Houston Family Law Attorney -
Board Certified. Houston-Rooted.
Divorce. Custody. Property division.
When your family is at stake, you want a lawyer who has done this thousands of times - and who knows the judges, the courthouses, and the rules of every county across Greater Houston.
Texas Board of Legal Specialization - Family Law
Gulf Coast Family Law Specialists
19+ Years
in Practice
Serving Harris · Fort Bend · Brazoria · Galveston counties
Why Kuehm Family Law
A Houston Family Law Firm Built on Three Generations of Practice
For nearly a quarter-century, the Kuehm name has stood for family law in Houston. Rob Kuehm grew up in the practice – starting as a paralegal for his father, Robert C. Kuehm, in 2000, then earning his J.D. from South Texas College of Law in 2006 and his own license to practice in 2007.
In 2019, Rob earned Board Certification in Family Law from the Texas Board of Legal Specialization – a credential held by fewer than 10% of Texas family lawyers. It signals deep, demonstrated expertise across the full spectrum of family law: contested divorce, complex property division, custody trials, modifications, enforcements, paternity, adoption, and termination of parental rights.
Today, Kuehm Family Law serves clients across Harris, Fort Bend, Brazoria, and Galveston counties – handling everything from amicable mediated divorces to high-conflict custody trials.
If you’re reading this page, you’re probably facing one of the hardest decisions of your life. We won’t pretend that hiring the right lawyer fixes everything. But the right lawyer – one who knows Texas family law, knows the Houston courts, and treats your case like it actually matters – changes the trajectory of what comes next. That’s what we do.
Practice Areas
Family Law Practice Areas We Handle in Houston
Contested and uncontested divorce throughout Greater Houston. Whether you’re filing first, you’ve just been served, or your spouse has been threatening for years, we’ll walk you through your real options – including paths that don’t involve a contested trial. Texas is a community property state, a no-fault state with fault grounds, and a state with a mandatory 60-day waiting period. Strategy starts before the petition is filed.
What Board Certification Actually Means for Your Case
In Texas, fewer than 1 in 10 family law attorneys are Board Certified. To earn the designation, an attorney must:
- Practice for at least five years with substantial involvement in family law
- Document a high volume of contested family law cases – including trials, depositions, and final hearings
- Receive peer references from judges and opposing counsel who know their work
- Pass a rigorous full-day written exam covering Texas family law
For you, that means your lawyer has been independently vetted by the Texas Supreme Court’s specialization board – not just self-described as a family lawyer.
Why it matters in practice:
- Board Certified attorneys are statistically more likely to try cases. When the other side knows your lawyer has been in real trials, they tend to settle more reasonably.
- Board Certification requires demonstrated competence across the full breadth of family law – not just divorce, or just custody, but everything from prenups through adoptions through complex property tracing.
- Texas judges and opposing counsel recognize the credential. It’s a quiet shorthand for “this lawyer knows what they’re doing.”
For Rob, the certification was a natural extension of decades inside this practice. For your case, it’s an objective signal you can rely on.
How We Work
What to Expect When You Hire
Kuehm Family Law
Step 1
Confidential
Consultation
We listen first. You leave understanding your options, the likely timeline, and what your case will realistically cost – not a sales pitch. Everything you tell us is privileged whether or not you hire the firm.
Step 2
Strategy Tailored to
Your Goals
Step 3
Engagement &
Retainer
Step 4
Investigation &
Preparation
Step 5
Negotiation, Mediation,
or Trial
Step 6
Final Orders &
Post-Decree Support
Texas Family Law Basics
Texas Family Law: What Every Houston Client Should Know
Texas family law has its own vocabulary and its own rules. A few things every Houston client encounters:
- Texas is a community property state. Almost everything earned or acquired during marriage belongs to the marital estate, regardless of which name is on the title. The court divides it in a way that is "just and right" - which is often, but not always, 50/50.
- Texas is a no-fault state with fault grounds. You can file for divorce without alleging fault (insupportability), but fault grounds - adultery, cruelty, abandonment, felony conviction - still affect property division and spousal maintenance.
- The 60-day waiting period applies to every divorce. From the day you file the Original Petition for Divorce, you cannot get a final decree for at least 60 days. The vast majority of divorces take much longer.
- The Texas Standard Possession Order presumptively applies to children age 3 and older. It's the default schedule for non-primary parents: 1st/3rd/5th weekends, Thursday evenings, alternating major holidays, 30 days in summer.
- Texas child support is percentage-based and capped. Guideline support is 20%/25%/30% of net resources for 1/2/3 children, applied up to a statutory cap that adjusts periodically. Above-guideline support is possible but requires proof of the child's needs.
- Texas spousal maintenance is restrictive. Most marriages must last 10+ years for court-ordered maintenance, and the amount is capped at the lesser of $5,000/month or 20% of the obligor's gross income. Contractual alimony (by agreement) has no cap.
- Mediation is usually required before trial. Most Texas family courts require parties to attempt mediation before allowing a contested final hearing. A signed Mediated Settlement Agreement is binding and irrevocable - once you sign, the case is over.
Houston Family Courts We Practice In
The Houston-Area Family Courts We Know
- Harris County - 245th, 247th, 257th, 280th, 308th, 309th, 310th, 311th, 312th District Courts, plus associate judges. Family Law Center at 1115 Congress Street, downtown Houston. The highest-volume family law docket in Texas.
- Brazoria County - 300th and 328th District Courts. County Courthouse in Angleton, serving Pearland, Alvin, Lake Jackson, and the south Houston suburbs.
- Fort Bend County - 387th and 505th District Courts. Justice Center in Richmond. Suburban Houston's fastest-growing family docket, with significant high-asset cases reflecting Sugar Land and Missouri City demographics.
- Galveston County - 306th, 405th, and 122nd District Courts. Galveston County Courthouse plus Texas City facility. Coastal communities including Galveston, League City, Friendswood, and Texas City.
Every court has its own judges, its own local rules, its own preferred mediators, and its own pace.
The right strategy in Harris County is sometimes wrong in Fort Bend, and vice versa.
Fees & What Family Law Actually Costs
What Family Law Cases Actually Cost in Houston
We talk about money openly because most clients are anxious about it – and the lawyers who avoid the conversation usually charge the most.
Initial consultation. A confidential consultation lets us understand your situation and explain your options. Pricing depends on the case type – we discuss it openly when you call.
Retainers and hourly billing. Most Texas family law representation works on a retainer + hourly billing model. The retainer is a security deposit; we bill against it at an agreed hourly rate. Total cost depends on how complex and contested the case becomes.
Typical case ranges (rough, every case is different):
- Uncontested divorce, no kids, no significant assets: Low four figures total
- Uncontested divorce with kids and/or modest assets: Mid four figures total
- Contested divorce with children: $10,000–$40,000 typical, more in high-conflict cases
- High-asset / complex property divorce: $30,000–$100,000+ depending on issues
- Custody modification: $5,000–$15,000+ depending on contestedness
- Stepparent adoption (cooperative): Low to mid four figures
- Stepparent adoption (contested termination): $8,000–$25,000+
What drives cost up: A spouse who refuses to negotiate; high-conflict custody; significant separate property tracing; business valuation; multiple experts; depositions; trial.
What keeps cost down: Realistic goals; willingness to compromise on minor issues; honest cooperation in discovery; choosing mediation or collaborative process when appropriate; not using your lawyer as a therapist (we charge in 6-minute increments – therapists are better for some calls and cheaper).
We discuss fee structures openly at the initial consultation. You’ll leave with a real sense of what your case is likely to cost – not a vague answer.
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The Difference Local Experience Makes
Why Houston Family Law Is Different
Texas family law is the same across the state's 254 counties - but local practice isn't. A few examples of why hiring a Houston-rooted attorney matters:
A lawyer who learned the system in Houston, has practiced here for nearly 20 years, and tries cases in these specific courthouses every month brings a kind of knowledge that doesn't transfer from elsewhere.
How much does a Houston family law attorney cost?
Most Houston family law attorneys charge an upfront retainer (commonly $3,500–$10,000+) and bill against it at an hourly rate. Total cost depends on whether the case settles quickly, requires mediation, or goes to trial. We discuss fee structures openly at the initial consultation.
Do I have to go to court for my divorce in Texas?
No. The majority of Texas divorces resolve through mediation or negotiated settlement without a contested trial. You'll likely appear briefly at a "prove up" hearing to finalize. We pursue the path that serves your goals - but we prepare every case as if it will be tried.
What counties does Kuehm Family Law practice in?
We regularly handle cases in Harris County, Fort Bend County, Brazoria County, and Galveston County - including the family courts in downtown Houston, Richmond, Angleton, Galveston, and Texas City.
Is the first consultation free?
We offer a confidential consultation to understand your situation and explain your options. Call (713) 714-8880 or use the contact form to schedule. Everything you tell us is privileged whether or not you hire the firm.
What's the difference between a regular family law attorney and a Board Certified one?
Board Certification by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization requires years of contested case experience, peer review by judges, and passage of a full-day written exam. It's an external, objective credential - only about 10% of Texas family lawyers hold it.
How long does a Texas divorce take?
Texas law requires a 60-day waiting period from filing to final decree. Most contested divorces take 6–12 months. High-conflict cases with a trial can take 12–24 months. Uncontested divorces can be finalized shortly after the 60-day waiting period.
Can my spouse stop me from getting divorced?
No. Once you file and serve your spouse, the divorce proceeds whether they participate or not. A spouse can drag out the case by being difficult, but they cannot prevent a divorce from being granted.
What should I do before I file for divorce?
Talk to a lawyer first - before you do anything irreversible. Common pre-filing mistakes: moving out of the marital home, opening separate accounts in ways that damage your case, talking to your spouse about your strategy, posting about the situation on social media. A 30-minute consultation can save you months of damage.
Can I represent myself in a Texas family law case?
You can. For an uncontested no-kids, no-assets divorce, it's reasonable. For anything contested - and especially anything involving children, business interests, or significant property - representing yourself is generally a serious mistake. The other side will likely have a lawyer, and Texas family law procedure is unforgiving.
What if my situation involves family violence?
Tell us at the consultation. Texas family courts have specific procedures for cases involving family violence, including emergency protective orders, exclusive use of the residence, and supervised possession. These cases require a different procedural approach from the start.
Do you handle cases for fathers? For mothers?
Yes - both. Texas law explicitly prohibits gender-based bias in custody decisions. We represent fathers, mothers, husbands, wives, and grandparents based on the facts of the case.
What if I live outside Houston but my case is here?
We represent out-of-state and out-of-county clients all the time. Most meetings can be handled by phone or video. We appear in person at all required court hearings.
Talk to a Board Certified Houston Family Lawyer Today
You don’t need to know what you want to do. You just need to know your options. Call (713) 861-6166 or schedule a confidential consultation – we’ll help you figure out the right next step.
The first conversation is private, judgment-free, and obligation-free. Whether your situation is urgent or you’re months out from making any decisions, the right time to understand your legal position is before you act – not after.
