Attorney fees are governed by the Michigan Rules of Professional Conduct. In a divorce case, a lawyer may not enter into an agreement for, charge, or collect a contingent fee (a fee based on a percentage of the monetary award to the client).
Attorney fees are based on a number of factors, including: the amount and nature of the services rendered; the time, labor, and difficulty involved; the character and importance of the litigation; the amount of assets and value of the estate affected; and the requisite professional skill and expertise exercised by your attorney as well as the novelty and difficulty of the questions involved and the results obtained. I will quote an hourly rate, which may help you assesses the amount of fees due. You will also be responsible for disbursements made on your behalf by your attorney for such items as court costs, filing fees, service of pleadings, appraisals, expert witness fees, etc. You will be charged for consultations, correspondence, phone calls, office and research work, court time, filing, and hearings.
In the event your spouse is ordered to contribute to your attorney’s fees, you will be given credit for the amount your spouse pays.
Please note: I cannot tell you what the total fee for your divorce case will be because I have no way of knowing how much time must be spent on your case.