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Started By
Message
fair price for a retainer on a divorce attorney
Posted on 10/8/15 at 6:53 pm
Posted on 10/8/15 at 6:53 pm
I figured this would be the best board to ask this.
In a nutshell, I went to high school with said attorney. We weren't really friends but we hung out in mutual crowds. His partner who is going to help on it was a really good friend in high school, we just kind of drifted apart as we went to different colleges. The good friend said that he would give me a good deal.
I met with the guy today, and when we got to the money part he said since it looks pretty cut and dry, hourly would probably be better than a flat fee. He told me he would need a retainer, but then just told me to come up with a number.
So being a guy of middle income, what would be a fair number?
In a nutshell, I went to high school with said attorney. We weren't really friends but we hung out in mutual crowds. His partner who is going to help on it was a really good friend in high school, we just kind of drifted apart as we went to different colleges. The good friend said that he would give me a good deal.
I met with the guy today, and when we got to the money part he said since it looks pretty cut and dry, hourly would probably be better than a flat fee. He told me he would need a retainer, but then just told me to come up with a number.
So being a guy of middle income, what would be a fair number?
6
Posted on 10/8/15 at 7:36 pm to MasCervezas
I paid $3,000, but not contested and we did our own financial split. Very amicable.
Posted on 10/8/15 at 7:48 pm to slaphappy
lucky. My parents dropped over 50k on lawyers in theirs. It was ugly.
ETA: And to OP - Sounds pretty unprofessional for him to give you a "name your price" deal. I'd probably give him $1,500.
ETA: And to OP - Sounds pretty unprofessional for him to give you a "name your price" deal. I'd probably give him $1,500.
This post was edited on 10/8/15 at 7:50 pm
Posted on 10/8/15 at 7:58 pm to I Love Bama
quote:
ETA: And to OP - Sounds pretty unprofessional for him to give you a "name your price" deal.
Yeah I think it's kind of strange too
Posted on 10/8/15 at 8:10 pm to MasCervezas
Did he tell you his hourly rate? If so. I'd offer up 25-50% of what you think the total would be.
Posted on 10/8/15 at 8:15 pm to MasCervezas
$200/hr seems about right since you are friends. So anywhere from $1500 - $2000 should be a reasonable retainer.
Posted on 10/8/15 at 9:31 pm to MasCervezas
NOTHING is cut and dry in divorces.
Pay him. This is not a place where you want to cut corners.
You've been warned. Quit ducking around and pay a professional their normal fee.
Pay him. This is not a place where you want to cut corners.
You've been warned. Quit ducking around and pay a professional their normal fee.
Posted on 10/8/15 at 9:34 pm to I Love Bama
quote:
y parents dropped over 50k on lawyers in theirs. It was ugly.
My brother's ex is paying out the arse for her attorney on a custody issue even though she is going to "lose."
People get really dumb.
This post was edited on 10/8/15 at 9:34 pm
Posted on 10/8/15 at 9:59 pm to MasCervezas
His hourly rate is far more important than his retainer. No matter what you give him as a retainer, he still has to "earn" it via his hourly rate. Anything that isn't earned must be refunded to you.
His telling you that you can choose the retainer is basically his way of saying "hey man, I know you're good for it, so whatever you can pay me up front to get the paperwork moving, I'm good."
His telling you that you can choose the retainer is basically his way of saying "hey man, I know you're good for it, so whatever you can pay me up front to get the paperwork moving, I'm good."
Posted on 10/8/15 at 10:56 pm to Joshjrn
Yeah, I've since talked to him about it and I'm thinking it's going to be 150/hr
I'm going to check with some other attorneys first too
I'm going to check with some other attorneys first too
This post was edited on 10/8/15 at 10:58 pm
Posted on 10/9/15 at 6:12 am to MasCervezas
Ask him what the hourly rate is - 10 hours is a good place to start for the retainer
Posted on 10/9/15 at 9:24 am to MasCervezas
A good divorce attny is 200/hr
Again, get a good one. Someone charging less don't know WTF they are doing. Paying a few thousand more and possibly saving many times that is well worth it.
If this divorce is your doing, someone needs to talk you down from "guilt" settlement.
Again, get a good one. Someone charging less don't know WTF they are doing. Paying a few thousand more and possibly saving many times that is well worth it.
If this divorce is your doing, someone needs to talk you down from "guilt" settlement.
Posted on 10/9/15 at 10:23 am to GeeOH
Agree that you need a competent family law practitioner, not simply a friend of a friend or acquaintance. Don't hire a guy simply because you know him...divorce can unearth some painful, unsavory things best left out of quasi-friendships. You want an advocate who will tell you the truth and be clear eyed about the situation, not a chum, pal, or bro.
Posted on 10/9/15 at 10:56 am to hungryone
thanks for the advice. I don't think I'm going to go with the guy. I'll check around with some others that specialize in family law
Posted on 10/9/15 at 11:00 am to MasCervezas
On the other hand, if it is truly a consent divorce, with no kids, and no one is fighting over assets, you don't need to pay more. Hell, I've done a few of those for friends for free - just takes a couple of hours.
If there are child/asset fights coming, then by all means hire someone who knows what they're doing and pay for it. But don't pay more than you have to for something simple.
If there are child/asset fights coming, then by all means hire someone who knows what they're doing and pay for it. But don't pay more than you have to for something simple.
Posted on 10/9/15 at 11:28 am to NaturalBeam
There is one child but I think we agree on joint custody. The assets.....
She wants some kind of alimony (not sure if that's the right term) so that I don't agree with. We make about the same at our jobs. And I bought the house before we married and every single payment has come from my individual checking account
She wants some kind of alimony (not sure if that's the right term) so that I don't agree with. We make about the same at our jobs. And I bought the house before we married and every single payment has come from my individual checking account
Posted on 10/9/15 at 11:51 am to MasCervezas
Yeah, in that case definitely hire someone who specializes in it - some lawyers will create issues where there aren't any for the sake of billable hours, but in your case, this will take some work. Good luck. 
Posted on 10/9/15 at 12:14 pm to NaturalBeam
Our experience with this is that "buddy rate" for a modification was $3500. The normal retainer is $5000. We expect to spend at least the $5k and probably closer to 6K to get everything resolved.
In our case the attorney is a close family friend of my parents.
In our case the attorney is a close family friend of my parents.
Posted on 10/9/15 at 9:47 pm to MasCervezas
What are the chances this going to be very very amicable?
Posted on 10/10/15 at 1:12 am to I Love Bama
quote:
My parents dropped over 50k on lawyers in theirs
dID Y9U SEE THE BAR PASS THREAD?
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