From the Book: Divorce Amicably
This is a chapter summary from Chapter 6 of  Divorce Amicably, a guide to navigating separation with dignity and cooperation.
Chapter 22 Author: Tracy Ann Moore-Grant
I have represented clients and practiced exclusively in the area of family law since 2002. In 2019, I made the decision to be a non-litigation family law attorney. I am a passionate believer that parties, not the court, are in the best position to come up with solutions to their family law issues. The court system is designed as an adversarial system to pit parties against one another, say negative things about one another, increase cost and animosity and leave parties and children broken...
Chapter 22: How Lawyers Bill Their Time
Why Understanding Chapter 22's Billing Secrets Saves Thousands
The divorce industry's most expensive secret isn't what lawyers charge—it's how they charge. In this eye-opening chapter, Tracy Ann Moore-Grant exposes the hidden billing practices that turn simple divorces into financial nightmares, including the shocking truth about minimum billable hour requirements that incentivize lawyers to create conflict in your case. She reveals how attorneys who need to hit monthly billing targets will manufacture tasks, escalate tensions, and drag out proceedings—all while you foot the bill thinking this is "just how divorce works."
Moore-Grant pulls back the curtain on the two primary billing structures—retainers and flat fees—explaining not just how they work, but which scenarios make each a financial trap or blessing. Through detailed breakdowns of six-minute versus fifteen-minute billing increments, she demonstrates how a simple yes-or-no email can cost either $30 or $75 depending on your lawyer's billing method. Most importantly, this chapter provides concrete strategies for controlling costs, from email consolidation techniques to understanding the "empty retainer" scam that's becoming increasingly common in family law.
Chapter 22's Essential Billing Insights
Who Must Read Chapter 21 Before Having "The Talk"
This chapter is absolutely critical for anyone approaching divorce with limited funds, those who've heard horror stories about $50,000 legal bills for simple divorces, or anyone who suspects lawyers artificially inflate costs but doesn't understand how. It's essential reading if you're comparing attorneys but don't know what questions to ask about billing, or if you've already hired a lawyer but feel like costs are spiraling out of control.
Perfect for detail-oriented individuals who want to understand exactly what they're paying for, those considering whether to hire an urban versus suburban attorney, and anyone trying to decide between flat fee and hourly billing structures. Whether you have $5,000 or $50,000 budgeted for divorce, Moore-Grant's billing literacy framework ensures you get maximum value rather than maximum bills.
Get your copy of "Divorce Amicably" today and learn the billing secrets that determine whether your divorce costs a reasonable amount or bankrupts you—because understanding how lawyers bill is just as important as understanding what they charge.
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