Estimating Your Legal Fees is a two-step process -
(1) your retainer or deposit against legal fees and costs, which should be refundable if not earned, and;
(2) the hourly rate charged by the attorney and billed against the retainer.
The average rate for divorce attorneys in Harris County is $350.00 per hour or more with a standard minimum 1/4 hour charge for any action on a case. Ms. Duff's hourly rate starts at $185.00 per hour billed in one-tenth of an hour increments (i.e., to read an email from a client, minimum charge is .1 or 6 minutes, for a cost of $17.50, where many attorneys would charge 1/4 hour at $350 for a $87.50 charge.)
To estimate your legal retainer fee, review the categories below and add those applicable to your case. We accept all major credit cards.
- The initial filing fee paid to the county is $250-$300. If your spouse has filed first, your filing fee is approximately $41.
- If you and your spouse are not in agreement on all issues and service is required, the cost is between $75-$130.
- If you do not have children and are in agreement on all issues, the minimum legal retainer fee is $700, plus costs.
- If you have children and are in agreement on all issues, the minimum legal retainer fee for an agreed divorce with children is $950, plus costs.
- In a divorce where the parties do not agree on use of a home, custody of the children, amount of child support or periods of possession of children, a hearing is necessary to determine temporary court orders on these issues while the divorce is pending. The minimum retainer for a case which requires a temporary hearing starts at $1750, plus costs.
- If you own a home and title will be transferred, additional charge per deed is approximately $140, which includes filing fees with the county clerk's office.
- If either spouse has a retirement or pension through an employer and it will be divided via "roll-over" to an account of the other spouse, the additional retainer for preparation of a Qualified Domestic Relations Order to accomplish this is $500.
There rates are guidelines only - the exact retainer required for your case will be discussed during consultation.