

Though a single hourly rate is common, some lawyers may charge separate rates for different work, such as one fee for trial work and a lesser one for document review. The size of the law firm in question can be another meaningful factor. In the U.S., average billing rates are highest in coastal cities. Costs in general tend to be higher in cities and lower in rural areas. Legal fees can also be influenced by factors that have little to do with a specific lawyer. These rates are influenced in part by the lawyer’s expertise, status with a firm as either a partner or associate, reputation, years in the industry and other credentials.


In practice, hourly billing is often broken down into tenths of an hour so that clients are actually charged per six-minute period, though rates are still described on a per-hour basis. How Much Do Divorce Lawyers Cost per Hour? A flat rate billing is most common for uncontested divorce, but other alternative payment options may exist. This is due mostly to increased legal fees for cases with challenging and time-consuming issues.Īttorney hourly rates remain the most common way legal fees are charged and are the biggest cost involved in a divorce. The more contested the matter becomes, the more expensive divorce will be. Perhaps the single most important factor influencing divorce cost is whether or not a couple can agree on the terms of the divorce. In addition to the state in which the divorce takes place, common important factors that affect cost include whether or not professional legal help is hired, whether the couple lives in an urban or rural area, the complexity of the couple’s finances and the involvement of child custody issues in the divorce. Part of the variability is that procedures and fees vary significantly from state to state.

Uncontested and do-it-yourself divorces run much less, $200 or so if you DIY, $2,000 or more if you get legal help. The more complicated contested divorces-ones with disagreements around issues such as property distribution or child custody-can become significantly more expensive, often running up tabs well over $100,000. is about $7,000, but this is not a one-size-fits-all price tag.
