Pricing Information
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RETAINER AT HOURLY RATE
($200 PER HOUR) Attorney charges $200 per hour for all necessary work done on the case. This includes even communications with client, other attorney, or other necessary third party in connection with my legal representation. This applies to phone calls, text messages, e-mails, etc.. I bill in 0.1/hour (6 minute) increments, so returning a call or e-mail typically results in a $20 charge, sometimes more if the conversation or message is more lengthy. Also, the hourly rate applies to preparing pleadings and motions, drafting court orders--any of the attorney paperwork involved. It also includes time spent in Court. Any time I must appear for you in Court, you're going to spend at least $200 for that Court appearance if it is an hour or less. If it is over an hour, then it may be more at the hourly rate of $200 per hour. This is the 'old school' standard way to pay an attorney where you pay an upfront retainer of, say, $1,200, and it is earned at an hourly rate of, say, $200 per hour; and if and when the money runs out, the lawyer starts sending statements asking for payment due within a month. Depending on the issues involved, your retainer can be as low as $800 or as high as $1,800. It really depends upon if there is a filing fee involved, which can add as much as $272.14 to the overall cost of the case. I am now two decades into my practice; and for the first decade, this was the way I would require I be paid; and, while it is still the most preferred way to pay me, I realize that times change and that different clients have different needs. So if you scroll around on this page, you may also find the monthly flat fee option and the max-out one-time fee option as well; both of which are rare. For detailed information on how I determine upfront retainer amounts for work done at my hourly rate, read on. DIVORCES
$800 - Base Amount (and cost of already filed divorce marriage of less than 7 years with no children) Add $300 if case not already filed (To cover costs of filing fee ($272.14) and and service of process which can range from $10 for certified mail restricted delivery to $50-$60 for service by process server to $100 for service by newspaper, depending on the person being served). Add $400 if any number of children (Same $ amt no matter how many kids) Add $200 if pending protective order case, or if emergency custody-type work will be required for a child danger (situations creating additional work) Add $200 if married for more than 7 years (unless there will obviously be no issue of alimony, multiple home or real properties, or retirement division) So, an unfiled divorce with kids is typically a $1,500 upfront retainer. Make that $1,200 if the case is already filed. Add $200 if long marriage with lots to argue about, but deduct $200 if no kids. The price depends on the issues. If you and your spouse already agree upon the terms of your divorce, scroll down below to read about my Uncontested Flat-Fee divorce, which drops the price by about $400 upfront. (Hey, saving money requires work) |
$600/MONTH FLAT-FEE PAYMENTS
This payment option is rarely available and only at my discretion, for clients who wish to make monthly payments. Under this option, clients pay a flat fee of $600.00 per month, regardless of the amount of work done on the case that month, so long as the case lasts until a final order is filed in Court filing fees (e.g, $272.14), service (e.g., $50) and other costs are excluded and in addition to this flat-fee amount which goes only toward I do as attorney. Potential clients thinking that a family law case will be wrapped up within a month and that they will only make one payment should think again, as most last a minimum of three months. If you miss a payment, I withdraw as your attorney. Under this flat monthly fee option, after the first three months, you will in most instances spend more money in the end as opposed to the hourly-rate retainer option; however, you pay less upfront. PATERNITY CASES, i.e., CUSTODY OR VISITATION - NOT MARRIED (EARNED AT $200/HR)
$1,000 if already filed Add $300 if case not already filed (To cover costs of filing fee ($272.14) and and service of process ($12-$70, depending on how difficult to serve). Add $200 if pending protective order case, or if emergency custody-type work will be required for a child danger (situations creating additional work) ADOPTION CASES $2,000 Minimum Upfront Retainer for person seeking to adopt (there are background checks and many service, postage, and other costs to adopt) $1, 200 upfront retainer for person who opposes an adoption action GUARDIANSHIP CASES Person Seeking - $1,700 (Like adoptions but to a lesser extent, guardianship cases come with high costs relating to serving different persons and background checks, much more so than a divorce or parent-custody case) Parent Opposing - $1,000 |
$4,000 MAX-OUT FLAT-FEE RETAINER
This payment option is available, at my discretion, for clients who want a guarantee that they will not spend more than a certain amount of money. While that amount is negotiable, it is by default set at $4,000 flat fee upfront. This is a good option for something you know might be a big, long custody battle or for people who are nervous about the case dragging on and costing many, many hours at the hourly rate. It is also a good choice if a two-day trial is scheduled or anticipated. Because it is flat fee and non-refundable, it would be a bad option if you reconciled or settled. This retainer only includes attorney's fees and does not include any court costs, such as the filing fee, service of process, court-ordered mediation, and other necessary costs. Those are in addition to this retainer amount. Other that any such items though, you will never be billed. MODIFICATION OF ORDER IN PRIOR CASE; OR CONTEMPT OF COURT OR ENFORCEMENT OF PRIOR ORDER (EARNED AT $200/HR)
$800 - Base Amount (if about Child Support only) Add $200 if custody and/or visitation modification and/or enforcement issue (as more than child support alone) Add $200 if pending protective order case, or if emergency custody-type work will be required for a child danger (situations creating additional work) Add $150 if motion(s) not filed and served and if you are the person pursuing the motion (to be applied to filing fee and service costs) So, if your seeking to go back to Court and change custody after you already have a custody order or a divorce Decree, in most situations your upfront retainer is going to be $1,150. Keep in mind that while divorces or initial custody cases are often wrapped up for the retainer with no bill later, motions to modify or contempt more commonly exceed the retainer and amount to more money being spent later; and this is because you're going into Court trying to change something where you already have an order in place, so it is more commonly a longer, more drawn-out battle. |
UNCONTESTED FLAT-FEE DIVORCE
No children, no or little property = $900.00 ($600.00 to attorney + $300.00 to be applied toward costs)
No children, substantial property = $1,100.00 ($800.00 to attorney + $300.00 to be applied toward costs)
With children, no or little property = $1,100.00 ($800.00 to attorney + $300.00 to be applied toward costs)
With children, substantial property = $1,300.00 ($1,000.00 to attorney + $300.00 to be applied toward costs)
Uncontested Divorces in Tulsa and surrounding counties are done regularly by Joel K. Mitchell. All funds are required upfront. The divorce action must occur in one of the following counties: Tulsa, Rogers, Washington, Osage, Nowata, Okmulgee, Wagoner, or Creek County in Sapulpa. Additional service by certified mail or process server or publication costs are in addition to the above amounts and not included (However, if the case truly is 'uncontested,' your spouse should sign the documents voluntarily and there should be no need for formal process service). What is "substantial property" is either a list of who gets what of many, many items, or any land, house, or real property to divide. Further, attorney's fees for dividing retirement accounts via QDRO (Qualified Domestic Relations Order) are not included in the price even as substantial property and the added price depends upon the number of retirement accounts being divided and the plan administrator. Ask me about this personally if this applies to you.
An "uncontested" divorce, by my definition, means just that - that the the divorce is uncontested. So what does that mean? It means that there are no issues that the two of you have not agreed upon. It means you know who gets the house, who gets what automobile, and who gets the sofa. If you have children, it also means who gets primary custody of those children and what visitation the other parents gets. If you and your spouse have talked amicably and agreed on these issues, I may consider your divorce "uncontested" and can therefore perform it for a "flat fee" rather than hourly rate. Besides being a flat fee if the cases truly are uncontested and promptly settle with signed Decrees, in most instances, my "uncontested" divorces require approximately three hundred dollars less upfront than my cases with regular retainers and rates
Sometimes people come to me with agreements that are unenforceable by law. The most common situation is that there will be no child support. I typically cannot prepare paperwork that the Judge will sign where there is zero child support since, in most cases, the Court will require the non-custodial parent to pay the other parent child support regardless of whether that parent is requesting it. Other common situations involve unenforceable property and debt division situations, where a couple has agreed that they will sign this asset over to that person and pay off this debt and so on. Once I know all the facts, I can give you my professional opinion as to whether what you want to accomplish can be prepared in a proposed Decree and whether that Order would be enforceable by law. Regardless, most people come to me with uncomplicated, simple situations that, if agreed-upon, can be drawn up in a proposed Decree and which can qualify as an uncontested divorce.
.IN THE EVENT YOUR SPOUSE EITHER (A) DOES NOT SIGN AND RETURN TO ME A PROPOSED DECREE WITH 30 DAYS OF RECEIVING IT FROM ME OR (B) REFUSES TO COMMUNICATE WITH OR PROVIDE ME WITH INFORMATION I NEED TO PREPARE A PROPOSED DECREE OR (C) CHANGES HIS/HER MIND AFTER THE CASE IS FILED AND BEFORE THE COURT ENTERS AN ORDER ON THE DECREE OR (D) RETAINS AN ATTORNEY, THEN AT SUCH POINT ALL FLAT-FEE RETAINER IS DEEMED EARNED AND YOU ARE BILLED AT THE REGULARLY HOURLY RATE [CURRENTLY $200/HOUR] GOING FORWARD.
No children, no or little property = $900.00 ($600.00 to attorney + $300.00 to be applied toward costs)
No children, substantial property = $1,100.00 ($800.00 to attorney + $300.00 to be applied toward costs)
With children, no or little property = $1,100.00 ($800.00 to attorney + $300.00 to be applied toward costs)
With children, substantial property = $1,300.00 ($1,000.00 to attorney + $300.00 to be applied toward costs)
Uncontested Divorces in Tulsa and surrounding counties are done regularly by Joel K. Mitchell. All funds are required upfront. The divorce action must occur in one of the following counties: Tulsa, Rogers, Washington, Osage, Nowata, Okmulgee, Wagoner, or Creek County in Sapulpa. Additional service by certified mail or process server or publication costs are in addition to the above amounts and not included (However, if the case truly is 'uncontested,' your spouse should sign the documents voluntarily and there should be no need for formal process service). What is "substantial property" is either a list of who gets what of many, many items, or any land, house, or real property to divide. Further, attorney's fees for dividing retirement accounts via QDRO (Qualified Domestic Relations Order) are not included in the price even as substantial property and the added price depends upon the number of retirement accounts being divided and the plan administrator. Ask me about this personally if this applies to you.
An "uncontested" divorce, by my definition, means just that - that the the divorce is uncontested. So what does that mean? It means that there are no issues that the two of you have not agreed upon. It means you know who gets the house, who gets what automobile, and who gets the sofa. If you have children, it also means who gets primary custody of those children and what visitation the other parents gets. If you and your spouse have talked amicably and agreed on these issues, I may consider your divorce "uncontested" and can therefore perform it for a "flat fee" rather than hourly rate. Besides being a flat fee if the cases truly are uncontested and promptly settle with signed Decrees, in most instances, my "uncontested" divorces require approximately three hundred dollars less upfront than my cases with regular retainers and rates
Sometimes people come to me with agreements that are unenforceable by law. The most common situation is that there will be no child support. I typically cannot prepare paperwork that the Judge will sign where there is zero child support since, in most cases, the Court will require the non-custodial parent to pay the other parent child support regardless of whether that parent is requesting it. Other common situations involve unenforceable property and debt division situations, where a couple has agreed that they will sign this asset over to that person and pay off this debt and so on. Once I know all the facts, I can give you my professional opinion as to whether what you want to accomplish can be prepared in a proposed Decree and whether that Order would be enforceable by law. Regardless, most people come to me with uncomplicated, simple situations that, if agreed-upon, can be drawn up in a proposed Decree and which can qualify as an uncontested divorce.
.IN THE EVENT YOUR SPOUSE EITHER (A) DOES NOT SIGN AND RETURN TO ME A PROPOSED DECREE WITH 30 DAYS OF RECEIVING IT FROM ME OR (B) REFUSES TO COMMUNICATE WITH OR PROVIDE ME WITH INFORMATION I NEED TO PREPARE A PROPOSED DECREE OR (C) CHANGES HIS/HER MIND AFTER THE CASE IS FILED AND BEFORE THE COURT ENTERS AN ORDER ON THE DECREE OR (D) RETAINS AN ATTORNEY, THEN AT SUCH POINT ALL FLAT-FEE RETAINER IS DEEMED EARNED AND YOU ARE BILLED AT THE REGULARLY HOURLY RATE [CURRENTLY $200/HOUR] GOING FORWARD.