Legal Costs in Family Law Cases and Divorce

What is Included in Legal Costs?

The legal costs within family law usually consist of three components:

1. Costs for legal assistance – the fee of your lawyer or mediator.
2. Costs of the procedure – court fees and any costs of experts or witnesses.
3. Additional costs – for example, for extracts, translations, or international documents.

At Simmelink, you will receive a clear estimate of these costs in advance.
This allows you to make a well-considered decision about the next step.

Divorce Costs

Many clients specifically look for the cost of a divorce.
The costs depend heavily on your situation: the complexity of the case, the presence of children or assets, and the way you want to arrange the divorce — through mediation or through the court.

The main cost items are:

• Attorney fees – based on an hourly rate or a fixed price agreement.
• Mediation costs – often paid jointly, usually lower than with separate lawyers.
• Court fees – fixed costs that are paid to the court in a procedure.
• Additional costs – for example, for experts, witnesses, or notarial documents.

In the case of a joint divorce or mediation, the costs usually remain clearer.
When consultation is not possible and a legal procedure is necessary, the costs often increase.

During the first, no-obligation consultation, we will discuss your situation and provide a personal cost estimate.
Based on that, you can decide on the next steps with peace of mind and clarity.

Costs of a Family Law Attorney

The amount of attorney fees is related to:

• the complexity of your case (for example, international or financial aspects);
• the degree of consultation between parties;
• the chosen approach – mediation, collaborative divorce, or procedure.

We work with an hourly rate and can – where possible – make fixed price agreements.
This way, you know in advance what to expect.

When both parties jointly engage one mediator, the costs are usually shared.
If you each choose your own lawyer, then everyone pays their own costs.
In exceptional cases, the court may decide that one party must reimburse (part of) the costs of the other, for example in alimony proceedings.

Mediation Costs

In mediation, both parties work together with one neutral mediator. Because the costs are shared, this form of conflict resolution is often more financially attractive than a legal procedure with two lawyers. Moreover, mediation regularly leads to faster and more sustainable agreements — for example, about the parenting plan or alimony — and you retain control together.

We will discuss in advance what you can expect in terms of costs, so you will not be faced with surprises.

Court Fees and Legal Costs

When a case is brought before the court, fixed court fees apply. The amount thereof is legally determined and differs per procedure.
We will inform you about this in good time, together with any additional costs — such as expert investigations or translations — so that you know exactly where you stand.

Transparency and Control

Our clients appreciate that we offer not only legal, but also financial overview. During the process, we keep you informed of the hours spent, the possible next steps, and the expected timeline of the procedure.
This way, you retain control and can make decisions with peace of mind and confidence.