Our Fees
Most law firms will not tell you what a case costs until you are sitting in their office. We publish our rates. The prices below are our standard fees as of 2026 for clients in the Bronx, Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn, and Westchester. Every matter is confirmed in a written retainer agreement before any work begins, and every flat fee lists exactly what it includes.
Hourly rate for out-of-court work: $350 per hour. Court appearances, motions, and trial days are priced as fixed events so you always know what the next step costs.
Uncontested divorce
| Service | Fee | Includes |
|---|---|---|
| Uncontested divorce — no children, no property to divide | $2,500 | All court papers, filing, and the judgment of divorce |
| Uncontested divorce — with children or a settlement agreement to draft | $3,500 | All of the above plus the stipulation of settlement, child support worksheets, and parenting plan |
| Separation, prenuptial, or postnuptial agreement | $2,500 | Drafting and two rounds of revisions |
Court filing fees (approximately $335 for the index number and $210 for the note of issue) are paid separately to the court.
Contested divorce
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| Advance retainer — no children | $7,500 |
| Advance retainer — with children, real estate, a business, or retirement assets | $10,000 |
| Court conference — virtual / in person | $350 / $600 |
| Pendente lite motion (temporary support, custody, or counsel fees) | $2,000 |
| Trial | $2,500 per day |
The advance retainer is held in the firm's trust account and billed against as work is done. Any unused portion is refunded. Itemized bills are sent at least every 60 days, as New York's matrimonial rules require.
Family Court
| Proceeding | Fee | Includes |
|---|---|---|
| Custody or visitation petition (filing or responding) | $3,500 | Petition or answer and 3 court appearances |
| Modification or enforcement of a custody order | $2,500 | Petition or answer and 2 court appearances |
| Child support (new, modification, or enforcement) | $2,000 | Petition or answer, financial disclosure, and 2 appearances |
| Objections to a Support Magistrate's order | $1,500 | Written objections or rebuttal |
| Order of protection (seeking or defending) | $2,500 | Petition or answer and 2 court appearances |
| Paternity | $1,500 | Petition or answer, DNA coordination, 2 appearances |
| Fact-finding hearing (trial) | $2,000 per day |
Criminal defense
| Stage | Fee | Includes |
|---|---|---|
| Desk appearance ticket or violation | $2,000 | Arraignment through disposition, up to 3 appearances |
| Misdemeanor — arraignment through pre-trial disposition | $3,500 | Discovery review, motions, plea negotiation, up to 5 appearances |
| Misdemeanor — pre-trial hearing | $1,500 per hearing day | |
| Misdemeanor — trial | $5,000 bench / $7,500 jury | Up to 3 trial days |
| Felony — local criminal court through indictment | $7,500 | Arraignment, bail, grand jury, felony hearing, up to 5 appearances |
| Felony — Supreme Court after indictment | $7,500 | Arraignment on indictment, discovery, motions, up to 6 appearances |
| Felony — pre-trial hearings | $2,500 per hearing day | |
| Felony — trial | $15,000 | Up to 5 trial days |
Landlord-tenant (Housing Court)
| Proceeding | Fee | Includes |
|---|---|---|
| Nonpayment proceeding (landlord) | $2,500 | Rent demand, petition, filing, 2 appearances, stipulation |
| Holdover proceeding (landlord) | $3,000 – $4,000 | Predicate notices, petition, filing, 2 appearances, stipulation |
| Tenant defense of a nonpayment or holdover | $2,000 | Answer with defenses, 2 appearances, negotiation |
| Illegal lockout | $2,000 | Order to show cause and first appearance |
| Order to show cause to stop an eviction | $1,000 | Drafting, filing, first appearance |
Court appearances and motions beyond what a flat fee includes
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| Additional court appearance — virtual | $350 |
| Additional court appearance — in person | $600 |
| Trial or hearing — half day / full day | $1,500 / $2,500 |
| Simple motion or order to show cause | $750 |
| Substantive motion | $2,000 |
| Unlimited email and text plan (optional) | $250 per month |
How payment works
- Flat fees can be paid in installments; a typical schedule is three payments over 60 days.
- We accept credit and debit cards, ACH bank transfer, Zelle, checks, and cash.
- Court filing fees, process servers, transcripts, and similar costs are billed at cost.
- Flat fees are earned in stages. If a case ends early, the unearned portion is refunded. No fee is ever non-refundable.
- In Family Court and divorce cases, you receive the New York Statement of Client's Rights and Responsibilities before signing, and no fee depends on the outcome.
Frequently asked questions about legal fees
Why publish fees when other lawyers don't?
Because the first question every client asks is "what will this cost," and we would rather answer it before you call than after. Publishing our rates also holds us to them.
Is a flat fee cheaper than hourly?
For a case that runs long, usually yes. For a case that settles at the first appearance, hourly can be cheaper — which is why our flat fees include a fixed number of appearances and we refund unearned stages.
Do you offer payment plans?
Yes. Most flat-fee matters can be split into two or three payments with a signed card or bank authorization.
Can I get a free consultation?
We offer a brief no-cost phone screening to determine whether we can help and what it would cost. A full consultation with case review is a paid session credited toward your fee if you retain the firm.
Call 888.886.3525 or book a consultation.
Attorney Advertising. Fees shown are the firm's standard rates as of 2026 and may be adjusted for a particular matter; the written retainer agreement controls. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.