The mediation cost breakdown my lawyer never explained

Found out from a friend in the same county that the court filing fee alone was $435 plus another $75 for the parenting class, and my lawyer never mentioned either number when we started. Did you all get hit with surprise fees like that or did someone walk you through the full list upfront?

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the_alex1mo ago

Check your court's fee waiver form before you pay anything, a lot of counties have one and nobody tells you about it, you just have to ask the clerk. Same with the parenting class, mine had a free online option through the county website that my lawyer's office quoted me $75 for. Ask for a full written list of every fee upfront next time, and make them put it in the retainer agreement so there are no surprises later. Lawyers bill by the hour so they don't always think about the small stuff, but that stuff adds up fast when you're already stressed about money.

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