Get on the path to results today. child custody attorney divorce lawyer marriage divorce lawyer free consultation Hartland
Get on the path to results today. child custody attorney divorce lawyer marriage divorce lawyer free consultation Hartland
Attorney fees can sometimes be all over the board. Different levels of skill will charge differently, and areas may charge differently. Currently, hourly rates for divorce attorneys range from $175 an hour to $400 an hour. To be more specific Oakland County Michigan the range will be $200 to $400 and Livingston County Michigan will be $175 to about $320 an hour. Obviously, the lower end fee are going to be less experienced attorneys and the higher end will be a more veteran attorney with 20 or more years of experienced. Most attorneys charge an upfront retainer fee and then bill hourly against it and when the retainer is used up they send a monthly bill. The amount of upfront retainer fee can be any where from $1500 to $15,000. Some attorneys will charge a flat fee where you just pay one time for everything. This is rare in divorce unless there is no property and no children. We do that at our firm. The average divorce without children is $7500 and cases with minor children is about $15,000.
Divorce is expensive for a number of reasons. Divorce is a high stress environment and can be just as taxing on attorneys as it is on the clients. Divorce law requires a very special detailed knowledge. There is a lot to calculate like child support and alimony and parenting time. There is a lot of issues that a divorce attorney must know like retirement issues, property division, litigation skills, mediation skills, custody law, and a general knowledge of just about every area of the law. So, the more experienced attorney may be a little more expensive but might be your best bet if you have a lot of property and children. There is an old saying, " you get what you pay for."
Sometimes, attorneys will take their retainer in payments. I have been know to do that. And sometimes the hourly rate may be flexible. I take the philosophy that every case is different. Sometimes, an attorney knows going in that it is going to be a war. It will be a very contested divorce. And sometimes, you know it will be simple and will not require any litigation. Such cases may cost much less. When you are considering hiring a lawyer for a divorce you should set down and lay all your cards on the table and tell them everything about your case. Hold nothing back so the lawyer can give you an accurate estimate. The last thing you want to do is to turn your attorney into a creditor in the middle of your case.
If you are facing a family law matter, it is important to seek the advice of an experienced attorney. Contact us today to schedule a consultation with one of our knowledgeable attorneys. Over 22 years of experience. Our hourly rate is between $225 and $250. We have flexible retainer programs and sometimes payments on the retainer.
810-632-9160 Hartland Office
248-882-0838 Personal Cell