Legal Fees

Legal fees can be one of the scariest and least understood parts of contacting an attorney. In general, there are two types of fees that our office charges. One is a flat fee for certain types of cases which we know will be easily defined in terms of work performed or time spent. These types of cases include absolute divorce, representation at a 10-day domestic violence hearing, legal name changes, and termination of parental rights.

The other type of legal fee is a retainer which we bill against at an hourly rate. We keep track of all work we do on your case, whether it is meeting with you, talking with you by telephone, drafting pleadings or other documents, talking with witnesses on your behalf, scheduling cases for hearing, preparing for trial, representing you in court, and handling post-trial matters such as drafting orders and answering questions you may have about the outcome of the case.

Retainers vary from case to case, depending on the number of issues involved, the complexity of the issues, the novelty of the issues, the emergency or non-emergency nature of the case, and other issues.

Typical flat fees:

Initial consultation $200.00
Absolute divorce $500.00 plus $165.00 filing fee
Representation at 10-day domestic violence hearing $1,000.00
Legal name change $300.00
Termination of parental rights $2,000.00
Child custody lawsuit through mediation and parenting class $1,000.00

Average range of retainers for certain types of cases:

Preparation and negotiation of separation agreement $1,500.00 - $5,000.00
Child custody trial $3,000.00 - $10,000.00
Post-separation support motion and trial $1,500.00 - $3,000.00
Alimony motion and trial $2,000.00 - $5,000.00
Equitable distribution of marital property $5,000.00 - $10,000.00

In some cases, if the issues are very straightforward, or if they overlap, the retainer may be less. In all cases, the retainer must be paid in advance of any work being performed. This advance payment insures your commitment to seeing the process through, and our commitment to work hard to achieve the best possible result for you.

Practicing in: Family Law, Collaborative Law, Mediation, Divorce, Separation Agreements, Child Custody,
Alimony, Domestic Violence, Child Support, Property Distribution, Spousal Support, Wills, Living Wills, and Health Care Directives

NOTICE: The information in this website is provided as a general reference work and as a public service. You are advised to check
for changes to current law and to consult with a qualified attorney on any legal issue. The use of this material does not create an attorney-client relationship
with the Law Offices of Aida Doss Havel. The material in this website may be considered advertising under applicable rules.

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