Different Ways to Pay a Lawyer

Attorneys bill clients in several different ways. For example, they can charge hourly rates or flat fees. They also accept multiple payment methods. Be sure to learn about all of the major options before speaking to a lawyer.

Billing

If a legal task usually takes a certain amount of time, an attorney may request a flat fee. For instance, he or she might charge $400 to prepare a will. You won't have to worry about receiving an unexpectedly large bill.

An alternative is to charge clients by the hour with a limit on the total expense. A capped fee makes the cost more predictable while permitting the lawyer to bill you for each minute of work.

You can initiate legal action without facing any upfront expenses. If an attorney is willing to accept a contingency fee, it means that you'll pay a percentage of any award or settlement. The lawyer earns nothing when you lose a case.

A retainer is an upfront payment that a legal professional applies to future work. Different attorneys subtract flat or hourly fees from this deposit. If you set up a monthly retainer, you might not need to pay extra for most legal services.

The above-mentioned billing methods remain fairly common, but you're more likely to pay by the hour. Depending on your needs and location, lawyers generally charge $100 to $500 for each hour of work.

Payment

You'll have to decide how to transfer the money to your attorney. Although you can pay relatively small fees in cash, law firms normally prefer personal checks, cashier's checks, or money orders.

Numerous lawyers allow clients to pay with credit and debit cards, but this isn't always an option. Before using this method, find out if the attorney can process payments from the specific type of card that you hold.

Some law offices arrange payment plans. They let clients pay a portion of the cost at first and settle the remaining balance in smaller installments. This solution may allow you to avoid high borrowing expenses.

Billing and payment choices vary depending on the specific lawyer, task, and customer. You may benefit from a greater variety of options if you have a compelling case, or the attorney currently faces a shortage of clients.