When you have your first conversation with your expert divorce lawyer, the subject of paying for the services will, and should, come up. A number of lawyers charge non-refundable fees as a requirement for retaining them to represent you.

A non-refundable retainer fee is just that. No matter what happens you will not get that money back. Sometimes people reconcile after hiring lawyers to start a divorce. Sometimes people find out that they don't have a good personality fit with their lawyers. Other times, both sides come to a quick agreement in far less time and with far less effort spent by the lawyers than originally expected. The case is over and you have paid far more than enough to compensate the lawyer at a reasonable hourly rate, but you don't get any of your money back.

All Florida divorce lawyers with any experience at all are going to charge some form of retainer to begin your divorce. There is certainly nothing unfair about that. But go with the ones whose retainers are refundable. These are basically just fee and cost deposits into your account at their offices. If they do the work and spend the time, they get paid from the account. If there is money left when the case is over, you get it all back.

With the money you get back, you can improve your life after divorce.

Bottom Line: Don't pay your expert Florida divorce attorney a non-refundable retainer.

(copyright Stann Givens 2009)