Why Do Attorneys Cost So Much?

              Most family law attorneys require clients to pay a retainer.  A retainer is an advance fee deposit paid by the client at the beginning of a case. Retainer funds must be held in an IOLTA (Interest on Lawyers’ Trust Accounts) account, which is subject to heavy state and court oversight to ensure the account operates under strict ethical and legal guidelines. These funds belong to the client, and the attorney bills against these funds for the work they perform in their case. Funds are only transferred out of the account to pay the attorney for their work or to refund any remaining balance to the client after their case is closed. In Maine, the interest generated by IOLTA accounts is paid to the Maine Justice Foundation, which distributes those funds to support civil legal aid.

              Family law attorneys in Maine are prohibited from taking family matters (such as divorce, annulment, judicial separation, paternity or parentage, parental rights and responsibilities, emancipation, grandparent visitation, child support, or any modification or enforcement actions involving those matters) on contingency.  Contingency fee matters are cases where the attorney’s fee depends on the outcome of a case, and the attorney takes a percentage of any financial settlement as payment for their services.  An attorney’s fee agreement will state whether you are required to pay a retainer or if the case is paid on contingency.  Lawyers will also often discuss their fee arrangements during your consultation.

              In Maine, retainers can run between $5,000.00 and $20,000.00, and are commensurate with an attorney’s experience and expertise, as well as their firm’s area of practice, and complexity of the issue(s). Generally, you pay more for experienced attorneys because you're not just paying your attorney for the time it takes them to do their work; you are paying them for the value their years of experience bring to your case to obtain the best possible outcome.