Chicago family law / Fees by service
What It Costs to Enforce a Family Law Order in Chicago
Enforcing an existing family law order is billed as an individually quoted upfront amount plus $350 per hour.
Initial consultations are free for people seeking to hire an attorney. Your fee is confirmed in writing before you engage the firm.
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Initial consultations are free for people seeking to hire an attorney. Representation fees and the scope of work are confirmed separately.
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Fee structure: Court order enforcement
The scope of your written agreement controls what the fee covers, including the work listed below. The separate expenses listed below are paid by you and are not advanced by the firm. Call 312-965-5618 to request a quote for the enforcement work you need.
| Service level | How it is billed | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Enforcing an existing court order | Individually quoted upfront amount plus an hourly rate | Individually quoted upfront amount plus $350 per hour. |
Enforcement of an existing order is billed as published above, not as a flat fee or a monthly plan.
The upfront amount and hourly work cover drafting, hearings, motions and phone calls within the agreed scope. Expert fees and court filing costs are separate, are paid by the client and are not advanced by the firm. The written agreement confirms the fee, the covered work and separate expenses before you engage the firm. The upfront amount is quoted for your matter; the hourly rate is $350.
Narrower and broader enforcement work
Both are billed as published above and confirmed in writing.
Narrower enforcement tasks
- Reviewing an existing order and supporting records for a defined enforcement issue
- Drafting an enforcement petition asking the court to address noncompliance with an existing order for you to file
- Preparing a specified enforcement motion
- Representing you at a particular enforcement hearing
Broader enforcement work
- Drafting enforcement petitions and related documents
- Preparing enforcement motions
- Representing you at enforcement hearings
- Handling phone calls about the covered enforcement work
Usually outside the quoted fee
- Court filing costs
- Expert fees
- Work outside the scope confirmed in your written agreement
- Service costs and evaluation expenses
Factors that move the total
The same case label can involve very different work. These factors shape the scope we quote.
The obligation at issue
Unpaid support, missed parenting time and unfinished financial obligations involve different records and drafting needs. Your quote depends on the enforcement work you ask the firm to handle.
The orders to review
If later orders relate to the obligation you want enforced, reviewing them adds to the work involved. Amended support or parenting orders may change which provisions need review for your enforcement request.
The supporting evidence
Payment histories, messages and records of missed obligations help explain the dispute. Gaps or conflicting records may require additional review and preparation.
The disputed issues
The other person's response may raise questions about compliance or the meaning of an order. Additional disputed issues can affect the motions and hearing preparation needed.
The representation scope
A defined drafting task differs from handling an enforcement matter through motions and hearings. Preparing one petition for you to file involves less work and a narrower scope than handling enforcement motions and hearing appearances.
Bring these to your consultation
- The order you want enforced and any later orders affecting it
- Payment records or other documents showing the obligation and any noncompliance
- Relevant messages about missed payments, parenting exchanges or other required actions
- A dated list of the events you want the firm to review
- A clear description of your objective and the work you want help with
Court order enforcement fees
Frequently asked questions
Pricing and process questions, answered in general terms.
What affects the cost of an enforcement petition?
Preparing an enforcement petition asking the court to address noncompliance with an existing order involves identifying the provisions you want enforced, describing the missed obligations and organizing the supporting information. The scope depends on whether you want the firm only to draft the petition for you to file or also to handle related motions and hearings.
How do you quote a fee to enforce a divorce judgment?
The enforcement work starts with identifying the provisions of your divorce judgment that you say have not been met, such as missed payments or unfinished financial obligations. You can explain which provisions you want addressed and whether you want help preparing documents or representation at hearings. Your quote is given after a consultation, based on the provisions and work you ask the firm to handle, and you can call 312-965-5618 to request a quote. The scope of the written agreement controls what the fee covers, and more disputed provisions generally mean more work.
What work does the fee cover for an enforcement request?
For an unpaid-support or parenting-time enforcement request, the covered work can include drafting, motions, hearings and phone calls within the agreed scope. A narrower engagement might cover only drafting your enforcement petition or appearing at a particular hearing. Court filing costs and expert fees remain your separate expenses, and the firm does not advance them.
How is enforcement work billed?
Enforcement of an existing order is billed as an individually quoted upfront amount plus $350 per hour. The initial amount depends on the orders and provisions involved and is quoted after a consultation. Whether you want only a petition drafted or also motions and hearings, the written agreement states the covered work before you engage the firm.
How do I request an enforcement quote?
The initial consultation is free for people seeking to hire an attorney. Call 312-965-5618 to request a quote from Chicago Family Attorneys LLC, a Chicago firm focused only on family law and serving Cook, DuPage, Lake and Will counties. Have the relevant orders, supporting records and your immediate objective ready for the consultation.