Best Family Law Attorneys in Charleston, SC

Both sides will almost always ask for this, and the rules are pretty clear about when your spouse may be ordered to pay your legal fees. If one side is at a significant financial disadvantage, often times fees will be paid by the spouse with the greater earnings, either by court order or by agreement.

You should speak with your attorney about this first. There is nothing preventing you from doing this, but it could cause problems with automatic drafts and deposits. Also, if this the the only source of income for your spouse, closing the account will cut them off financially and this may be viewed harshly by a family court judge.

Legal fees in a contested case that goes to trial can cost between $25,000 to $50,000 per side, and even more if the case is highly contentious and complicated. A contested case that goes through the discovery process and then settles in mediation can cost anywhere between $10,00 and $20,000, per side, and again it could be more (or less) depending on the circumstances. Collaborative practice cases generally cost around $5,000 per side with perhaps another $1,000 to $3,000 if other professionals are involved (financial neutral, coach, child specialist, etc.).

First, never engage an attorney without a written fee agreement outlining all costs, hourly rates, and how you will be billed. Second, if you are on a billable hour plan (as almost all divorce lawyers are) then you should receive detailed monthly billing statements showing exactly what work your lawyer has performed, how much has been transferred from your trust to their operating account, and what remains in your trust account.

Arbitration is like having a trial with a private judge, outside of the courtroom, with rules regarding the presentation of evidence that are agreed upon by you, your spouse and the attorneys. It is much less expensive than a trial, it is faster than a trial, and may be an excellent option for you to bring your divorce, custody or family law case to an efficient resolution.