One of the most pressing questions that people want to know is,” How much does a family law attorney cost in California?” The answer isn’t quite so simple. Different legal services charge different rates, and every case is unique. Despite the ambiguity of the cost of a family law attorney, below is some helpful information.

Family Lawyer Costs and Fees in California

If you need to hire a family law attorney, you might find that the fee schedule for most family law firms depends on the complexity of the legal service. Certain services provided by family lawyers require a lot more work and effort than others. Not all lawyers offer all the services listed below, but in general, most family law services fall into three categories: lower-cost services, midrange services, and more expensive services.

Lower-Cost Services

These are simple matters that involve short, typical contracts or legal tasks that take very little time to complete. Some examples include:

Medium-Cost Services

These legal matters include services that require a bit more legwork, simple negotiations, minor disputes, average asset amounts, and minimal court involvement. Some examples are:

  • An uncontested divorce that may have some moderate assets or children
  • A pre- and post-nuptial agreements that require more clauses or extenuating circumstances than most simple marital contracts
  • A disputed modification of child support or custody with a tougher conflict than usual cases, such as a request for relocation to another state
  • Mediation that requires multiple sessions and legal review

High-Cost Services

These cases cost more because they take more effort and input from the attorney. They may involve a major custody battle, require a trial to resolve, involve accusations of hidden assets, or necessitate the involvement of a forensic accountant or other professionals to support the evidence. Some examples include:

  • Contested divorces with children that involve a significant amount of disputed marital assets, such as high-value real estate or businesses
  • Highly complicated and litigated custody cases, such as those that require a guardian ad litem or extensive psychological evaluations
  • Permanent placement cases for foster children that have significant waiting periods throughout the process, making for a lengthy case that could cost a lot, depending on how smoothly all components go

Other Factors Impacting the Cost of Services When You Hire a Family Law Attorney

There are additional factors that influence the cost of a California family lawyer. First, how a law firm bills its clients for services can affect overall costs. Some law firms have assigned a predetermined flat fee to each service that reflects the estimated effort level.

Other law firms set an hourly rate upfront that reflects the standard of practice they provide. This rate is then applied to the number of hours the firm spends on a case. An attorney’s per-hour rate is typically determined by experience, educational background, and past relevant successes.

Third-Party Costs

Lawyer fees do not typically include the costs of third-party reviewers. These may include forensic accountants, psychologists, mediators, medical testing labs, or other outside professionals. The credible opinions of these individuals or the information they provide are crucial to the case in many cases. Court fees are another expense that is paid in addition to lawyer fees.

Why Choose Us?

The ideal way to get an estimate for a family law legal matter is to ask an attorney what they charge for the particular legal service you need. Benefield Faulk Law is happy to provide a quote for any of our legal services. Our pricing is transparent, and we can explain it in very straightforward terms. We can also put it in writing. The legal team at Benefield Faulk Law is so good that we are confident you’ll choose us for your case.

FAQs

What Is the Average Attorney Fee in California?

There is no average attorney fee in California. Attorneys consider factors such as the time and effort a case might take when setting their own fees. The various fee collection systems lawyers use to manage client fees further complicate the average fee. Fixed or standard fees for routine legal matters just don’t compare with hourly fees for high asset divorce cases.

Under What Circumstances in California Must a Fee Arrangement With an Attorney Be in Writing?

By law, an attorney must put their fee in a written agreement with their clients for any case in which they anticipate their fees and costs to the client to total an excess of $1,000. It is a good practice for any conscientious attorney to put any fees charged to clients in writing anyway. This law applies to any service, whether it be a simple review of an existing document or a flat-rate uncontested divorce.

What Are Reasonable Attorney Fees in California?

Reasonable attorney fees in California are subjective. What’s reasonable to one lawyer’s client may not be reasonable to another lawyer’s client. If an attorney is busy with clients willing to pay their rates, it can be assumed the lawyer charges reasonable rates. Shopping around for an attorney who fits your budget can be an effective way to find rates you feel are fair and affordable.

Who Pays Attorney Fees in Child Custody Cases in California?

In a child custody case in California, a judge can order one parent to pay the attorney fees of the other parent. This typically occurs when one parent earns significantly more than the other, and it applies to both male and female parents. If one parent can’t afford the legal fees otherwise, but the other one can, it may be in the child’s best interest for those fees to be paid by the higher-earning parent.

Connect With a California Family Lawyer Who Knows California Family Laws

Benefield Faulk Law has a long-standing rapport with the court systems of California and the family laws that they uphold. Contact our office to discuss your family law matter. We can answer any question you have regarding your case or our rates and give you the sense of progress you need.