As the largest city in Texas, Houston is home to one of the busiest family court systems in the state, with Harris County family district courts handling a steady volume of divorce, custody, and support cases every year. Choosing an attorney who knows this specific court system – and, ideally, holds the state’s Board Certification in Family Law, a distinction fewer than 1% of Texas attorneys carry – can shape how smoothly a family law matter resolves.
- 1. KGK Family Law, PLLC
- 2. Ramos Law Group, PLLC
- 3. Diggs & Sadler
- 4. Skillern Firm
- 5. The Alsandor Law Firm
- 6. Busby & Associates
- 7. Fullenweider Wilhite
- 8. The Bayley Law Firm
- 9. The Rudisel Law Firm, P.C.
- 10. Hunt Law Firm, PLLC
- Understanding Houston, TX Family Law Court Procedures
- Houston, TX Family Law Resources
- About This List
Below is a look at ten Houston-area family law firms, along with what’s publicly documented about each.
1. KGK Family Law, PLLC

- Attorneys: Yasmin Kutty, Denise Khoury (Founding Partners)
- Headquarters: 7700 San Felipe, Suite 505, Houston, TX 77063
- Phone: (281) 598-6520
- Website: kgkfamilylaw.com
- Practice Areas: Divorce, Child Custody, Child Support, Property Division, LGBTQ+ Family Law, Military Divorce, High-Asset Divorce, Prenuptial & Postnuptial Agreements
- Firm Size: Boutique, with additional offices in Stafford/Sugar Land and a satellite office in Austin
About the Firm: KGK Family Law is led by Yasmin Kutty and Denise Khoury, who bring more than four decades of combined family law experience to clients throughout Houston, Sugar Land, and Fort Bend County. Kutty is board-certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, a credential held by fewer than 1% of Texas attorneys, and Khoury brings additional depth in international family law and collaborative divorce matters. The firm handles the full range of Texas family law issues, with particular focus areas in military family law, LGBTQ+ family matters, and high-net-worth divorce involving business valuations and complex marital estates.
2. Ramos Law Group, PLLC

- Attorney: Mary E. Ramos (Founder)
- Founded: 2004
- Headquarters: 1214 Miramar Street, Houston, TX 77006
- Phone: (713) 225-6200
- Website: ramosfamilylaw.com
- Practice Areas: Divorce, Child Custody, Child Support, Property Division, Adoption, Spousal Maintenance
- Firm Size: Mid-size, with additional offices in Sugar Land, The Woodlands, and Fort Worth
About the Firm: Mary Ramos, a U.S. Navy veteran, founded her firm in 2004 and has since built it into a Board Certified Family Law practice recognized among Houston’s top lawyers by H Texas Magazine for several consecutive years. The firm holds an Expertise.com award for Best Divorce Lawyers in Houston and a 10.0 Avvo rating, and it handles high-asset property division and complex custody disputes alongside more routine divorce and adoption matters. Ramos has expanded the practice from its Houston roots to serve clients in The Woodlands, Austin, Dallas, San Antonio, and Fort Worth, while keeping attorney fees a stated priority alongside case outcomes.
3. Diggs & Sadler

- Attorneys: Cindy Diggs (Founder), Judith Batson Sadler (Managing Partner), Tesha Peeples, Rachel Sedita
- Headquarters: 5300 Memorial Drive, Suite 900, Houston, TX 77007
- Phone: (713) 766-5355
- Website: texasadvocates.com
- Practice Areas: Divorce, Child Custody, International Divorce, Asset Division, LGBTQ+ Family Law, Marital Agreements
- Firm Size: Mid-size (10 attorneys)
About the Firm: Cindy Diggs has practiced family law in Texas for more than 35 years and holds Board Certification in both Family Law and Civil Trial Law, and she’s been named a Super Lawyer every year since 2009. The firm’s attorneys have more than 125 years of combined experience and include fellows of the International Academy of Family Lawyers, giving the practice particular depth in complex international divorce and Hague Convention cases. Diggs & Sadler describes its approach as preparation-focused, with attorneys who clerked for the judiciary early in their careers and regularly handle contested hearings, depositions, mediation, and appeals.
4. Skillern Firm

- Attorneys: Matthew Skillern (Founder & Managing Attorney), Caitlin Thorpe, Robin Klein
- Headquarters: 701 North Post Oak Road, Suite 600, Houston, TX 77024
- Phone: (713) 229-8855
- Website: skillernfirm.com
- Practice Areas: Divorce, Child Custody, LGBTQ+ Divorce, Property & Asset Division, Premarital Agreements, Adoption, Paternity
- Firm Size: Mid-size, with additional offices in Katy and Sugar Land
About the Firm: Matthew Skillern founded his firm with a focus exclusively on divorce and child custody matters, and three of the firm’s attorneys – along with one paralegal – are Board Certified in Family Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. The firm reports more than 160 years of combined attorney experience and has been recognized by Best Lawyers, Avvo, Super Lawyers, and Houston’s Top Lawyer, among other honors. Skillern’s practice spans standard divorce and custody work as well as more specialized matters like same-sex divorce and custody modifications, and the firm offers 24/7 online case access for clients balancing a case with work and family obligations.
5. The Alsandor Law Firm

- Attorney: Cheryl Alsandor (Founder)
- In Practice: Since 1998 (25+ years)
- Headquarters: 1402 Alabama Street, Houston, TX 77004
- Phone: (713) 661-9783
- Website: alsandorlaw.com
- Practice Areas: Divorce, Property Division, Child Custody, Child Support, Paternity, Adoption, Domestic Violence
- Firm Size: Boutique
About the Firm: Cheryl Alsandor earned her J.D. from the University of Houston Law Center in 1998 and has built her boutique practice around both simple and complex divorce cases involving business interests, retirement accounts, and real estate. She’s board certified in family law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization and has been named a Texas Super Lawyer, and she serves as a director of the Houston Bar Association’s Family Law Section. Before practicing law, Alsandor spent four years teaching elementary school in the Houston and Fort Bend Independent School Districts, an experience she says continues to inform how she communicates with clients and their children through a difficult family transition.
6. Busby & Associates

- Attorney: Michael G. Busby, Jr. (Founder)
- Founded: 2002
- Headquarters: 6100 Corporate Drive, Suite 190, Houston, TX 77036
- Phone: (713) 974-1151
- Website: busby-lee.com
- Practice Areas: Divorce, Child Support, Interstate Custody & Support, Judgment Collection, Bankruptcy
- Firm Size: Boutique
About the Firm: Michael Busby is Board Certified in Family Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization and has tried more than 400 cases over more than 25 years practicing in Harris and Fort Bend County family courts. A former U.S. Marine Corps Field Artillery Cannoneer, Busby built his firm around a dual focus on family law and bankruptcy, reflecting how often financial stress and divorce intersect for clients. The firm carries an A+ rating from Expertise.com for reputation and professionalism, and it handles both contested and uncontested divorces along with interstate custody and support enforcement matters.
7. Fullenweider Wilhite

- Attorneys: Randall B. Wilhite (Founder), Michael C. Childs, Susan F. McLerran, Katie A. Custer, Ellie P. Natenberg, Grady Reiff, Stephen F. Post
- Founded: 2008
- Headquarters: 515 Post Oak Boulevard, Suite 800, Houston, TX 77027
- Phone: (713) 624-4100
- Website: fullenweider.com
- Practice Areas: Divorce, Complex Asset Division, Property Settlements, Child Custody, Spousal Support, Premarital & Postmarital Agreements
- Firm Size: Mid-to-large, with a second office in Austin
About the Firm: Randall Wilhite and the late Donn Fullenweider, a State Bar of Texas “Hall of Legends” honoree admitted to the bar in 1958, founded their firm in 2008 to focus exclusively on family law. Seven of the firm’s attorneys are Board Certified in Family Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, and the firm reports more than 200 years of combined attorney experience. Fullenweider Wilhite has built a particular reputation for cases involving substantial assets and business holdings, where family law issues intersect with accounting and business valuation questions, and it has been named a Martindale-Hubbell Top Rated Law Firm.
8. The Bayley Law Firm

- Attorney: Andrew Bayley (Founder)
- In Practice: Since 2010
- Headquarters: 1225 North Loop West, Suite 325, Houston, TX 77008
- Phone: (713) 383-8887
- Website: bayleylawhouston.com
- Practice Areas: Divorce, High-Net-Worth Divorce, Child Custody, Property Division, Prenuptial Agreements, Adoption
- Firm Size: Boutique
About the Firm: Andrew Bayley earned Board Certification in Family Law from the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in 2019 and has appeared before nearly every sitting district court judge in Harris County and surrounding areas, along with arguing cases before the First and Fourteenth Courts of Appeals. His firm was named among Expertise.com’s Best Divorce Lawyers in Houston, and it handles both amicable, mediation-based resolutions and more contested courtroom litigation depending on what a case requires. Bayley describes his approach as combining a level head with aggressive advocacy when needed, drawing on an extensive business background from working in his family’s small business before entering law.
9. The Rudisel Law Firm, P.C.

- Attorney: Shawn M. Rudisel (Founder)
- Founded: 2008
- Headquarters: 1415 North Loop West, Suite 910, Houston, TX 77008
- Phone: (713) 781-7775
- Website: houstondivorcesource.com
- Practice Areas: Divorce, Child Custody, Prenuptial Agreements, International Adoption, Property Division
- Firm Size: Solo practice
About the Firm: Shawn Rudisel founded his Houston firm in 2008 and is board-certified in family law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, focusing his trial practice exclusively on divorce and family law matters. He also serves as a mediator for other Houston family law attorneys’ cases and recommends that divorcing couples attempt mediation before heading to court whenever possible. Having gone through his own divorce, Rudisel says he brings a personal understanding of the process to his client relationships, and the firm offers flexible weekend appointments alongside its standard weekday hours.
10. Hunt Law Firm, PLLC

- Attorney: Alex Hunt (Founder & Principal)
- Founded: 2013
- Headquarters: 23212 Red River Drive, Katy, TX 77494 (serving Greater Houston)
- Phone: (832) 781-0320
- Website: familylawyerkaty.com
- Practice Areas: Divorce, Child Custody & Support, High-Asset Divorce, LGBTQ+ Family Law, Domestic Violence, Paternity, Adoption, Estate Planning
- Firm Size: Mid-size (11–50 employees), with offices in Katy, Cypress, Sugar Land, and League City
About the Firm: Alex Hunt founded his firm in 2013 after graduating cum laude from the University of Houston Law Center, and he’s since been recognized as a Super Lawyers Rising Star for eight consecutive years before being named to the full Super Lawyers list. He holds a Child Welfare Law Specialist certification from the National Association of Counsel for Children and serves as an adjunct professor at the University of Houston Law Center, giving him added depth in cases touching child welfare and custody disputes. With four offices spanning Katy, Cypress, Sugar Land, and League City, the firm has built a reputation for serving families across the wider Houston metro area rather than concentrating solely on the downtown core, and it emphasizes using current case-management technology to keep clients informed throughout their case.
Understanding Houston, TX Family Law Court Procedures
Navigating the family court system in Houston requires familiarity with Harris County’s specialized legal framework. Family law matters—including divorce, child custody, and support – are handled by dedicated Family District Courts located in downtown Houston.
- Filing and Service: A case begins when an attorney files an Original Petition with the Harris County District Clerk. The opposing party must then be formally served and given a statutory deadline (typically 20 days plus the following Monday) to file an answer.
- Temporary Orders Hearings: Because litigation takes time, judges frequently hold temporary hearings early on to establish immediate rules regarding child custody, use of property, and temporary financial support.
- Mandatory Discovery: Both sides exchange financial documents, tax returns, and asset details through formal discovery tools like interrogatories and requests for production.
- Mediation: Harris County judges heavily favor alternative dispute resolution. Most courts require parties to attempt mediation before a final trial date can be set.
- Trial or Final Order: If mediation fails, the case proceeds to a bench trial (or occasionally a jury trial) where a judge makes definitive rulings on all remaining disputes.
Houston, TX Family Law Resources
- Harris County Family Law Courts: 201 Caroline Street / 1115 Congress Avenue, Houston, TX – where most Harris County divorce, custody, and support cases are filed and heard.
- Harris County District Clerk: – case lookup, court dates, and filings for Harris County family law cases.
- Texas State Law Library – Family Law Self-Help: – forms, guides, and general information on Texas divorce and custody procedures.
- State Bar of Texas – Find a Lawyer: – verify an attorney’s license status, Board Certification, and disciplinary history.
- Texas Office of the Attorney General – Child Support Division: Handles the establishment, modification, and enforcement of Texas child support orders.
- Houston Bar Association – Lawyer Referral Service: Connects Harris County residents with vetted family law attorneys and offers reduced-fee initial consultations.
About This List
The attorneys listed here represent a selection of family law practices serving Houston, Texas. Details including office locations, phone numbers, and background information are based on publicly available data verified at the time of publication, including each firm’s own website and legal directory listings. Inclusion on this list does not constitute an endorsement or ranking of legal quality. If you’re facing a family law matter, verify current licensing and Board Certification status through the State Bar of Texas and schedule consultations with more than one firm before deciding who to hire. This article is for general informational purposes and is not legal advice.
FAQs
1. How much does a family law attorney cost in Houston, TX?
Costs vary based on whether a case is contested or uncontested and how complex the property or custody issues are. Most Houston firms offer a free initial consultation, and it’s worth asking directly about fee structure, since some firms offer flat fees for simpler matters.
2. What does it mean if a Texas attorney is “Board Certified” in family law?
Board Certification is a credential granted by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization to attorneys who complete additional training and pass a specialty exam in family law, and it’s held by fewer than 1% of Texas attorneys. Several firms on this list have one or more Board Certified attorneys on staff.
3. Where are family law cases filed in Houston?
Most Houston family law cases are filed and heard in the Harris County family district courts, with several courts located at 201 Caroline Street and 1115 Congress Avenue in downtown Houston.
4. Is Texas a community property state?
Yes – Texas is a community property state, meaning most property and debt acquired during a marriage is generally considered jointly owned and subject to a “just and right” division upon divorce, though this doesn’t necessarily mean an even 50/50 split. Separate property owned before the marriage or received individually as a gift or inheritance is generally not divided.
5. How long does a divorce take in Texas?
Texas imposes a mandatory 60-day waiting period from the date a divorce petition is filed before a divorce can be finalized, though contested cases involving custody or property disputes often take significantly longer. An uncontested divorce where both spouses agree on all terms can sometimes be finalized shortly after the waiting period ends.
Disclaimer: This guide is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice or an attorney referral. It is not a ranked or sponsored list, and inclusion does not imply an endorsement by, or affiliation with, any named firm beyond what is stated. Attorney credentials, case results, and contact details change over time; confirm current information directly with each firm before making a hiring decision. Past results described here do not guarantee similar outcomes in any other case.



