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What a Family Law Case Costs in Washington

Hourly billing, retainers, and what actually drives the number

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What Drives the Cost of a Family Law Case

Hourly billing, retainers and RCW 26.09.140

Family law is billed by the hour against a retainer, so the honest answer to what a case will cost is a range that depends almost entirely on how much is actually in dispute. Two divorces with identical assets and identical incomes can differ by a factor of ten depending on whether the parties can agree.

The things that move the number are consistent: whether the parenting plan is contested, how complicated the finances are, how the other side behaves, whether experts such as a parenting evaluator or forensic accountant are needed, and whether the case settles or goes to trial.

The single biggest lever is you

Across almost every case type, the largest cost difference is not the assets or the income. It is whether the matter resolves by agreement or is fought out in court. Cases that settle through negotiation or mediation routinely cost a fraction of cases that reach a contested trial, and the outcomes are frequently similar.

What we charge

Attorney time starts at $400 an hour. Paralegal time starts at $295 an hour. Which rates apply depends on who does the work on your matter.

Family law matters are handled hourly against an initial retainer. Your rates and the scope of the work are set out in a written fee agreement before any work begins.

Rates current as of September 2026.

NWF Calculator: Attorney Fees

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What Can Change the Cost

Where planning meets reality

  • How much the other party disputes, and how reasonable their counsel is, which neither you nor we control.

  • Whether new issues emerge mid-case, such as a hidden account, a relocation request or a safety concern.

  • Court scheduling. Contested trials in King County are set months out, and trial preparation is the largest single block of work in a litigated case.

  • Expert fees, which are billed by the expert directly and are separate from attorney fees.

  • Court filing fees, service costs and copies, which are also separate.

  • Decisions you make as the case goes on. Every contested motion has a cost, and some are worth it while others are not.

Frequently Asked Questions

Attorney fees estimator

How much does a divorce cost in Washington?

It depends almost entirely on how much is contested. An agreed divorce where the parties settle everything is a fraction of the cost of a case with a disputed parenting plan or a business to value. Washington’s 90-day waiting period means even an agreed case takes at least three months. We’ll give you a candid range for your situation in a consultation.

What are your hourly rates?

Attorney time starts at $400 an hour and paralegal time starts at $295 an hour, depending on who works on your matter. Your rates are confirmed in a written fee agreement before any work begins. Rates current as of September 2026.

Do you charge a retainer?

Yes. Family law matters are handled on an hourly basis against an initial retainer, with the scope and rates set out in a written fee agreement before any work begins.

Can I make my spouse pay my attorney fees?

Washington courts can order one spouse to contribute to the other’s fees under RCW 26.09.140 after considering the financial resources of both parties, and fees can also be awarded where a party has litigated unreasonably. It is discretionary and never guaranteed.

Is mediation cheaper than going to court?

Usually, and often by a wide margin. Settling through negotiation or mediation avoids the largest single block of work in a litigated case, which is preparing for trial.

Will you give me a fee quote?

Not before we understand the case. Family law is billed hourly, and an honest number depends on what is actually in dispute. After a consultation, the scope and rates are set out in a written fee agreement before any work begins.

Ready to talk through your numbers?

An estimate is a starting point. A conversation with a Washington family law attorney is where it becomes a plan. We treat your consultation as confidential.

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