There are many types of legal matters that you can become involved in. Below are the some of the time frames you can expect based on the legal matters most commonly needed.
Estate Planning, Wills, Trust
The average case takes two months. In very extraordinary situations, attorneys have completed work same day. Cases have taken as long as 3 years, depending on how long attorney and client take to respond back and forth regarding changes or decisions.
Estate Planning Estimated Length of Time:
Average = 60 days (2 months)
Minimum = 1 day
Maximum = 1,137 days (38 months)
Estate Planning Estimated Attorney Hours:
Durable Power of Attorney = 1-3 attorney hours
Medical Directives = 1-3 attorney hours
Living Trusts = 2-10 attorney hours
Simple Will = 1-3 attorney hours
Complex Will = 2-10 attorney hours
Real Estate & Landlord/Tenant Matters
The average real estate sale purchase, once an attorney is consulted, takes 2 months. In very extraordinary situations, attorneys have completed work same day. Cases have taken as long as 3.5 years from consultation to closing, but this is unusual.
Real Estate Matters Estimated Length of Time:
Average = 62 days (2 months)
Minimum = 1 day
Maximum = 1,231 days (38 months)
Real Estate Matters Estimated Attorney Hours:
Purchase/Sale of Real Estate = 2-3 attorney hours
Easement Dispute = 3-15 attorney hours
Property Damage Claim = 3-20 attorney hours
The average landlord/tenant dispute takes 3 months. The complexity of these matters varies widely. In simple, straightforward cases they may take only one day, while complex matters have taken as long as 15 months.
Landlord/Tenant Matters Estimated Length of Time:
Average = 83 days (2.8 months)
Minimum = 1 day
Maximum = 446 days (15 months)
Landlord/Tenant Matters Estimated Attorney Hours:
Tenant Dispute = 3-15 attorney hours
Security Deposit Dispute = 2-5 attorney hours
Immigration
The average application for citizenship, once an attorney is consulted, about a month. In very extraordinary situations, attorneys have completed work same day. Complex matters have taken as long as 10 months.
Immigration Estimated Length of Time:
Average = 24 days (0.8 months)
Minimum = 1 day
Maximum = 294 days (10 months)
Immigration Estimated Attorney Hours:
Application for citizenship = 5 attorney hours
Deportation Hearing = 2-10 attorney hours
Traffic Tickets
The average standard traffic ticket usually takes 1 month once an attorney is consulted. In very extraordinary situations, attorneys have completed work same day. Serious Traffic Matters can take as long as 5 months.
Standard Traffic Ticket Estimated Length of Time:
Average = 28 days (1 month)
Minimum = 1 day
Maximum = 103 days (3.5 months)
Standard Traffic Ticket Estimated Attorney Hours:
Minor Traffic Ticket = 1-2 attorney hours
Serious Traffic Matter Estimated Lengths of Time:
Average = 47 days (1.6 months)
Minimum = 1 day
Maximum = 139 days (4.6 months)
Serious Traffic Matter Estimated Attorney Hours:
Serious Traffic Matter = 2-5 attorney hours
Divorce
Uncontested divorce averages to about 6 months. In very extraordinary situations, attorneys have completed work same day. Contested Divorce can take as long as 2 years. Custody battles can take as long.
Uncontested Divorce Estimated Lengths of Time:
Average = 167 days (5.6 months)
Minimum = 1 day
Maximum = 1,174 days (39 months)
Uncontested Divorce Estimated Attorney Hours:
Less than 10 attorney hours
Contested Divorce Estimated Lengths of Time:
Average = 221 days (7.4 months)
Minimum = 3 days
Maximum = 1,450 days (48 months)
Contested Divorce Estimated Attorney Hours:
Contested without Children = less than 15 attorney hours
Contested with Children = 15-27 attorney hours
Custody Battles = 15-27 attorney hours
