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How much does it cost to hire a divorce lawyer in South Korea in 2023?
There are two types of divorces: consensual divorces and judicial divorces. The former can be done independently without lawyers expense, but many cases end up in court due to disagreements on property division or child custody. A major concern in judicial divorces is the lawyer’s retainer fee, which can range from a few million to tens of millions of Korean Won.
So, considering inflation, how much does it cost to hire a divorce lawyer in 2023? Let’s find out.
Structure of lawyer’s fees = Retainer + Success Fee
A lawyer’s fee (referred to as ‘legal fee’) consists of a retainer and a success fee. The retainer is the initial cost paid when a lawyer takes up a case. The success fee is an incentive that the lawyer receives when certain success conditions (usually winning the case) are met. For example, if the agreement stipulates a success fee of 10% of the winning amount, the success fee for a 100 million won victory would be 10 million won.
Factors influencing lawyer’s fees
Factors that influence the determination of legal fees include the litigation value (the disputed amount in the lawsuit), the importance and complexity of the case, and the need for quick dispute resolution.
Cost of hiring a lawyer for a judicial divorce
While the cost of hiring a lawyer varies depending on the law firm or legal office, there might be a general average. In summary, the typical cost of hiring a lawyer for a judicial divorce is around 3 to 10 million won for the retainer and 5% ~ 10% for the success fee.
The average retainer for a divorce case in 2023 is around 5 million won. However, in cases where the difficulty of the lawsuit is low or the property division amount is less than 30 million won, the retainer can be as low as 3 million won. The success fee for divorce cases in 2023 ranges from 5% to 10%.
Is it necessary to hire a specialized divorce lawyer?
While it is not necessary to hire a specialized divorce lawyer, it is generally better to hire someone with experience. Divorce cases often involve emotional issues, making the level of care and sincerity a lawyer brings to the case more important than their specialty. However, as divorce often involves emotional matters, a divorce-specialized lawyer may have an advantage in empathizing with the client and handling the case effectively.
Do I need a former public official lawyer for my divorce case?
There’s been some debate about whether a former public official lawyer is necessary for a divorce case. However, if you’re considering hiring a former public official lawyer, don’t hesitate. The ability to afford the high retainer fee (several tens of millions of won) is the primary consideration, not the ability of the lawyer to perform in court. (‘Former public official lawyer’ refers to a lawyer within two years of retirement from a judge or prosecutor position).”
Divorce by Consent and Judicial Divorce: Which Method Is Better?