What You Should Know Before Hiring A Family Law Attorney
If you're facing a custody battle, visitation dispute, or are trying to figure out guardianship for a loved one, you're probably going through one of the most stressful times in your life. I know how overwhelming the legal process can feel—I've been where you are. I understand what it's like to balance everything while trying to make the right legal decisions.
When people schedule a consultation with me, they often have questions they're hesitant to ask: How much will this cost? What's a retainer? What should I expect? I want you to have answers to these questions before we even talk. Understanding how I work and what to expect will help you make informed decisions and will set us both up for success if we work together.
How I Charge: Hourly Rates vs. Flat Fees
I use two different billing structures depending on your case, and I want you to understand the difference so you can budget appropriately.
Hourly Billing
For most family-centered cases, I bill by the hour. That means you pay for the actual time I spend working on your case—phone calls, emails, document review, court appearances, legal research, and preparation. My hourly rate reflects my 30+ years of experience and my high-touch manner of practicing law. You work directly with me throughout your case.
Hourly billing makes sense when:
You're in a contested custody battle and the timeline is unpredictable
Your case involves multiple complex issues
The other party is uncooperative or contentious
Flat Fee Arrangements
Some services—particularly uncontested divorces or some child support cases, I can offer at a flat fee. You pay one predetermined amount regardless of how many hours I spend. This gives you cost certainty and can be more economical for simpler matters.
Flat fees work well for:
Uncontested no-fault divorces where you and your spouse agree on all major issues
Many child support cases
Agreed changes in custody or visitation
During our consultation, I'll explain which billing method applies to your situation and why. I believe in transparency—you should never be surprised by your legal bill.
What Is a Retainer Agreement?
A retainer is an upfront payment that serves as a deposit against future legal work. Think of it as funding an account that I draw from as I work on your case. Depending on the complexity of your matter, retainers typically range from $2,500 to $10,000.
The retainer agreement (sometimes called a legal services agreement) outlines the scope of my representation, my billing practices, and both of our responsibilities. Read this document carefully and ask me questions before you sign it. It's your roadmap for our attorney-client relationship.
How Retainers Work
I bill against your retainer as I complete work on your case. You'll receive regular invoices detailing the time I spent and the tasks I performed. If the retainer is depleted before your case concludes, I'll ask you to replenish it. Any unused portion is refunded when the case ends.
What Happens During Your Consultation
I offer consultations—either by phone or video conference—so we can discuss your situation and determine if we're a good fit. The consultation fee is $175.
Why I Charge a Consultation Fee
You may wonder why I charge for consultations when some attorneys offer them for free. Many personal injury attorneys can offer free consultations because they work in volume—they meet with many potential clients knowing only a small percentage will hire them. Sometimes, the consultation is handled by a paralegal who can gather facts and explain the process, but who is not authorized to give legal advice. That's not how I practice law.
I offer individual attention and a personalized approach. During our consultation, you get my full focus, my 30+ years of experience, and thoughtful analysis of your specific situation. Most attorneys in the Richmond area charge between $100 and $500 for consultations. I deliberately keep my fee on the low end at $175 to make quality legal services accessible to as many people as possible.
What We'll Cover
This meeting allows both of us to determine if we are a good fit. You can confirm that I am the right attorney for your needs, and I will assess whether I can effectively represent you. You’re receiving my focused time, professional expertise, and honest legal advice, whether we decide to work together or not.
During our consultation, we'll discuss:
The facts of your case and your goals
Potential legal strategies and likely outcomes
Estimated costs and timeline
My experience and my approach to representing clients in your situation
Come prepared. Submit relevant documents such as court documents, agreements, and correspondence with the other party. Write down your questions beforehand. The more organized you are, the more productive our consultation will be. After our meeting, I'll send you a follow-up email summarizing our discussion and outlining your options.
Other Costs You Should Know About
My legal fees aren't the only expense. Family-centered cases often involve additional costs that are billed separately:
Court filing fees: These vary by jurisdiction and case type, typically ranging from $25-$200.
Guardian ad litem fees: In custody and visitation cases, the court may appoint a guardian ad litem to represent your child's interests. This fee is usually split between both parties. In guardianship cases, the judge will appoint a guardian ad litem to represent the person alleged to be incapacitated. The proposed guardian is responsible for paying this fee at the conclusion of the case.
Service of Process: Fees for a process server to deliver subpoenas or other court documents.
Postage: In guardianship cases, the proposed ward’s immediate family members must be notified via first class mail.
I'll provide estimates for these costs upfront so you can budget accordingly. I never want you to be blindsided by expenses.
How You Can Control Your Legal Costs
While you can't control everything about your case, you can take steps to minimize unnecessary expenses. Here's what helps:
Get organized from the start: Before our first meeting, gather court papers, financial documents, school and medical records, relevant communications, and a written timeline of events. When you're prepared with organized documents, I can get up to speed quickly rather than spending billable time asking you to clarify dates or find documents.
Do your own legwork: Many tasks don't require a law degree. Request your children's school and medical records directly. Obtain employment verification from your HR department. Download bank statements yourself. I'll tell you exactly what documents are needed, and you can often obtain them faster and cheaper than I can.
Respond promptly to my requests: When I ask for information, documents, or decisions, respond quickly. Delays create inefficiency—I have to follow up, work stalls and then has to be restarted, and deadlines get tight. Quick responses keep your case moving forward efficiently.
Organize your communications: Instead of sending five separate emails with scattered thoughts, compile your questions into one organized message. This allows me to address everything efficiently in one response.
Keep a running list: Unless something is truly urgent, batch your questions and concerns. Try to limit calls and emails to 2-3 per month rather than reaching out every time a question pops into your head.
Understand what's truly urgent: Real family law emergencies are rare—a parent threatening to leave the state with your child, an immediate safety concern, being served with emergency papers. Your ex's rude text message is frustrating, but it can wait until our next scheduled conference.
Use me as your lawyer, not your therapist: Family law cases are emotionally draining, and you absolutely need someone to talk through these feelings with—but that person shouldn't be me. Therapists charge $100-150 per hour. When you spend 30 minutes with me venting about your ex, you're paying premium rates for something a counselor could provide more effectively at a lower cost.
Tell me the ugly truth: Honesty saves money. Many clients hold back embarrassing information, then it surfaces later and I have to scramble with damage control. I've heard it all and won't judge you. When you're upfront from the beginning, I can represent you efficiently without wasting time being caught off-guard.
Keep settlement as your goal: Cases that go to trial cost significantly more than cases that settle. Settlement also gives you control—you and the other party can create solutions tailored to your situation rather than accepting a one-size-fits-all order from a judge who doesn't know your family. I'm prepared to go to trial when necessary, but if there's a reasonable path to settlement, pursuing it saves substantial fees.
What I Need from You
Effective representation is a partnership. I bring the legal expertise, but you know your situation best. Here's what I need from you:
Honesty: Tell me everything, even the unfavorable facts. Surprises in court hurt your case.
Realistic expectations: I cannot guarantee specific outcomes in family matters. Courts have broad discretion in custody and support decisions.
Cooperation: Follow my legal advice even when it's not what you want to hear. I recommend strategies based on 30+ years of experience.
Patience: Legal processes take time. Court schedules, discovery deadlines, and negotiation rounds can't be rushed.
Common Myths I Want to Address
Let me clear up some misconceptions I hear all the time:
Myth: Mothers always get custody.
Reality: Courts make custody decisions based on the child's best interests, not parental gender. Fathers have equal rights to custody.
Myth: I can withhold visitation if the other parent doesn't pay child support.
Reality: Visitation and support are separate issues. Denying visitation due to unpaid support can result in contempt charges against you.
Myth: Moving out means I've abandoned my children.
Reality: Leaving the home where you live with your children and your partner or spouse doesn't constitute abandonment. However, you should consult me before moving out to understand potential implications.
Myth: Hiring an aggressive attorney guarantees a better outcome.
Reality: Effective representation means strategic thinking, not unnecessary combativeness. Aggression can backfire, creating animosity and increasing attorney’s fees and costs.
Myth: I'll agree to this custody arrangement now because I can change it later.
Reality: Modifying a custody order is difficult. You must prove there has been a material change in circumstances since the original order and that the proposed change is in the child's best interest. Courts are reluctant to disrupt established custody arrangements. Don't agree to something that doesn't work for you and your child in the hope that you can easily fix it later.
When a Consultation Might Be All You Need
Not every family matter requires full representation with a retainer. Some situations can be resolved with just a consultation, where I provide legal guidance and you handle the rest yourself.
A consultation alone might work if:
You have a straightforward legal question and just need to understand your rights and options
You're facing a simple modification and both parties are in agreement
You want to understand the legal process before deciding whether to hire an attorney
During our consultation, I'll assess your situation and be honest with you about whether you need ongoing representation or whether you can handle it yourself with the guidance I provide. Sometimes I can solve your problem right there during the consultation itself.
Questions You Should Ask Me
Before you hire me—or any attorney—ask these questions:
What's your approach to cases like this—litigation or settlement-focused?
How often will you communicate with me, and who will I primarily work with?
What are your fees, and what services are included?
What's a realistic timeline for my case?
What potential outcomes should I expect?
Trust your instincts. You want an attorney who listens, communicates clearly, and demonstrates genuine interest in your situation.
Let's Work Together
Hiring an attorney during a difficult family transition can feel daunting. I get it—I've been there. But understanding the process removes much of the uncertainty. Whether you're navigating custody and visitation disputes, uncontested divorce, guardianship, or child welfare matters, having the right legal representation makes a significant difference.
You're not just hiring someone to file documents. You're choosing an advocate who will guide you through one of life's most challenging experiences. With my three decades of legal expertise and my lived experience navigating complex family matters and caregiving responsibilities, I understand what you're going through. My job is to manage your legal matters with excellence, integrity, and compassion so you can focus on your life and your family.
When you're ready to discuss your situation, call 804.238.7737 to schedule your consultation. You don't have to face this alone. Let's work together to find solutions that fit your needs.
