the marriage.
It means a lawyer has passed a rigorous exam and met experience requirements set by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, a credential held by about one percent of Texas attorneys. It is not required, but for a complex or high-conflict divorce it is a meaningful signal of depth.
Texas courts decide “conservatorship” and possession based on the best interest of the child, and often name both parents as joint managing conservators while setting a possession schedule. Local Collin County judges have their own tendencies, which is why a lawyer who practices in McKinney is useful.
No. One lawyer cannot ethically represent both spouses, because your interests can conflict. If your divorce is truly amicable, options like mediation or a collaborative process can keep costs down while each of you still gets independent advice.
Ask who will actually handle your case, whether they are board-certified, how many cases like yours they have tried in Collin County, their fee in writing, and how they communicate. Meet with at least two and pick the one who explains your options without pressure.
One last thing. Choosing a Divorce lawyer is a real decision, and the right fit can change your outcome. Talk to two or three firms before you sign, ask each how they would handle a case like yours near Frisco, and get the fee and costs in writing. — The LawFirmSquare team