The legal profession has the peculiarity of not having any costs set. Lawyers are not allowed to issue their price. In practice, their fees are based on seniority and specialty. Everyone chooses their own price!
In divorce cases, a lawyer’s hourly rate is usually between 100 and 300 €. Please note that these professionals often speak without taxes. You'll need to add the VAT to know how much it will actually cost you in the end.
The first consultation
The first interview is often your occasion to make the measurements. You'll discuss, explain your situation, exchange ideas and finally measure whether or not you want to entrust your case to that particular lawyer. Be aware that time is not for free. If you ultimately decide not to continue with him, the lawyer will charge you for the time spent with you. However, if you entrust your case to him, this first consultation will be offered “free” (you pay and then deduct the amount from the final bill).
Fee or hourly rate
There are two operating modes available for you and you will have to agree with your lawyer on one of them: billing by the hour or package.
- In the case of divorce in court (or by mutual consent), which is the simplest, the package system is often preferred. The average cost is about 1 500 €. Do not imagine that you cannot, however, disturb your lawyer on the slightest pretext for this award. Once the lawyer has spent ten hours on your case or more, he will switch to being paid by the hour, but you will be informed beforehand.
Disclaimer
The Internet now provides lawyers who "break" the market by taking a divorce case for 450 €. It sounds tempting, but the defendant sees the notes swell throughout the procedure in order to finally achieve the same cost or one even higher than the usual one. So be careful!
- For more complicated cases, hourly billing is often practiced. In this case, it is totally impossible to estimate the final cost, as it depends on the party.
If your spouse is in a good frame of mind and wants to settle the divorce quietly, it is all fine. If the lawyer follows this path, there should be no problem for you and you should control the final bill.
However, if your ex has decided to engage in trench warfare or they have opted for an aggressive lawyer, you may be surprised. Divorce litigation can last between 12 and 48 months, according to the people you have in front of you.
In practice, except for the blunders mentioned above, the average costs are:
- Divorce for alteration of the marital bond- € 2 500,
- Divorce for acceptance of the principle of breaking- € 3 500,
- Fault divorce- € 4 000.
Disclaimer
To avoid reaching prohibitive costs, the best solution is still to have direct negotiations with your spouse. The more you talk like responsible adults, the more likely it is that you find amicable solutions, unless you ask your respective lawyers to find them. Indeed, it is the lawyers who usually have this dialogue. Also, you can always opt for a DIY divorce if you decide that there is nothing left to do.
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