What Fees You Can Expect To Pay For A Divorce Lawyer

Law Blog

Having a lawyer on your side is pretty much a necessity when going through a divorce. However, you may be wondering how much it is going to cost for their legal assistance. Here are some of the fees you can expect to pay for your divorce lawyer.

Consultation Fees

One of the first fees that you are going to pay is the consultation fee. The lawyer is taking their time to assess your case and determine if they can assist you, and for you to figure out if the lawyer is a good fit for your divorce. The good thing about consultation fees is that they are typically not at a lawyer's normal hourly rate, but much less than that. That is why it is worth asking what the consultation fee is to meet about your divorce. 

Flat Fees

Sometimes a lawyer will charge a flat fee for a divorce case if it seems simple, or handle a portion of the case for a flat fee. This may be possible if a prenuptial agreement is already in place, both parties are willing to work together, or you and your spouse do not have children or many joint assets. This will simplify the divorce process and make the total cost more predictable for a lawyer.

Hourly Fees

If your lawyer does not work on a flat fee basis, they will bill on an hourly basis. Work is typically rounded to the nearest quarter-hour, and everything will be billed to you. For example, if the lawyer has a $100 hourly fee and you have a 25-minute phone call with your lawyer, expect to be billed $50 for a half-hour of time. This means that you need to be prepared for when you talk with your lawyer so that you are to the point and do not waste their time. 

Retainer Fees

Some lawyers require a retainer upfront to use their service. Rather than bill you at the end of the divorce proceedings with the final bill, you will put that money into a bank account upfront for the hourly billing to be taken from. When the money in the account is before a certain threshold, you'll be requested to put more money into your retainer account.

Contingency Fees

Though it is rare, some lawyers will work on a contingency fee. This means they will take a percentage of what you win in court rather than bill you a flat fee or hourly fee. While this is not typically allowed in most divorce cases, some states do allow it in certain situations.

If you're worried about the fees you might experience when hiring a divorce attorney, contact your local firm today.

13 November 2020