Our rates are structured to give our clients high quality legal service at the lowest possible costs. We believe private representation, especially in family law, should be accessible and affordable. In general, we will require an upfront retainer and bill you hourly. In some cases, we are able to offer flat-fee pricing. Sometimes, traditional representation is unnecessary, and you only need a consulting attorney. If all else fails, we will provide you with competent referrals so you are not without representation.
PRENUPTIAL AGREEMENTS / PREMARITAL AGREEMENTS (PMA)
Starts at $5,000 and up for drafting a PMA, or $4,000 for review of existing PMA prepared by spouse’s attorney. (Additional fees apply for additional edits and drafts, rush, signing session, notary).
In general, if you are contemplating a PMA, we recommend you allot appropriate time prior to the wedding (at least 3 months). The law regarding PMAs is complex.
Both parties MUST be represented by independent legal counsel. (Your fiance/fiancee MUST retain their own attorney). There are no exceptions to this rule.
Don’t know if you need a prenup? Schedule an initial consultation with our office BEFORE you get married.
MEDIATION
If you and your spouse agree to mediate, you can hire us to be your mediator. As mediator, we are a neutral third party to help facilitate an agreement. We would not be you or your ex’s attorney, and would not be representing either of you. In order to use this service, BOTH of you must be present and agree to use Kelly as your mediator.
15-Minute Telephone Mediation Orientation with BOTH Parties Present: FREE
To secure your first mediation session, we require a retainer of $3,500.
MEDIATIONS FOR CLIENTS REPRESENTED BY ATTORNEYS
We offer mediated private settlement conferences. Do you have a case that should settle, but hasn’t? Need to set reasonable expectations for your clients?
We have over 23 years of experience in Family Law litigation and can help you and your clients come to an agreement.
Our rate is $5,000 for full day of mediation, and $3,500 for half-day. Please see Mediated Private Settlement Conference.
REPRESENTATION IN LITIGATION
If you hire us to be your attorney, our hourly rates range from$350 -$750 per hour. Limited scope representation retainers starts at $5,000. If you have limited funds, and need help with specific issues such as child support and custody, you would select this service. (More details below).
Full-scope representation retainers start at $15,000. If you need an attorney to represent you in your divorce from start to finish, you would select this service.
Not sure what you need? The first step is to call our office and schedule your initial consultation. Initial consults are $525.
LIMITED SCOPE REPRESENTATION (UNBUNDLED LEGAL SERVICES)
Are you in mediation, and need a consulting attorney to review your divorce settlement?
Need behind-the-scenes legal advice, but not representation for whole divorce?
Someone to ghostwrite your legal papers?
Want help with one court appearance, but not the entire divorce?
Need temporary spousal support/child support, but can’t afford the entire divorce?
For those who are cost-conscious and cannot afford traditional legal representation, you may wish to consider using a lawyer on an”as-needed” basis.
Starts at $5,000 and up.
CONTESTED DISSOLUTION
For contested divorces, the minimum retainer is $15,000+ (depending on the issues in your case), and normal hourly fees ($350 – $750) apply. Costs are the same.
UNCONTESTED OR DEFAULT DISSOLUTION (PAPERWORK ONLY)
Document Preparation Fees
Law and Mediation Offices of Kelly Chang charges flat fees for preparing documents in uncontested matters and mediations. Generally, it costs $3,500 to process a divorce without children (inclusive of all filing, messenger and document fees), and $4,500 to process a divorce with children (inclusive of all filing, messenger and document fees). The flat fee includes all court filing costs ($450 per person) as well as our attorney service messenger fees for filing documents at the Courthouse. If the Judgment is rejected for any reason, we submit for you with no additional cost. We will hold your hand throughout the entire process until your Divorce Judgment is entered.
To read more in detail about Document Preparation and What to Expect, click here.
ADOPTION SERVICES
Adult Adoption:
$1,850, which includes all work necessary to complete your adult adoption, including court appearance at the final hearing and a new birth certificate application.*
* In rare cases where the adoptee wants to be adopted and also have their existing parents keep their parental rights (so the adoptee could have three or four legal parents), additional fee of $350.
Foster-Adoption Finalization:
$700, which includes the preparation and filing of all documents, coordination with the Department of Child and Family Services (DCFS) and the Foster Family Agency (FFA), review of the applicable Adoption Assistance Payment (AAP) rate, and appearance at your final adoption hearing.
Stepparent Adoption:
Uncontested (non-custodial parent signs consent)
$2,500, which includes all necessary paperwork, communication with the Court and the investigating agency, efforts to secure the non-custodial parent’s consent, an appearance at the final adoption hearing, and a new birth certificate request.*
*Does not include investigation agency and fingerprinting fees.
Contested (non-custodial parent does not sign consent)
$2,500 (same as above) PLUS fees for TPR: see below
Fees for termination of parental rights:
$1,850 – $5,000+ (depending if birth father is can be located, or if “alleged” or “presumed” through default). If non-custodial parent contests the adoption, hourly fees are charged at $500 per hour.
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