You might hesitate to hire a lawyer because you do not know what the fees and costs will be or whether you can afford a lawyer at all. Many people search for seemingly cheaper options, for example, online divorce (for more details, read the Online Divorce section).
Generally, it is recommended that you obtain comprehensive information during an initial consultation with a lawyer to clarify which issues you have, which can arise, and how they can be resolved. An initial consultation with Alexander Ganz costs 190.00 euros, excluding VAT.
If you choose to retain Mr Ganz as your family lawyer after the consultation, you grant him authority to act on your behalf. He will clarify any additional costs that arise. Unless otherwise agreed, fees for legal representation are calculated according to the lawyer remuneration law of Germany (RVG). Lawyers are prohibited from charging lower fees than those outlined by the RVG for judicial activities. In some cases, in particular those of clients with international family law issues, special fees may be incurred which must be negotiated and agreed upon in advance between the lawyer and the client.