We bill on an hourly basis, meaning you are charged for the actual time we spend working on your case. This includes things like communications, meeting with you, reviewing documents, drafting pleadings, negotiating with opposing counsel, and appearing in court.

At the beginning of your case, you’ll pay a retainer—an upfront deposit that is placed in a client trust account. As we work on your case, we bill our time against that retainer. When the balance runs low, we’ll ask you to replenish it so we can continue representing you.

This structure ensures transparency: you only pay for the work that is actually done. It also allows us to scale our efforts to the complexity of your case—whether it’s relatively straightforward or requires extensive litigation.

Costs & Decision-Making: You Stay in Control

At Alane Family Law, we believe your case and your money should always remain under your control. That means we never make strategic moves, file motions, or incur significant costs without discussing them with you first.

 

Every major decision in your case is vetted through you so you understand your options, the likely outcomes, and the associated costs before moving forward. This ensures two things:

• Transparency: you know exactly how your resources are being used.
• Control: you decide how to invest in your case, based on what matters most to you and your family.

Our role is to give you the information, advice, and advocacy you need to make confident decisions—not to spend your money without your knowledge or consent.

Do you offer payment plans?

No. At Alane Family Law, we do not offer payment plans. Family law cases are often unpredictable, and the costs can change depending on whether a matter settles quickly or requires extended litigation. Offering payment plans shifts the focus away from your case and toward collections, which doesn’t serve you well and can compromise the attorney-client relationship.

 

Instead, we use a retainer and hourly billing model. This ensures that your case always has the financial resources it needs as it moves forward. It also allows us to stay focused on your legal goals rather than tracking down payments. This structure provides transparency—you see exactly what work is being done—and flexibility, since it scales to the needs of your particular case.

How can I pay for legal fees?

It’s common to wonder how you’ll cover the cost of legal representation. Every family’s financial circumstances are different, but here are some of the most common ways clients pay their retainers and ongoing fees:

• Joint or marital funds. Many clients use joint accounts or marital funds to pay their initial retainer and fees. However, if an asset-restraining order is in place, there may be limits on moving or spending joint funds. Check with your attorney first.
• Personal savings or income. Many clients use their own accounts or income streams to cover fees as the case progresses (so long as an asset-restraining order does not prevent this—check with your attorney).
• Credit cards or personal loans. Some clients prefer to spread the cost over time by using credit or borrowing.
• Family or friends. In some situations, clients borrow from trusted relatives or friends who want to help them get the legal support they need.

What matters most is that your attorney-client relationship has the resources it needs to move forward. We’ll discuss your retainer up front so you understand exactly what’s required, and we’ll keep you informed about costs as your case develops so there are no surprises.