What are the costs for retaining a PA family lawyer?

A retainer is a lump sum of money paid by a client for work that will be performed on an ongoing basis after the initial consultation is conducted. The amount of the initial retainer may or may not cover the entire costs of a client’s legal fees. It is virtually impossible to determine in advance the total cost for lawyers’ fees in a family law case. However, factors which influence the total cost of legal fees include the issues involved, complexity of the issues, and whether the case can be resolved by agreement or litigation is involved.

In most cases, there is no requirement for the opposing party to pay the other spouse’s retainer for their attorney fees. However, if a Divorce Complaint has been filed and there are liquid assets available to the spouses, a judge may enter an award of temporary counsel fees if a motion is presented requesting them. Another alternative may be to request an interim award of attorneys’ fees as part of an alimony pendente lite action.

Our Pittsburgh family law lawyers will discuss with you the terms of retaining our office along with a game plan for your future including an estimate of how long it will take to conclude your matters and how much it will cost in legal fees. Contact our experienced PA divorce lawyers for the piece of mind you need to move forward with your life.