Finding an Attorney
Civilian
- The Lawyer Referral Service at the State Bar of Texas can help you find a Texas attorney with expertise relevant to your situation. The Lawyer Referral Service can be reached by phone at 1-(800) 252-9690, or 1-877-9TEXBAR, M – F, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (toll free).
- www.texaslawhelp.org: One-stop, online resource for free and low-cost civil legal assistance in Texas. Learn about your rights, self-help resources for legal problems, and where to find legal aid.
Military
- Stateside Legal – Legal help for military members, veterans, and their families.
- Texas Lawyers for Texas Veterans – Texas Lawyers for Texas Veterans is a State Bar of Texas program to develop and assist pro bono legal clinics throughout the state for military veterans who otherwise cannot afford or do not have access to the legal services they need.
Questions to ask an Attorney
Before you hire a family law attorney, take the time to interview several attorneys. Write down your questions before you contact them so you can compare their answers later. Hiring an attorney is an important step that creates an attorney-client relationship. Here are some suggested questions:
- Do you specialize in family law? What is your goal when working with families? Will you help me win my case without harming the co-parenting or parent-child relationship?
- How many family cases have you handled? Over how many years?
- What is your track record in mediation and in court?
- What types of cases do you usually take on, and what types of cases do you think are priorities?
- Do you see my case as particularly unique, and — specifically — what expertise can you bring to my case?
- Do you truly have the time to take on my case at this point and give it your full attention?
- Will you update me about my case—weekly or monthly, and will I be charged every time?
- How can I contact you when I have questions or concerns, and what is your preferred method of communication (phone, e-mail, fax, or text)?
- Do you encourage mediation when possible?
- What percentage of your cases have you settled out of court, and what percentage have gone on to trial?
- Can you estimate the total cost upfront? If I settle in mediation, what will it cost versus going to trial?
- What factors could potentially influence that estimation?
- What do you expect of me, as the client?
- What can I expect from you as my lawyer?
Questions to ask an Attorney if you are in the Military
- How many cases have you done with military family care plans and temporary possession orders for military members?
- How many military family law cases have you handled that involve one or more states or other countries?
If you are worried about your safety, please see our Safety Concerns FAQ
Local Legal Aid Offices
East Texas (Houston, Waco, Bryan, and surrounding areas)
Lone Star Legal Aid, Inc.
- Location 1
414 East Pillar Street
Nacogdoches, TX 75961 - Location 2
1415 Fannin #300
Houston, TX 77002 - Phone: 1-800-733-8394
- www.lonestarlegal.org
Central and South Texas (Austin, San Antonio, and the Rio Grande Valley from El Paso to Brownsville)
Texas RioGrande Legal Aid, Inc.
300 South Texas
Weslaco, TX 78596
1-(888) 988-9996
www.trla.org
North and West Texas (Dallas, Amarillo, Lubbock, and surrounding areas)
Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas, Inc.
- Main Office
1515 Main Street
Dallas, TX 75201 - Phone
1-(888) 529-5277 - www.lanwt.org
Lawyer Referral Resources
State of Texas
State Bar of Texas Lawyer Referral
Phone: 1 (800)-252-9690
Online: Online Attorney Referral
Austin, Texas
Lawyer Referral Service of Central Texas,
founded by the Austin Bar Association
Phone: 1-(512) 472-8303
Online: Austin Lawyer Referral Service
Dallas, Texas
Dallas Bar Association Lawyer Referral
Phone: 1-(214) 220-7444
Online: Lawyer Referral Service
Houston, Texas
Houston Lawyer Referral Service
Phone: 1-(800) 289-4577
Online: Houston Lawyer Referral Service
San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio Bar Association Lawyer Referral
Phone: 1-(210) 227-1853
Online: Lawyer Referral Service