Most divorce lawyers in Connecticut bill by the hour.
Clients usually advance a sum of money (a retainer), which the attorney deposits in a Trustee account. The attorney maintains an accounting of their time as services are performed. Then the attorney withdraws funds from the Trustee account for the legal fees they earned. It sort of works like a debit account.
If the initial retainer is exhausted, the client usually advances another retainer.
At the end of the case, any money left over in the Trustee account is promptly refunded to the client.
Hourly rates for divorce lawyers in Connecticut vary from about $200 to $750. The initial retainer also varies. Some attorneys request as little as $1,000 while others ask for $30,000 or more.
All of these terms and the scope of the lawyer’s services, must be set forth in a written Retainer Agreement provided by the lawyer to the client.
Here are some factors attorneys use in determining a legal fee:
- The novelty and difficulty of the issues involved and the skill required to perform the legal services properly
- The fee customarily charged by others attorneys in the same locality
- The time limitations imposed by the client or by the circumstances of the case
- The nature and length of the relationship with the client
- The experience, reputation and ability of the lawyer performing the services.
Sometimes an attorney will agree to charge a set fee rather than charging hourly. This is known as a flat fee divorce and is usually limited to uncontested divorces that do not involve children, alimony or real estate.