Attorney Fee Calculator

Understanding Attorney Fee Structures

Legal fees vary by practice area, state, and complexity. This calculator helps you estimate costs across the most common US fee models.

Contingency Fees

Common in personal injury, workers' comp, and civil rights cases. The attorney receives a percentage of the recovery only if you win. Typical rates: 33% before filing, 40% after filing, 45% for trial/appeal. Some states (CA, WA, NY) use sliding scales where the percentage decreases as the recovery increases.

Hourly Rates

Used in family law, business litigation, criminal defense, and complex civil matters. Rates vary by location, experience, and firm size ($150–$1,000+). A retainer is often required upfront. This calculator estimates total fees based on hours × rate, and shows remaining balance after retainer.

Flat Fees

Common for routine matters: uncontested divorce, simple will, immigration, bankruptcy, traffic tickets. Fixed price for defined services.

Probate & Estate Fees

Many states have statutory fee schedules based on estate value. Examples: Ohio/Common Law: 4% of first $100k, 3% next $300k, 2% next $400k, 1% remainder. California: 4% of first $100k, 3% next $100k, 2% next $800k, 1% next $9M. Florida: 3% of first $1M, 2.5% next $1M, etc.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Are case expenses included in contingency fees? — Usually no. Expenses (filing fees, expert witnesses) are often billed separately or deducted from recovery before calculating fee.
• What is a typical retainer? — For hourly matters, retainers range from $2,000–$10,000 depending on case complexity and firm.
• Do probate fees include court costs? — No. Statutory fees are attorney compensation; court filing fees, publication costs, etc. are separate.
• Can I negotiate legal fees? — Yes, especially for hourly and flat fee arrangements. Contingency percentages may also be negotiable.