how much does it cost to get a family lawyer wa

by Prof. Mauricio Hagenes Jr. 8 min read

On average, Washington divorce lawyers charge between $250 and $285 per hour. Average total costs for Washington divorce lawyers are $10,500 to $12,000 but are significantly lower in cases with no contested issues.Sep 16, 2020

How much does a family lawyer cost?

Jun 08, 2019 · Personal Injury Lawyers will usually cover the legal costs as if there is a payout they will take a moderate cut of it, around 33% - 40%. Child custody lawyers can become very expensive and each case is too specific to give an estimate but can range from $1,000 - …

How much does a Washington divorce lawyer cost?

Sep 16, 2020 · On average, Washington divorce lawyers charge between $250 and $285 per hour. TYPICAL TOTAL FEES $10,500-$12,000 Average total costs for Washington divorce lawyers are $10,500 to $12,000 but are significantly lower in cases with no contested issues.

What is a retainer fee for a family lawyer?

Feb 03, 2015 · You can expect to pay about $300 in to initially file for divorce. This includes the filing fee, judicial surcharge, and court facilitator surcharge. Attorney Fees In most cases, attorney fees are based on the complexity of your case. Remember: bargain shopping for …

Why do lawyers charge so much in Washington State?

The family court lawyer cost ranges from $100 to $400 per hour, depending on the lawyer’s experience, operating expenses, the location. When the family attorneys are based in rural areas, they usually charge an hourly rate of $100 to $200 per hour.

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How much do lawyers cost Washington state?

The typical lawyer in Washington charges between $175 and $378 per hour. Costs vary depending on the type of lawyer, so review our lawyer rates table to find out the average cost to hire an attorney in Washington....How much do lawyers charge in Washington?Practice TypeAverage Hourly RateWills & Estates$24823 more rows

How much does a good lawyer cost Australia?

In Australia, hourly rates for lawyers range from: Junior lawyer: $200 – $250 per hour. Senior lawyer: $250 – $400 per hour. Practice leader or partner: $400 – $600 per hour.Sep 14, 2021

What is the average cost of a divorce lawyer in Washington State?

$10,500 to $12,000In Washington state, the cost of a divorce lawyer is between $250 and $285 per hour. Average divorce attorney prices are $10,500 to $12,000 for the whole marriage dissolution, but the mutual divorce cost will be significantly lower, averaging at around $5,000.

How much does a custody battle cost Australia?

Generally speaking, to hire a custody lawyer in Australia you can look at hourly rates from as low as $350 an hour to $650 or more.Feb 16, 2021

How much does a lawyer cost per hour?

What are Typical Attorney Fees. Throughout the United States, typical attorney fees usually range from about $100 an hour to $400 an hour. These hourly rates will increase with experience and practice area specialization.Aug 17, 2021

What is a wife entitled to in a divorce in Washington State?

You get a decree, a division of all the parties' property, a parenting plan, a child support order, and potentially spousal maintenance (alimony).

How long does it take to get a legal separation in Washington?

90 daysThere's a mandatory waiting period of 90 days from the time you file until the judge can act on your case. Couples should use this time to negotiate the terms of the separation, including property division, financial issues, and child custody. If there are still disputed issues, the judge will decide for you.

Who gets the house in a divorce in Washington State?

One Party's Separate Property. Courts usually award each spouse his or her separate property and divide community property 50/50. Consequently, if the house is entirely one spouse's separate property, he or she almost always receives it unless the parties agree otherwise.

The Cost of a Divorce Lawyer in Washington State

Most readers in our survey (in fact, more than two-thirds of them) hired a lawyer to help with their divorce. For those readers, the attorney’s fee generally made up the bulk of their divorce costs.

How Disputes and Trial Affect the Cost of Divorce in Washington

Not surprisingly, it’s very common for couples to disagree about important issues at stake in their divorce, especially:

What Other Expenses Contribute to the Cost of Divorce?

Besides attorney’s fees, there are other costs involved in the divorce process, including filing fees and a fee for the final hearing date. You might also have to pay the fees for a mediator and experts like child custody evaluators or financial analysts. Our national survey showed an average of $1,600 for these non-lawyer expenses.

More Information and Resources on Washington Divorce

Follow the links below for more useful information about divorce in Washington:

Why is divorce so costly?

Simply put, divorce is expensive because it requires a couple to take one household budget and divide it to support two households. Additional expenses, such as hiring an attorney or paying court fees, can easily push the cost of your divorce above $10,000.

Factors to Consider

Two important factors will influence the overall cost of your divorce: children and whether the divorce is contentious or amicable. Generally speaking, contested divorces are more expensive because they require additional time in the courtroom. An amicable or uncontested divorce, on the other hand, will take less time, saving money on fees, etc.

Get in Touch with McKinley Irvin to Learn More

If you are considering a divorce, the Washington family law attorneys at McKinley Irvin are here to help. As the largest matrimonial law firm in the region, our legal team has served hundreds of clients just like you and is ready to use this experience to help your case. We have office locations in Seattle, Tacoma, Bellevue Vancouver, and Puyallup.

How much does a family court lawyer cost?

The family court lawyer cost ranges from $100 to $400 per hour, depending on the lawyer’s experience, operating expenses, the location. When the family attorneys are based in rural areas, they usually charge an hourly rate of $100 to $200 per hour.

What does a divorce lawyer do?

In most cases, they represent their clients who are filing for divorce and assist them in divorce-related matters such as alimony, the division of marital properties, as well as, child custody and support. In addition to divorce cases, they draft the details and specifications in prenuptial and postnuptial agreements.

Can a divorce be uncontested?

It can be applied on an uncontested divorce, which happens both parties have reached a certain agreement with regards to child custody and support, spousal support, or division of marital properties, and the spouse has either agreed to have the divorce or failed to show up during the divorce action.

Is retainer fee refundable?

Apparently, retainer fees are usually non-refundable unless the court has labeled them with “unreasonable.”. In cases when you decide to drop the case before the lawyer has used up all the fee, then you may not get back the remaining amount.

Fee Payment Methods

Online at the Commonwealth Courts Portal when efiling your application, using:

Amending an application

If your original Initiating Application (Form 1) only sought parenting orders, or only sought financial orders, and you subsequently amend the Initiating Application to include both parenting and financial orders, there will be an additional filing fee of $230 for the amended application.

More information

If you would like any more information on court fees, read the Court Fees brochure or contact the registry.

Who is responsible for paying legal fees?

Each party is responsible for paying their own legal fees. However, if one party is unable to afford the fees, the court may intervene in some states. If the case is uncontested, a flat fee is usually charged.

What is child custody?

Family law attorneys are able to provide a wide range of child custody services. "Child custody is ordered in several types of actions: dissolution of marriage (divorce) and legal separations, paternity (establishing who is the legal father), modifying previous custody orders, guardianship and adoption," explains Thurmond.

Where is Gerald Wirsch?

The complexity and seriousness of the case help determine legal fees, says Gerald Wirsch of the of the Law Office of Gerald M. Wirsch in Hamilton, Ohio. Many custody lawyers determine this information during an initial free consultation.

How much does a lawyer charge for a will?

Depending on where you live and how complicated your family and financial circumstances are, a lawyer may charge anything from a few hundred to several thousand dollars for a will and other basic estate planning documents.

What is a durable power of attorney?

Durable power of attorney for finances. Advance directive (durable power of attorney for health care and living will—these may or may not be combined into one document, depending on state law) This is good advice because every adult should have these durable powers of attorney.

How to make a will?

You have three main options when it comes to creating your Will: 1 DIY 2 Using an online platform 3 The traditional (most expensive) lawyer preparation

Is it normal to be overwhelmed when writing a will?

It’s normal if you’re feeling a little overwhelmed at the thought of creating your Will, but wondering how much does it cost to write a Will shouldn’t be part of your worries. Cost alone should not keep you from this important piece of preparing for your future.

Is estate planning a one size fits all deal?

But the risks involved can be drastic. Mainly, Estate Planning is simply not a one-size-fits-all deal. Using a pre-formatted template that doesn’t take into account your personal needs, goals, state in which you reside, or current situation could be problematic.

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Hearing Fees and Setting Down Fees

  • Hearing fees can be paid online, see Payment Optionsfor details. There are fees for each day of a defended hearing for final orders. There are no hearing fees for procedural hearings, or hearings to prepare a case for trial. When your case is prepared for trial and given a trial date, there is a setting downfee. This fee is for the court to allocate a trial date and begin preparing to decide yo…
See more on familycourt.wa.gov.au

Fee Payment Methods

  • Online at the eCourts Portalof Western Australia when efiling your application, using: 1. VISA or Mastercard credit/debit card By post or when using the Registry drop box, using: 1. VISA or Mastercard credit/debit card details on a credit card payment authorityform. Hearing fees and setting down fees can be paid by VISA or Mastercard credit/debit card through the eCourts Port…
See more on familycourt.wa.gov.au

Amending An Application

  • If your original Initiating Application (Form 1) only sought parenting orders, or only sought financial orders, and you subsequently amend the Initiating Applicationto include both parenting and financial orders, there will be an additional filing fee of $230 for the amended application.
See more on familycourt.wa.gov.au

More Information

  • If you would like any more information on court fees, read the Court Fees brochure or contact the registry.
See more on familycourt.wa.gov.au