Family lawyer fees in New Zealand

Free services to know about

• Family Dispute Resolution, a mediation service for parenting disagreements, is free for anyone who needs it from 1 July 2025.
• The Family Legal Advice Service is free if you're eligible, based on your income and the number of dependants in your care.

How fees usually work

Family lawyers usually charge by the hour, though some offer fixed fees for set pieces of work. Matters that go to the Family Court generally cost more than matters resolved by agreement.

Your right to know the costs up front

New Zealand lawyers must give you written information before they start work, including the basis on which their fees will be charged and when payment is due. Fees must be fair and reasonable. If you're unhappy with a bill, raise it with the lawyer first; you can then contact the Law Society's Lawyers Complaints Service.

Questions to ask first

• Is this a fixed fee or hourly? If hourly, what is the rate and roughly how many hours do you expect?
• What is included, and what would cost extra?
• Which costs are disbursements or official fees, and roughly how much are they?
• How often will I be billed, and can I get an update on costs as we go?

Free and low-cost help in New Zealand

• Community Law Centres give free legal help throughout New Zealand.
• You may be eligible for legal aid through the Ministry of Justice.

More cost guides

Property and conveyancing · Wills and estates · Employment · Immigration · Criminal · All cost guides