Fees are often a stumbling block when hiring a Leicester family lawyer. There are many ways a lawyer can calculate the cost of your case and choose to charge you. To help you navigate the complexities of family lawyer fees, here are the 6 most common payment arrangements lawyers will use for services provided…
1) The Consultation Fee
Your first meeting with a Leicester family lawyer could incur a fixed or hourly consultation fee. An initial consultation is often needed to determine whether the lawyer can be of assistance. When hiring a Leicester family lawyer, ask if they charge for an initial appointment.
2) The Contingency Fee
Ordinarily, contingency fees are not applicable to family law cases, except on rare occasions. A contingency fee arrangement is only appropriate when a case involves a financial settlement. A lawyer’s fee tends to be based on a percentage amount of any finances received following the outcome of a case.
Contingency fees vary, but can range from 25 to 50 percent. Meanwhile, some lawyers agree for clients to pay their costs at the end of a case – for example if a property is to be sold or if a client receives a lump sum.
However, courts can set a cap on contingency fees payable to a lawyer, while such fees are prohibited in certain cases, such as child custody matters.
3) The Fixed Fee
Fixed fees are a common payment agreement among family lawyers.
A fixed fee is a one-off charge for help settling your case. A fixed fee payment agreement is typically offered when your family law matter is relatively straightforward – for example, an uncontested divorce case.
4) The Hourly Fee
Hiring a Leicester family lawyer who charges by the hour (or part of an hour) will result in costs for time spent working on your case. Hourly rates in the UK vary. Some family lawyers can command higher hourly fees especially if they serve a big legal practice.
Hourly fees are a common payment agreement among family lawyers. Fees are often charged for different types of work – for example, one fee is likely to be charged for legal research, while a different cost will apply to a court appearance.
5) The Referral Fee
If a family lawyer is unable to assist you with your case, they may refer you to another lawyer and ask for a referral fee. A referral fee is typically an amount from the total fee you pay to get your case resolved. If a referral fee is payable, your lawyer is required to mention it to you in your client care letter or their terms of business.
6) The Retainer Fee
The retainer fee is an upfront payment used to cover the cost of services provided as they arise.
The retainer fee is an upfront cost paid when hiring a Leicester family lawyer to represent you. All your case costs are then billed against your retainer fee. Retainer payments are often held in a designated account with the cost of services deducted from the account as case fees accrue.
Usually, your retainer would be refunded to you upon conclusion of your matter or deducted from your final bill.
The type of fee arrangement you agree to with your family lawyer will determine how much you pay your legal representative. Charges are dependent on a number of factors including your lawyer’s experience and reputation, the complexity of your case, and the outcome of your matter.
Hiring a Leicester Family Lawyer | Holland Family Law Fees
Holland Family Law provides a free, initial 30-minute consultation in most cases. For more information about our fees and how we can help with your family law matter, call us in confidence on 0116 436 2170 or email claire@hollandfamilylaw.co.uk
