Domestic Law Attorneys

What is Domestic Law?

Domestic law is an area of law that deals with all aspects of family relations. Domestic law encompasses: adoption, child custody and visitation, children's rights, child support, spousal support (alimony), separation agreements, civilian and military divorce (dissolution of marriage), marital property division (equitable division), elder law matters, estate planning, estates and trusts, wills and will contests, probate, insurance, cohabitation agreements, pre-marital (pre-nuptial) agreements, marriage and other legal issues pertinent to the family.

Domestic law courts generally hear cases pertaining to dissolution of marriage, legal separation of the parties, nullity of marriage, child custody, child and spousal support, elder law legal issues, domestic violence petitions, and estate planning cases like wills, will contests, guardianship, insurance, probate, trusts and other estate related legal issues.

Domestic Law - Legal Fees - Q & A

Each case is different with fees ranging from several hundred dollars to over $100,000 in contested custody matters.

Ethical domestic law attorneys charge an hourly rate. Be wary of attorneys who charge a success fee that many domestic law attorneys consider unethical. I went to one domestic law attorney who said that he would charge a percentage of the settlement. Isn`t this a good deal for someone without access to financial resources. No. Contingency fees in divorce case have been outlawed in most (possibly all) states.

Yes. Lawyers are entitled to get paid like everyone else.

Hourly rates vary greatly from area to area and from domestic law attorney to domestic law attorney. You have to ask other attorneys in your area with similar experience.

There is no iron-clad way of knowing, but insist on an itemized statement and compare the charges to time you know that was spent, for example, if you spoke to the domestic law attorney for 15 minutes are January 30, make a record of the call and compare it with the invoice.

If your spouse controls the family's money, you may be entitled to ask the court for counsel fees pedente lite, mean the court may order your spouse to pay fees to your lawyer at the outset.

Should I hire a Domestic Law Attorney?

It ordinarily is a good idea to consult with a lawyer about any major life event or change, such as a contested or uncontested divorce, adoption of a child or placement of a child for adoption, child abuse matters, child support modifications, child visitation and custody, being acused of or a victim of domestic violence, elder law, juvenile law, probate or other major domestic law issue. Use the search form on this page to find a qualified domestic law attorney that's right for you.