Understanding Divorce Attorney Fees

If you are preparing for a New Jersey divorce, you undoubtedly are wondering what attorney fees run in this type of legal matter. You likely also want to know how divorce attorney fees are charged. Indeed, you very well may have quite a few questions relating to the costs of ending your marriage. There are several key points to consider in regard to understanding divorce attorney fees:

• Hourly fee
• Flat fee
• Average hourly rate
• Complexity of marriage dissolution case
• Attorney fee agreement
• Costs associated with case
• Find out more at a free initial consultation

The most commonplace arrangement when it comes to New Jersey divorce attorney fees is one based on billing by the hour. Via an hourly fee arrangement, lawyer and client reach an agreement in which professional services are billed at an agreed rate at the amount of time worked on a case.

Typically, at the time of the commencement of representation in a marriage dissolution case, a client typically pays what is called a retainer. This is akin to a deposit for services. Time worked on a case initially is billed against the amount of money provided as a retainer. Throughout the course of representation, a client is regularly billed for fees due after the retainer itself is exhausted.

Another alternative fee arrangement is what is known as a flat fee. Through a flat fee agreement, a client is charged a one-time sum of money for the course of representation in a marriage dissolution case. A flat fee more often than not is used in a what is deemed to be a simpler divorce, at least when the proceedings commence.

When it comes to divorce attorney fees and an hourly arrangement, if you are like a typical individual seeking to end a marriage, you want specific information about the rate to be charged. In fact, before representation commences, an attorney must set forth the specifics regarding an hourly fee for services together with any other charges a client might incur.

There can be some pretty significant variations in the fees charged by different divorce attorneys, even in the same community. With that said, some research has been done on national for attorney fees in marriage dissolution cases. Again, this is a national report and you will learn about his or her specific fee obligation at the time you retain representation. National fee averages are:

• Overall average for attorney fees for divorce lawyers across the United States is $270
• 70 percent of divorce clients pay between $200 and $300 per hours
• 10 percent of marriage dissolution clients pay $100 per hour
• 20 percent of divorce clients pay $400 or more per hour

The complexity of a marriage dissolution case is the major fee driver. The more complicated a New Jersey divorce case, the more time a lawyer needs to spend working on the case on behalf of a client. If you have an hourly fee agreement with your divorce lawyer, legal counsel must provide you appropriately itemized bills for services.

At the commencement of a divorce case, you need to obtain a written fee agreement with legal counsel. Make sure that you understand all of the terms and conditions of that contract. If you have any questions, be certain to obtain answers before signing a fee agreement.

In addition to attorney fees, when you retain a divorce lawyer, you also need to understand that you will be billed for costs incurred in the course of representation. For example, if legal counsel needs to hire an appraiser to value property, that expense will be charged to you.

If you are in need of an experienced New Jersey divorce lawyer, you can schedule a free initial consultation by calling the Law Offices of Peter Van Aulen. You can reach our firm any time that is convenient for you by calling us at 201-845-7400.