Legal Question in Family Law in Texas

It depends on your particular county. When you file your petition, you will pay a filing fee that runs from around $275-350. Then you have a couple options for service. You can have your spouse served with process. That can be done through the sheriff or constable in the county. You'll pay $8 for citation to be issued, which is a formal document that must accompany a copy of the petition that is served. Then you pay for the actual service, which is usually around $70-80. If the process server cannot find your spouse, then multiple attempts may be necessary and that can add cost.

If you know where your spouse is and your spouse is agreeable then you can ask your spouse to sign a waiver of service before a notary. The waiver of service only costs the price of printing the document and the notary (assuming you are doing this yourself). Then you file the waiver with the court and you do not need to have your spouse served. If your spouse will not sign the waiver then you must serve him or her.