Going through a child-custody battle can be extraordinarily stressful and painful. Having the right attorney to advocate on your behalf is important for many reasons. If you are looking for child custody attorneys, you probably want to know how much it costs to hire one. While legal fees can vary widely, here are four factors that affect the cost of an attorney.
1. Experience
Like with any professional field, experienced attorneys tend to charge more than newer ones. If you are looking for an attorney in the DuPage County area, you can find attorneys at all levels of experience. Remember, though, that while experienced attorneys may charge more on an hourly basis, their experience might require them to work fewer hours on your case. That could save you money over the long-run.
2. Firm Size
Generally, the larger the firm, the more expensive the child custody attorneys. Because larger firms tend to be more prestigious, they usually command higher fees for their work. If you are looking to save some money, try working with a small- or medium-sized firm.
3. Jurisdiction
Typically, your lawyer’s physical address can affect how much he or she charges for work. Typically, law firms in major metropolitan areas charge more for work than rural practices. Often, you don’t have much of a choice about your lawyer’s geographic location, since you will need to find an attorney who can practice in the courts where your child custody case is.
4. Billing Structure
Some lawyers charge based on hours worked while others charge on a project basis. Generally, for child custody cases, attorneys will require an upfront retainer and then bill against it for work they do on an hourly basis.
Child custody attorneys charge fees based on a variety of billing schedules. If you are considering hiring an attorney for your case, you can expect the cost to vary due to certain factors.
