There are large differences in the hourly rate among attorneys. In Montgomery County, the rate for family lawyers range from about $150 per hour to $425 per hour. But did you know that there is an even larger discrepancy in their fix rates to draft a simple separation agreement? I asked eight local firms how much would they charge to prepare a separation agreement for a client who had no children, no home, no debts, and no retirement account. I received price quotations from a reasonable $750 to an astronomical $3,950 to draft a simple separation agreement. The average amount was $1,512. To reduce the risk of being overcharged, I recommend that clients schedule free consultations with at least 3 attorneys before retaining one.
