This information is not legal advice. Costs vary significantly by jurisdiction, case complexity, and attorney. Consult a licensed attorney for advice specific to your situation.
Our methodologyChild Support Order Costs
Legal process to establish, modify, or enforce a court order for child financial support. Calculation is based on state-specific guidelines factoring in parental income, custody time, and child expenses. Attorney fees vary by whether the matter is contested.
Cost by Case Type
| Case Type | Estimated Cost * |
|---|---|
| Uncontested (both parties agree) | $267 – $732 |
| Contested (court required) | $1,739 – $4,756 |
| Flat Fee Arrangement (hourly equivalent) | $535 – $1,463 |
Filing fees (court costs, separate from attorney fees): $100 – $400
* Estimated based on national averages. Costs vary significantly by jurisdiction, case complexity, and attorney experience.
Cost Comparison by Location
418 locations with verified cost data
Cost Comparison — Child Support Order
Low
$669
Typical
$1,249
High
$1,829
Low
$571
Typical
$1,052
High
$1,532
Low
$568
Typical
$1,038
High
$1,509
Low
$692
Typical
$1,286
High
$1,881
Low
$668
Typical
$1,250
High
$1,833
Low
$694
Typical
$1,289
High
$1,883
Low
$894
Typical
$1,691
High
$2,488
Low
$569
Typical
$1,046
High
$1,522
Low
$511
Typical
$938
High
$1,365
Low
$696
Typical
$1,294
High
$1,892
Low
$623
Typical
$1,158
High
$1,694
Low
$679
Typical
$1,269
High
$1,859
Low
$515
Typical
$944
High
$1,372
Low
$947
Typical
$1,783
High
$2,619
Low
$730
Typical
$1,356
High
$1,982
Low
$658
Typical
$1,217
High
$1,776
Low
$488
Typical
$892
High
$1,297
Low
$591
Typical
$1,093
High
$1,594
Low
$670
Typical
$1,242
High
$1,815
Low
$612
Typical
$1,126
High
$1,641
Low
$763
Typical
$1,425
High
$2,087
Low
$643
Typical
$1,191
High
$1,740
Low
$762
Typical
$1,427
High
$2,092
Low
$759
Typical
$1,422
High
$2,084
Low
$488
Typical
$892
High
$1,297
Low
$700
Typical
$1,311
High
$1,921
Low
$726
Typical
$1,348
High
$1,970
Low
$726
Typical
$1,356
High
$1,985
Low
$841
Typical
$1,584
High
$2,327
Low
$805
Typical
$1,507
High
$2,209
Low
$567
Typical
$1,041
High
$1,514
Low
$724
Typical
$1,352
High
$1,979
Low
$541
Typical
$993
High
$1,446
Low
$599
Typical
$1,109
High
$1,618
Low
$599
Typical
$1,109
High
$1,618
Low
$666
Typical
$1,245
High
$1,823
Low
$428
Typical
$769
High
$1,110
Low
$738
Typical
$1,375
High
$2,011
Low
$705
Typical
$1,308
High
$1,911
Low
$554
Typical
$1,016
High
$1,478
Low
$834
Typical
$1,577
High
$2,320
Low
$521
Typical
$951
High
$1,382
Low
$650
Typical
$1,211
High
$1,772
Low
$713
Typical
$1,334
High
$1,955
Low
$643
Typical
$1,191
High
$1,738
Low
$797
Typical
$1,488
High
$2,179
Low
$722
Typical
$1,341
High
$1,959
Low
$509
Typical
$929
High
$1,350
Low
$883
Typical
$1,661
High
$2,439
Low
$636
Typical
$1,188
High
$1,740
Low
$668
Typical
$1,251
High
$1,834
Low
$861
Typical
$1,628
High
$2,395
Low
$621
Typical
$1,150
High
$1,680
Low
$626
Typical
$1,153
High
$1,680
Low
$834
Typical
$1,570
High
$2,307
Low
$547
Typical
$1,007
High
$1,467
Low
$739
Typical
$1,378
High
$2,017
Low
$669
Typical
$1,243
High
$1,816
Low
$631
Typical
$1,169
High
$1,708
Low
$516
Typical
$945
High
$1,374
Low
$706
Typical
$1,322
High
$1,938
Low
$692
Typical
$1,283
High
$1,875
Low
$429
Typical
$772
High
$1,115
Low
$626
Typical
$1,153
High
$1,680
Low
$648
Typical
$1,202
High
$1,755
Low
$793
Typical
$1,489
High
$2,186
Low
$596
Typical
$1,103
High
$1,610
Low
$648
Typical
$1,203
High
$1,757
Low
$789
Typical
$1,477
High
$2,166
Low
$844
Typical
$1,589
High
$2,334
Low
$584
Typical
$1,074
High
$1,565
Low
$513
Typical
$937
High
$1,361
Low
$593
Typical
$1,097
High
$1,601
Low
$569
Typical
$1,048
High
$1,526
Low
$643
Typical
$1,190
High
$1,736
Low
$673
Typical
$1,257
High
$1,841
Low
$686
Typical
$1,274
High
$1,863
Low
$691
Typical
$1,283
High
$1,876
Low
$581
Typical
$1,075
High
$1,569
Low
$581
Typical
$1,070
High
$1,559
Low
$584
Typical
$1,075
High
$1,566
Low
$680
Typical
$1,274
High
$1,867
Low
$826
Typical
$1,554
High
$2,283
Low
$686
Typical
$1,281
High
$1,876
Low
$707
Typical
$1,313
High
$1,919
Low
$661
Typical
$1,238
High
$1,815
Low
$763
Typical
$1,425
High
$2,087
Low
$685
Typical
$1,281
High
$1,878
Low
$679
Typical
$1,271
High
$1,862
Low
$545
Typical
$1,002
High
$1,460
Low
$717
Typical
$1,338
High
$1,958
Low
$674
Typical
$1,261
High
$1,848
Low
$495
Typical
$905
High
$1,316
Low
$950
Typical
$1,802
High
$2,655
Low
$717
Typical
$1,338
High
$1,958
Low
$726
Typical
$1,348
High
$1,970
Low
$532
Typical
$974
High
$1,416
Low
$654
Typical
$1,210
High
$1,766
Low
$476
Typical
$870
High
$1,265
Low
$926
Typical
$1,757
High
$2,588
Low
$507
Typical
$928
High
$1,349
Low
$620
Typical
$1,152
High
$1,685
Low
$650
Typical
$1,204
High
$1,759
Low
$594
Typical
$1,097
High
$1,600
Low
$794
Typical
$1,494
High
$2,195
Low
$665
Typical
$1,243
High
$1,820
Low
$511
Typical
$933
High
$1,355
Low
$848
Typical
$1,603
High
$2,359
Low
$633
Typical
$1,177
High
$1,721
Low
$691
Typical
$1,282
High
$1,873
Low
$591
Typical
$1,093
High
$1,595
Low
$714
Typical
$1,328
High
$1,941
Low
$649
Typical
$1,209
High
$1,769
Low
$523
Typical
$960
High
$1,397
Low
$613
Typical
$1,135
High
$1,658
Low
$559
Typical
$1,029
High
$1,499
Low
$672
Typical
$1,246
High
$1,820
Low
$607
Typical
$1,122
High
$1,638
Low
$538
Typical
$991
High
$1,444
Low
$722
Typical
$1,346
High
$1,971
Low
$587
Typical
$1,083
High
$1,580
Low
$694
Typical
$1,289
High
$1,884
Low
$824
Typical
$1,537
High
$2,250
Low
$526
Typical
$967
High
$1,409
Low
$598
Typical
$1,106
High
$1,613
Low
$763
Typical
$1,425
High
$2,087
Low
$852
Typical
$1,604
High
$2,356
Low
$698
Typical
$1,302
High
$1,906
Low
$737
Typical
$1,380
High
$2,023
Low
$763
Typical
$1,425
High
$2,087
Low
$762
Typical
$1,426
High
$2,091
Low
$692
Typical
$1,283
High
$1,875
Low
$852
Typical
$1,611
High
$2,370
Low
$589
Typical
$1,092
High
$1,594
Low
$619
Typical
$1,153
High
$1,687
Low
$504
Typical
$924
High
$1,344
Low
$655
Typical
$1,217
High
$1,778
Low
$623
Typical
$1,153
High
$1,682
Low
$589
Typical
$1,094
High
$1,598
Low
$573
Typical
$1,052
High
$1,531
Low
$687
Typical
$1,277
High
$1,866
Low
$596
Typical
$1,101
High
$1,605
Low
$618
Typical
$1,146
High
$1,674
Low
$578
Typical
$1,065
High
$1,552
Low
$506
Typical
$924
High
$1,342
Low
$725
Typical
$1,358
High
$1,991
Low
$503
Typical
$924
High
$1,345
Low
$847
Typical
$1,596
High
$2,344
Low
$687
Typical
$1,277
High
$1,867
Low
$759
Typical
$1,425
High
$2,092
Low
$849
Typical
$1,597
High
$2,345
Low
$492
Typical
$899
High
$1,306
Low
$722
Typical
$1,346
High
$1,971
Low
$684
Typical
$1,269
High
$1,855
Low
$824
Typical
$1,537
High
$2,250
Low
$589
Typical
$1,092
High
$1,595
Low
$618
Typical
$1,146
High
$1,674
Low
$608
Typical
$1,120
High
$1,632
Low
$801
Typical
$1,494
High
$2,186
Low
$525
Typical
$966
High
$1,406
Low
$507
Typical
$931
High
$1,355
Low
$730
Typical
$1,363
High
$1,997
Low
$428
Typical
$769
High
$1,111
Low
$502
Typical
$918
High
$1,334
Low
$654
Typical
$1,210
High
$1,767
Low
$617
Typical
$1,143
High
$1,668
Low
$762
Typical
$1,426
High
$2,091
Low
$646
Typical
$1,194
High
$1,743
Low
$618
Typical
$1,143
High
$1,668
Low
$580
Typical
$1,062
High
$1,545
Low
$531
Typical
$972
High
$1,413
Low
$947
Typical
$1,783
High
$2,619
Low
$500
Typical
$914
High
$1,327
Low
$558
Typical
$1,032
High
$1,506
Low
$718
Typical
$1,339
High
$1,960
Low
$613
Typical
$1,137
High
$1,660
Low
$600
Typical
$1,108
High
$1,616
Low
$572
Typical
$1,058
High
$1,543
Low
$864
Typical
$1,619
High
$2,373
Low
$573
Typical
$1,061
High
$1,548
Low
$598
Typical
$1,112
High
$1,626
Low
$526
Typical
$967
High
$1,409
Low
$557
Typical
$1,031
High
$1,504
Low
$618
Typical
$1,144
High
$1,670
Low
$734
Typical
$1,375
High
$2,015
Low
$686
Typical
$1,274
High
$1,863
Low
$602
Typical
$1,113
High
$1,624
Low
$715
Typical
$1,331
High
$1,948
Low
$564
Typical
$1,030
High
$1,497
Low
$674
Typical
$1,260
High
$1,845
Low
$564
Typical
$1,043
High
$1,522
Low
$904
Typical
$1,710
High
$2,516
Low
$604
Typical
$1,117
High
$1,630
Low
$587
Typical
$1,085
High
$1,583
Low
$604
Typical
$1,116
High
$1,628
Low
$520
Typical
$954
High
$1,389
Low
$512
Typical
$939
High
$1,367
Low
$630
Typical
$1,169
High
$1,707
Low
$701
Typical
$1,308
High
$1,914
Low
$684
Typical
$1,272
High
$1,860
Low
$619
Typical
$1,146
High
$1,672
Low
$644
Typical
$1,202
High
$1,761
Low
$538
Typical
$987
High
$1,437
Low
$684
Typical
$1,269
High
$1,855
Low
$619
Typical
$1,150
High
$1,681
Low
$536
Typical
$989
High
$1,441
Low
$596
Typical
$1,103
High
$1,610
Low
$557
Typical
$1,022
High
$1,486
Low
$524
Typical
$957
High
$1,390
Low
$549
Typical
$1,010
High
$1,471
Low
$533
Typical
$976
High
$1,420
Low
$547
Typical
$1,006
High
$1,466
Low
$687
Typical
$1,280
High
$1,873
Low
$947
Typical
$1,783
High
$2,619
Low
$662
Typical
$1,237
High
$1,812
Low
$697
Typical
$1,298
High
$1,899
Low
$947
Typical
$1,783
High
$2,619
Low
$596
Typical
$1,094
High
$1,593
Low
$525
Typical
$959
High
$1,393
Low
$676
Typical
$1,262
High
$1,849
Low
$715
Typical
$1,342
High
$1,970
Low
$675
Typical
$1,263
High
$1,851
Low
$859
Typical
$1,617
High
$2,375
Low
$623
Typical
$1,150
High
$1,678
Low
$588
Typical
$1,078
High
$1,569
Low
$695
Typical
$1,287
High
$1,879
Low
$619
Typical
$1,149
High
$1,679
Low
$635
Typical
$1,181
High
$1,727
Low
$544
Typical
$1,001
High
$1,458
Low
$770
Typical
$1,442
High
$2,115
Low
$736
Typical
$1,374
High
$2,013
Low
$636
Typical
$1,187
High
$1,739
Low
$690
Typical
$1,280
High
$1,871
Low
$601
Typical
$1,112
High
$1,623
Low
$692
Typical
$1,283
High
$1,875
Low
$824
Typical
$1,537
High
$2,250
Low
$652
Typical
$1,206
High
$1,761
Low
$709
Typical
$1,324
High
$1,939
Low
$620
Typical
$1,146
High
$1,672
Low
$732
Typical
$1,361
High
$1,990
Low
$698
Typical
$1,298
High
$1,899
Low
$562
Typical
$1,026
High
$1,491
Low
$571
Typical
$1,048
High
$1,524
Low
$650
Typical
$1,202
High
$1,755
Low
$500
Typical
$915
High
$1,329
Low
$868
Typical
$1,635
High
$2,401
Low
$498
Typical
$915
High
$1,331
Low
$592
Typical
$1,086
High
$1,581
Low
$509
Typical
$931
High
$1,353
Low
$452
Typical
$812
High
$1,173
Low
$754
Typical
$1,405
High
$2,056
Low
$569
Typical
$1,053
High
$1,536
Low
$628
Typical
$1,162
High
$1,696
Low
$603
Typical
$1,116
High
$1,629
Low
$581
Typical
$1,070
High
$1,559
Low
$939
Typical
$1,767
High
$2,596
Low
$745
Typical
$1,389
High
$2,034
Low
$695
Typical
$1,287
High
$1,879
Low
$628
Typical
$1,162
High
$1,696
Low
$582
Typical
$1,066
High
$1,551
Low
$682
Typical
$1,266
High
$1,851
Low
$599
Typical
$1,110
High
$1,621
Low
$658
Typical
$1,218
High
$1,779
Low
$864
Typical
$1,625
High
$2,387
Low
$768
Typical
$1,438
High
$2,109
Low
$830
Typical
$1,561
High
$2,293
Low
$596
Typical
$1,094
High
$1,593
Low
$552
Typical
$1,013
High
$1,475
Low
$1,011
Typical
$1,912
High
$2,812
Low
$898
Typical
$1,698
High
$2,499
Low
$864
Typical
$1,619
High
$2,373
Low
$824
Typical
$1,549
High
$2,274
Low
$784
Typical
$1,471
High
$2,159
Low
$666
Typical
$1,234
High
$1,803
Low
$714
Typical
$1,330
High
$1,947
Low
$830
Typical
$1,561
High
$2,293
Low
$964
Typical
$1,815
High
$2,667
Low
$688
Typical
$1,282
High
$1,877
Low
$779
Typical
$1,459
High
$2,139
Low
$695
Typical
$1,298
High
$1,901
Low
$719
Typical
$1,339
High
$1,959
Low
$612
Typical
$1,126
High
$1,641
Low
$624
Typical
$1,150
High
$1,677
Low
$564
Typical
$1,040
High
$1,516
Low
$740
Typical
$1,379
High
$2,018
Low
$535
Typical
$980
High
$1,425
Low
$680
Typical
$1,262
High
$1,845
Low
$732
Typical
$1,365
High
$1,998
Low
$595
Typical
$1,099
High
$1,603
Low
$500
Typical
$913
High
$1,326
Low
$922
Typical
$1,736
High
$2,549
Low
$722
Typical
$1,346
High
$1,971
Low
$703
Typical
$1,310
High
$1,917
Low
$421
Typical
$758
High
$1,094
Low
$696
Typical
$1,294
High
$1,893
Low
$706
Typical
$1,316
High
$1,926
Low
$695
Typical
$1,301
High
$1,907
Low
$714
Typical
$1,327
High
$1,941
Low
$692
Typical
$1,283
High
$1,875
Low
$492
Typical
$905
High
$1,318
Low
$659
Typical
$1,225
High
$1,792
Low
$700
Typical
$1,307
High
$1,914
Low
$763
Typical
$1,425
High
$2,087
Low
$581
Typical
$1,076
High
$1,571
Low
$724
Typical
$1,349
High
$1,975
Low
$717
Typical
$1,331
High
$1,944
Low
$599
Typical
$1,098
High
$1,598
Low
$824
Typical
$1,549
High
$2,274
Low
$703
Typical
$1,311
High
$1,918
Low
$629
Typical
$1,169
High
$1,709
Low
$614
Typical
$1,134
High
$1,655
Low
$654
Typical
$1,212
High
$1,769
Low
$531
Typical
$976
High
$1,420
Low
$676
Typical
$1,256
High
$1,837
Low
$840
Typical
$1,581
High
$2,322
Low
$689
Typical
$1,279
High
$1,869
Low
$810
Typical
$1,522
High
$2,235
Low
$783
Typical
$1,470
High
$2,157
Low
$888
Typical
$1,671
High
$2,455
Low
$749
Typical
$1,406
High
$2,064
Low
$634
Typical
$1,179
High
$1,724
Low
$871
Typical
$1,648
High
$2,424
Low
$702
Typical
$1,314
High
$1,926
Low
$586
Typical
$1,086
High
$1,586
Low
$890
Typical
$1,675
High
$2,460
Low
$593
Typical
$1,096
High
$1,600
Low
$732
Typical
$1,361
High
$1,990
Low
$705
Typical
$1,308
High
$1,912
Low
$909
Typical
$1,712
High
$2,515
Low
$736
Typical
$1,379
High
$2,022
Low
$722
Typical
$1,346
High
$1,969
Low
$684
Typical
$1,278
High
$1,872
Low
$701
Typical
$1,309
High
$1,918
Low
$888
Typical
$1,671
High
$2,455
Low
$933
Typical
$1,757
High
$2,581
Low
$964
Typical
$1,815
High
$2,667
Low
$921
Typical
$1,734
High
$2,547
Low
$906
Typical
$1,705
High
$2,505
Low
$947
Typical
$1,783
High
$2,619
Low
$907
Typical
$1,708
High
$2,509
Low
$917
Typical
$1,726
High
$2,535
Low
$589
Typical
$1,081
High
$1,573
Low
$899
Typical
$1,692
High
$2,486
Low
$726
Typical
$1,358
High
$1,990
Low
$651
Typical
$1,211
High
$1,771
Low
$793
Typical
$1,478
High
$2,163
Low
$602
Typical
$1,111
High
$1,621
Low
$694
Typical
$1,296
High
$1,898
Low
$505
Typical
$928
High
$1,350
Low
$598
Typical
$1,109
High
$1,619
Low
$501
Typical
$918
High
$1,335
Low
$515
Typical
$946
High
$1,377
Low
$600
Typical
$1,109
High
$1,618
Low
$620
Typical
$1,142
High
$1,665
Low
$596
Typical
$1,094
High
$1,593
Low
$689
Typical
$1,279
High
$1,869
Low
$565
Typical
$1,040
High
$1,516
Low
$717
Typical
$1,335
High
$1,953
Low
$576
Typical
$1,065
High
$1,554
Low
$554
Typical
$1,019
High
$1,484
Low
$707
Typical
$1,323
High
$1,939
Low
$707
Typical
$1,320
High
$1,933
Low
$612
Typical
$1,138
High
$1,664
Low
$697
Typical
$1,298
High
$1,900
Low
$561
Typical
$1,039
High
$1,516
Low
$618
Typical
$1,143
High
$1,668
Low
$673
Typical
$1,252
High
$1,831
Low
$729
Typical
$1,369
High
$2,009
Low
$876
Typical
$1,650
High
$2,424
Low
$546
Typical
$1,005
High
$1,465
Low
$860
Typical
$1,626
High
$2,392
Low
$793
Typical
$1,478
High
$2,163
Low
$678
Typical
$1,264
High
$1,851
Low
$728
Typical
$1,358
High
$1,988
Low
$652
Typical
$1,206
High
$1,761
Low
$567
Typical
$1,049
High
$1,530
Low
$622
Typical
$1,161
High
$1,701
Low
$740
Typical
$1,382
High
$2,025
Low
$560
Typical
$1,030
High
$1,500
Low
$609
Typical
$1,132
High
$1,654
Low
$792
Typical
$1,484
High
$2,176
Low
$649
Typical
$1,204
High
$1,758
Low
$557
Typical
$1,026
High
$1,496
Low
$498
Typical
$911
High
$1,323
Low
$682
Typical
$1,274
High
$1,866
Low
$716
Typical
$1,334
High
$1,953
Low
$832
Typical
$1,574
High
$2,316
Low
$905
Typical
$1,703
High
$2,502
Low
$620
Typical
$1,142
High
$1,665
Low
$737
Typical
$1,380
High
$2,024
Low
$800
Typical
$1,502
High
$2,205
Low
$784
Typical
$1,471
High
$2,159
Low
$833
Typical
$1,568
High
$2,303
Low
$685
Typical
$1,279
High
$1,874
Low
$824
Typical
$1,549
High
$2,274
Low
$714
Typical
$1,330
High
$1,947
Low
$883
Typical
$1,661
High
$2,439
Low
$505
Typical
$925
High
$1,345
Low
$787
Typical
$1,489
High
$2,191
Low
$593
Typical
$1,095
High
$1,598
Low
$742
Typical
$1,382
High
$2,022
Low
$484
Typical
$870
High
$1,257
Low
$427
Typical
$769
High
$1,110
Low
$610
Typical
$1,133
High
$1,657
Low
$662
Typical
$1,237
High
$1,812
Low
$643
Typical
$1,195
High
$1,748
Low
$974
Typical
$1,848
High
$2,722
Low
$642
Typical
$1,190
High
$1,738
Low
$772
Typical
$1,449
High
$2,126
Low
$613
Typical
$1,136
High
$1,659
Low
$640
Typical
$1,182
High
$1,725
Low
$755
Typical
$1,409
High
$2,063
Low
$672
Typical
$1,246
High
$1,821
Low
$682
Typical
$1,271
High
$1,860
Low
$668
Typical
$1,242
High
$1,817
Low
$535
Typical
$984
High
$1,434
Low
$869
Typical
$1,637
High
$2,404
Low
$621
Typical
$1,152
High
$1,682
What Drives the Cost
About Child Support Order Costs
Child support order costs in Texas vary significantly based on case complexity, attorney experience, and whether the matter is contested or uncontested. The range reflects differences in how much legal work is required, court processing times, and local market conditions. Uncontested cases with straightforward income documentation typically fall toward the lower end, while contested disputes involving custody complications, income disputes, or multiple modifications can reach the higher end of the spectrum.
Questions to Ask Your Attorney
- 1Does your fee structure use an hourly rate, flat fee, or retainer arrangement, and what is included in each?
- 2What are the total estimated filing fees and court costs I should expect to pay separately?
- 3Will discovery costs, document preparation, or expert witness fees be billed separately from your attorney fees?
- 4How do you handle case modifications or enforcement actions if circumstances change after the order is established?
- 5What is your experience with contested versus uncontested child support cases in this specific Texas county?
- 6Do you require a retainer upfront, and how is it applied to the final bill?
- 7Are there any additional administrative or research costs beyond your hourly rate or flat fee?
- 8How will you communicate cost updates if the case becomes more complex than initially estimated?
- 9Do you offer payment plans or alternative fee arrangements for clients with budget constraints?
- 10What happens if the case goes to trial—how does that affect your total fee estimate?