Some people think that lawyers are expensive.
That’s a ludicrous assumption, of course. Over your lifetime, you will most certainly spend more money on food, housing, cars, electronics, children, holidays and maybe even cigarettes than on lawyers.
Initial Consultation
For an initial consultation, I charge between 200 € and 400 €, depending on the complexity of the case.
In that first consultation, which can easily take up several hours, you will receive a solid assessment of your case and we will develop a strategy.
As part of that consultation, I will also be able to give you a good estimate of the total fees, should we decide to continue working together.
Hourly Fees
The problem with calculating lawyers’ fees are the clients, I am sorry to say. Someone may tell me that “it’s just a simple divorce”. But in the process, I discover that the marriage wasn’t valid in the first place, that there are hitherto unknown children of questionable descent, and that the spouses were running several Ponzi schemes on off-shore islands, the proceeds of which they are now fiercely arguing about. Then obviously, if I had quoted a flat fee at the beginning, based on the “simple divorce” promise, I would make a loss.
That’s why hourly billing is the fairest method. You and me (and sadly, sometimes the opponent) determine how much time we invest, and whether it’s really worthwhile to fight over every little detail. (It usually isn’t.)
My hourly rate is 200 €.
I will charge a retainer to cover the first 10 hours or more, depending on the complexity of the case. And then I will always keep you informed of your balance. You will never be surprised by a huge bill after years of litigation.
Flat Fees
For specific cases, I offer a flat-fee package, so you will know from the outset how much you will have to pay. No hidden charges, no surprises, no sudden tariff hikes at the whim of a madman.
The Untätigkeitsklage to obtain German citizenship by naturalization costs only 2,000 €. This includes all my expenses and VAT.
For a no-contest divorce without any arguments about children, money, cats, I may also offer a flat fee after the initial consultation.
Travel Expenses
Speaking of expenses, you actually save a lot by hiring me, because during my vagabonding years, I have learned to keep travel expenses to a minimum. No first-class flights or luxury hotels for this hot-shot lawyer. I am much more into long train journeys, Couchsurfing and hitchhiking.
VAT
If you reside within the European Union, I have to slap 19% value-added tax on top of my fees. This means that the effective hourly rate will be 238 €. (But the 38 € go to the government for libraries, hospitals, battleships, national parks and other useful stuff.)
If you reside outside of the European Union, you do not have to pay VAT.
Andreas Moser Rechtsanwalt 