Matrimonial law firms' fees
The fees charged by matrimonial law firms are usually determined based on factors such as the complexity of the case, the lawyer's qualifications and experience, and the level of economic development in the area. In general, a lawyer's fees can be divided into the following ways:
Hourly fees: This is the most common type of fee, and the lawyer calculates the fee based on the time spent on the case. The advantage of this approach is that the fees are relatively transparent, but it is important to note that hourly rates can vary greatly from lawyer to lawyer.
Per-case fees: For some simpler cases, lawyers may use a per-case fee, which determines a fixed fee based on the difficulty and workload of the case.
Risk** charges: In some cases, the lawyer may opt for the risk** approach, where the fee is only charged after the case is won, usually as a percentage of the winning amount.
How to calculate the cost of a divorce by appointing a lawyer
The cost of entrusting a lawyer for divorce mainly includes lawyer service fees and other related expenses.
Lawyer's service fee: This is the most important fee in divorce cases, and it is calculated as described above and can be determined based on factors such as the complexity of the case, the lawyer's qualifications and experience. Generally speaking, the lawyer's service fee for divorce cases will be charged in stages according to the progress of the case, such as the prosecution stage, mediation stage, trial stage, etc.
Other related fees: In addition to the lawyer's service fee, some other fees may also be included, such as court litigation fees, notary fees, appraisal fees, etc. These costs are usually borne by the principal, and the exact amount will be determined on a case-by-case basis.
Suppose Mr. Zhang and Ms. Li decide to divorce due to a breakdown of their relationship, and they jointly appoint a matrimonial law firm to handle the divorce. Based on the complexity of the case and his own experience, the lawyer proposes the following fee schemes:
Lawyer's service fee: 500 yuan per hour, and the whole case is expected to take 40 hours, totaling 20,000 yuan. The fee will be collected in stages, 5,000 yuan for the prosecution stage, 7,500 yuan for the mediation stage, and 7,500 yuan for the trial stage.
Other related fees: The estimated court litigation fee is 1,000 yuan, the notary fee is 500 yuan, and the appraisal fee (if necessary) will be calculated separately.
When Mr. Zhang and Ms. Li entrust a lawyer to divorce, they need to pay a certain amount of fees in advance for the prosecution and mediation stage of the case, and pay follow-up fees according to the actual situation during the progress of the case.
According to the "Lawyers Law of the People's Republic of China" and relevant provisions, lawyers' collection of fees shall follow the principles of fairness, reasonableness, and transparency, and there must be no improper conduct such as arbitrary fees or high fees.
When signing the retention contract, the client and the lawyer should clearly agree on the terms of fee calculation, payment method and time to ensure that the rights and interests of both parties are protected.
If the client has objections to the lawyer's fees or believes that there is improper charging, they may file a complaint with the local judicial administrative department or lawyers association.
When choosing a matrimonial law firm and understanding the fees, clients should be vigilant and choose carefully. It is recommended that the client fully understand the lawyer's qualifications, experience and reputation before signing the retention contract, and clearly agree with the lawyer on matters related to fees to avoid disputes.
During the progress of the case, the lawyer should actively cooperate with the work and pay the fee on time to ensure the smooth progress of the case.