Key Factors to Consider
Before you compare a flat-fee quote for an uncontested filing against an hourly retainer for a contested case, settle three decision criteria. Those three are what reliably move a Greensburg divorce bill: the written scope of work, the events that convert a fixed price into an open-ended one, and the predictability of the Westmoreland County court process your matter will actually run through. The numbers below are the ones to collect from every firm you call.
Scope of work. Ask each attorney to list, in the engagement letter, which tasks the quoted price covers — petition preparation, filing, service on the opposing party, discovery, negotiation, and the final decree — and which are billed separately. The test is coverage, not price: two quotes are comparable only if the same task list sits behind both. If one quote omits service or discovery, add those items back at that firm's own rate before you compare totals.
Conversion trigger. A flat fee holds while the matter stays uncontested. What matters is how the agreement defines the switch to hourly billing, the date the switch runs from, and the rate applied afterward. Get the re-opener clause in writing and read the notice provision, so you know whether extra work begins only after your written approval or on the firm's judgment.
Court-process predictability. Confirm which judge is assigned and how court appearances are counted in the estimate. TribLIVE's 2026 reporting on Westmoreland County judges seeking return to the bench shows the county bench was in flux that year, so an answer given during an initial call may not hold by the time your case is listed. A firm that tracks local assignments can price that uncertainty better than one that assumes a fixed schedule.
The numbers that matter are the same set for every firm. Collect them in one place so the totals line up side by side.
| Item to collect | Ask specifically for | Why it changes your total |
|---|---|---|
| Flat fee or retainer amount | What it covers; whether it is earned on receipt or drawn against time | A retainer drawn against time is a floor, not a total |
| Hourly rates | Rate by timekeeper, plus the rate after a scope change | Excluded tasks are priced at that rate |
| Costs billed separately | Filing, service, transcripts; at cost or marked up | Adds to both quotes, often unequally |
| Scope boundary list | Tasks inside and outside the quoted figure | Defines what the quote does not buy |
| Projected total | One figure computed on the identical task list you gave every firm | Converts competing formats into one number |
Verify before you commit: put the flat fee, its excluded costs, and the hourly rate applied to every excluded task on one page; do the same for the retainer, crediting only the money actually applied to your matter. If a firm will not give you a written projected total on your task list, treat that as the answer and keep calling.
What to do next
| Step | Action | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Define your specific needs and budget | Narrows options to what actually fits |
| 2 | Compare top 3 options side by side | Reveals the best value for your situation |
| 3 | Check current pricing and availability | Prices change frequently — verify before committing |
| 4 | Book directly with the provider | Often gets better terms than third parties |
| 5 | Set a reminder to review in 6 months | Policies and pricing shift — stay current |
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