A family law attorney charges $200 to $500 per hour, depending on the location, their experience level, and the services included. Some charge a flat fee for simple services, like drawing up basic, uncontested divorce papers.
Contested divorces, custody cases, or asset arrangements often take longer and cost more to settle. These cases often go to trial and require the attorney to spend time to prepare evidence and arguments, which increases the final cost.
Most firms charge by the hour, but some have contingency fees instead. This means that they receive a percentage of any money awarded at the end of the case and won't charge you anything until then. Some attorneys charge a $500 to $5,000 retainer fee, which is paid in advance.