Collin County Divorce Lawyer

Russell A. Steindam Courts Building in McKinney, where Collin County divorce cases are heard

By Jill Coil, Founder and Family Law Attorney, State Bar of Texas

Quick answer: Collin County divorces are filed with the District Clerk at the Russell A. Steindam Courts Building, 2100 Bloomdale Road in McKinney, and heard by the county’s district courts. One spouse must have lived in Texas six months and in Collin County 90 days before filing, and Texas requires a 60-day waiting period before a divorce is final. CoilLaw represents families in Plano, Frisco, McKinney, Allen, and across the county.

Collin County is one of the wealthiest and fastest-growing counties in Texas, and its divorce cases reflect that: corporate relocations, executive compensation, stock awards, and homes that appreciated sharply during the boom. A Collin County divorce lawyer has to be as comfortable with a vesting schedule as with a possession calendar. CoilLaw represents families throughout the county in divorce, custody, support, and property division under the Texas Family Code. For the full metro picture, see our Dallas divorce lawyer page.

Filing for Divorce in Collin County

Where it is filed. The Collin County District Clerk is at the Russell A. Steindam Courts Building, 2100 Bloomdale Road, McKinney, TX 75071. Filing is done electronically in nearly all cases.
Who hears it. Collin County’s district courts carry the family docket, and your case is assigned at filing and stays there.
Residency. Six months in Texas and 90 days in Collin County before the petition is filed.
The waiting period. Sixty days minimum from filing to final decree, agreed or not.
Standing orders. Collin County applies standing orders that take effect at filing and restrict what either spouse may do with money, property, and the children while the case is pending.

To talk through a Collin County filing, call 469-552-5992.

What Makes Collin County Cases Different

Two patterns come up here more than almost anywhere else in the Metroplex.

Equity compensation. Plano and Frisco are headquarters country, and a great many households hold restricted stock units, options, or deferred compensation. Whether a grant is community or separate property often turns on when it was awarded and when it vests, and getting that characterization right can be worth more than every other issue in the case combined.

Relocation. Families move to Collin County for a job, and sometimes the marriage ends before either spouse has put down roots. That raises residency questions at filing and geographic-restriction questions in the custody order, both of which are better addressed early than argued later.

Family Law Services in Collin County

Contested and uncontested divorce.
Child custody and conservatorship, including geographic restrictions tied to the Collin County school districts.
Child support under the Texas guidelines, including cases where income is variable or bonus-driven.
Property division covering homes, retirement accounts, equity awards, and business interests.
High-net-worth divorce. See our Dallas high-net-worth divorce practice.
Modifications and enforcement of existing Collin County orders.
Mediation and collaborative divorce, which keep sensitive financial detail out of the public record.

Cities We Serve in Collin County

Plano · Frisco · McKinney · Richardson · Allen

Neighboring counties: Dallas · Denton · Rockwall · Tarrant

Why Collin County Families Choose CoilLaw

Family law is the only thing our firm does. From our Dallas office in the Crescent we represent families across Collin County, and we are comfortable in cases where the financial picture is genuinely complicated, working with valuation and forensic professionals when a case calls for one.

We are candid about outcomes. Nobody can guarantee a result in family court, and an attorney who promises one should give you pause. What we commit to is thorough preparation, plain answers, and prompt communication.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where do I file for divorce in Collin County?

With the Collin County District Clerk at the Russell A. Steindam Courts Building, 2100 Bloomdale Road in McKinney. Filing is electronic in nearly all cases, and your case is assigned to a district court at that point.

Frisco is in two counties. Where does my case go?

Frisco straddles Collin and Denton counties, so the answer depends on which side of the line your home sits. We confirm the county from your address before filing, because filing in the wrong county costs time and money to fix.

How are stock options and RSUs divided in a Texas divorce?

It depends on when the award was granted and when it vests. Grants earned during the marriage are generally community property, while portions attributable to work before the marriage or after divorce may be separate. Courts use several accepted formulas, and which one applies can move the number substantially.

Can my ex move away with our children?

Most Collin County custody orders include a geographic restriction limiting where the children may primarily live, often to the county and those adjoining it. Changing that restriction later requires a modification and a showing that it serves the children’s best interest.

How long does a Collin County divorce take?

An agreed divorce is usually final shortly after the 60-day waiting period, so roughly two to three months. Contested cases with disputed property or custody commonly run six months to well over a year.

Will my financial information become public?

Court filings are generally public records. That is one reason we push toward mediation and negotiated settlements in high-asset cases, and why we use protective orders over sensitive financial material when litigation is unavoidable.

Talk to a Collin County Divorce Lawyer

Call 469-552-5992 or request a consultation online. CoilLaw, 100 Crescent Court, Suite 0429, Dallas, TX 75201.

This page is for general information and is not legal advice. Every case is different. For advice about your specific situation, speak with a licensed Texas attorney.