How Our Fees Work
Like most Florida boutique law practices, we bill hourly against a retainer. You pay an initial retainer, which we hold in our trust account.
As we work on your case, we bill our time against it and send you an itemized statement every month.
Your total cost depends mostly on how much you and your spouse disagree about, and how hard the other side makes the case.
We'll talk through all of this in your free Discovery Call, before you commit to anything.
Money is one of the biggest worries people bring to a divorce.
You deserve to understand how fees work before you hire anyone, not after.
Here's how it works with us.
How Your Legal Fees Work
Step 1: Initial Retainer
A retainer is an advance payment toward your legal fees. It is held in our attorney trust account, which the Florida Bar strictly regulates, and it's only moved to the firm as work is performed and billed. The amount depends on your case: how complex it is, how much conflict we expect, and whether there are urgent issues like a hearing on the calendar.
Step 2: Hourly Billing
Attorney and paralegal time is billed by the hour in 1/10th of an hour increments. We send you invoices every two weeks to give our clients more transparency over the costs and the work being done. These invoices are itemized statements showing who worked on your case, what they did, and how long it took.
Step 3: Ongoing Transparency
If anything on a statement is unclear, ask us. We want you to understand every line. Court costs, like filing fees, service of process, and expert fees (appraisers, forensic accountants, and so on), are separate from attorney's fees. We'll tell you in advance when we expect a significant one.
What Makes a Case Cost More or Less
- Tends to Lower Cost
- Spouses agree on most issues
- Financial records are organized and complete
- Early settlement in mediation
- W-2 income and simple assets
- Both lawyers focus on the real issues
- Tends to Raise Cost
- Disputes over children or time-sharing
- Hidden income or assets that must be uncovered
- Multiple hearings and a trial
- Business ownership, complex compensation, or experts
- An opposing party or lawyer who fights every point
For typical cost ranges across Florida, see what a divorce costs in Florida.
Can My Spouse Be Ordered to Pay My Fees?
Sometimes, yes. Florida law lets a judge order one spouse to pay a reasonable amount of the other's attorney's fees and costs, based on each spouse's financial resources. See Fla. Stat. § 61.16.
Why We Don't Take Divorce Cases on Contingency
Florida's lawyer ethics rules prohibit contingency fees in divorce and most family law matters. That's why family law firms bill by the hour.
How to Keep Your Costs Down
Organize your documents.
Tax returns, bank and retirement statements, and pay stubs.
Batch your questions.
One email with five questions costs less than five separate emails.
Pick your battles.
Fighting over items worth less than the legal fees to fight over them rarely makes sense.
Use our team.
Paralegals can answer many scheduling and document questions at a lower rate.
Stay off social media.
Posts create evidence and extra work.
Payment Options
We accept debit or credit cards, ACH transfers, and we also offer financing through Affirm via our payment provider.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a divorce lawyer cost in Florida?
It depends mainly on conflict and complexity. Family law attorneys in Florida typically bill hourly against a retainer. We'll walk you through how our fees work on your free Discovery Call. See also what a divorce costs in Florida.
What is a retainer, and is it refundable?
A retainer is an advance deposit held in the firm's trust account. We bill against it every two weeks as work is done, and we'll ask you to replenish it when it runs low. Any unused balance is refunded when our representation ends.
Do you offer flat fees?
Our practice is built for full-service cases, which we bill hourly so you pay only for the work your case actually needs. We'll explain the fee structure that fits your situation on your Discovery Call.
Can my spouse be made to pay my attorney's fees?
Possibly. Under § 61.16, a Florida judge can order one spouse to contribute to the other's fees based on their relative finances. It's especially common when one spouse controls most of the money.
What does the free Discovery Call cover?
A member of our client team will learn about your situation and goals, run a conflict check, and explain how our firm works, how our fees are structured, and what the next steps would look like. It's confidential, with no pressure and no obligation. Our client team isn't made up of attorneys and can't give legal advice. If you'd like legal advice before hiring us, ask about a paid attorney consultation.