Legal help ranges from a free self-filed claim to a contingency-fee lawsuit. Pick a path and your state to see what it typically involves — known court filing fees where we have them, how lawyers usually charge (hourly, flat, or contingency), and rough timelines. Enter the amount in dispute and you'll also see roughly what you'd keep after fees. We show fees, structures, and arithmetic on the figures you enter — not a prediction of what your specific matter will cost or recover.
Legal fees come in a few common shapes: hourly (you pay for time spent), flat fee (a fixed price for a defined task like a will or an uncontested filing), and contingency (the lawyer takes a percentage only if you win, common in injury cases). Many offer a free or low-cost initial consultation — a low-risk way to understand your options.
Timelines vary widely. A small claims case might resolve in a couple of months; a negotiated settlement can be faster; a contested lawsuit can take a year or more. Knowing the rough shape of each path up front helps you weigh whether the time and cost are worth it before you commit.
Cost is only half the picture — what matters is what you'd actually keep. Enter the amount in dispute and this guide shows the arithmetic: in small claims there is no lawyer's percentage, so you keep most of a recovery after a modest filing fee; on a typical one-third contingency fee, the lawyer's share comes off the top; and hourly work depends on how many hours your matter takes. Remember that winning and collecting are two different things — a judgment against someone with no reachable income or assets can go unpaid — so weigh collectability, time, and stress alongside the numbers. This is a worksheet on the figures you enter, not a prediction or a recommendation.
Disclaimer: NotALawyer.com provides general legal information, not legal advice, and is not a law firm. Using a tool does not create an attorney–client relationship. Laws change and vary by situation — verify anything important with the official source or a licensed attorney in your state.