Attorneys in New Braunfels

The Comal County District Clerk takes documents for civil, family, juvenile and felony criminal cases for the county's five district courts (the 22nd, 207th, 274th, 433rd and 466th) and three county courts at law. The office is open Monday to Thursday 8 to 5 and Friday 8 to 4, closed noon to 1.

New Braunfels spans two counties, so ask your attorney which county's courts your case belongs in if you live on the Guadalupe County side. That matters most for divorce: to file in Texas, either spouse must have lived in the state for the preceding six months and in the filing county for the preceding 90 days. A Texas court generally cannot grant the divorce until the 60th day after filing, with exceptions for some family violence cases, and no-fault divorce is available when the marriage has become insupportable.

Claims against New Braunfels or another local government

Under the Texas Tort Claims Act a governmental unit is entitled to notice within six months of the incident, and a city charter can set a different deadline. On those claims, the Act caps damages against cities at $250,000 per person and $500,000 per occurrence. If an accident involved a city vehicle or property, raise the notice date at your first consultation.

• License. The State Bar's Find a Lawyer directory lists every Texas-licensed attorney and filters by board certification, language and fee options.
• Discipline. The same lookup shows a lawyer's disciplinary history, and the Bar publishes recent actions and an Ineligible Attorney List.
• Specialty. A lawyer may advertise as Board Certified only if certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization or an accredited body, in areas such as Personal Injury Trial Law, Family Law, Criminal Law and Civil Trial Law.

Solicitation rules after a New Braunfels accident

Texas ethics rules generally forbid lawyers from soliciting new clients in person, by live phone or by social media contact, and solicitation mail must be marked ADVERTISEMENT. Written personal injury or wrongful death solicitations about an accident are generally barred before the 31st day after it. Barratry is a third-degree felony, and a client whose contract came from barratry can void it and recover fees paid plus a $10,000 penalty. Grievances go on the State Bar's current form, effective October 1, 2025.

The State Bar's 2025 survey put the median hourly rate for full-time private practitioners at $368 statewide, and $332 in the San Antonio metro. Rates for a given case vary, so ask for the rate, the retainer and how expenses are billed in writing. The Texas attorney guide covers fee structures in more depth.

A contingency fee contract must be in writing and signed by both of you, and it must say how the fee is calculated, whether the percentage changes for settlement, trial or appeal, and which expenses come out and when. An ad offering contingency fees must say whether you will owe other costs.

Deadlines New Braunfels clients should know

A Texas personal injury suit generally must be filed within two years of the day the claim accrues, and a wrongful death suit within two years of the death. For a health care liability claim, written notice is due at least 60 days before suit. A claimant found more than 50 percent responsible recovers nothing. These are general rules with exceptions; confirm how they apply to you with a licensed Texas attorney.

Low-cost legal help near New Braunfels

The State Bar's Lawyer Referral & Information Service, (800) 252-9690, arranges up to a 30-minute consultation for no more than $20. The San Antonio Bar Association runs a certified referral service, operating since 1966, and TexasLawHelp.org has free self-help guides and forms.

For a property purchase or sale, see New Braunfels real estate agents. City-wide rules are on the New Braunfels hub, and San Antonio attorneys covers the Bexar County courts.