Attorneys' Fees

Attorneys' fees refers to money to be paid to lawyers by one or both parties in cases of litigation. In real estate, most transactions involve a contract that indicates who will pay attorneys' fees in case the transaction involves litigation. These types of fees can cover a number of charges related to litigation. It can include the hourly fee charged by attorneys, or it may be a flat fee for drawing up certain documents. Court approved fees are those the court deems fair to cover expenses related to the case. In most real estate litigation, the contract stipulates the losing party will cover all attorneys' fees. This is a factor designed to prevent frivolous lawsuits from hitting the court system. If the court deems an action frivolous, then the court often requires the losing party to pay all fees.