Wisconsin Civil Litigation Cost Calculator

Enter your attorney’s hourly rate. Rates in Wisconsin typically range from $200–$400 per hour.
Estimate the number of hours your attorney might spend before trial (research, motions, etc.).
Enter the cost of filing fees and motion fees. These vary by county but usually fall between $250 and $500.
If you need an expert (like a doctor or engineer) to testify or prepare a report, enter their estimated fees here.
Include costs for things like subpoenas, court reporter fees, and transcript preparation.
Add any extra hours your attorney might need to get ready for trial (witness prep, exhibits, etc.).
Include any additional costs like travel, postage, parking, or courier fees related to the case.

How Much Will Your Lawsuit Cost? Use Our Wisconsin Civil Litigation Cost Estimator

Going to court in Wisconsin for a civil dispute—whether it’s over a contract, property damage or personal injury—can be a big decision. One of the most common questions we hear is: “How much is this going to cost me?” That’s why we built this civil litigation cost estimator—to give you a clearer picture of what to expect before diving into a lawsuit.

This won’t give you an exact number but it will give you a solid estimate based on your situation. Here’s how it works:

Attorney Hourly Rate

Enter your attorney’s hourly rate. In Wisconsin, civil litigation attorneys often charge between $200 and $400 per hour, though this varies depending on experience and the complexity of your case. If you’re unsure what your attorney charges, check your fee agreement or ask directly.

Estimated Attorney Hours

This is your best guess for how many hours your attorney will spend working on your case before trial. This includes time for meetings, drafting documents, filing motions and negotiating. For simpler cases 10-30 hours might be enough. For complex matters the hours can add up quickly.

Wisconsin Court Fees

Filing fees in Wisconsin vary by county and by case type but most civil cases will involve court costs between $250 and $500. This includes the initial complaint, service of process and motions. You may need to pay separate fees for jury trials or appeals.

Expert Witness Fees

If your case involves technical issues—like a medical diagnosis, building code violation or financial records—you may need to hire an expert. These fees can range from a few hundred to several thousand dollars depending on the field and how involved they are in your case.

Discovery and Deposition Costs

This category covers all the digging that happens before trial—things like document requests, depositions and court reporter transcripts. These costs often get overlooked but they add up fast. Even in smaller cases it’s common to spend $500 to $1,500 just on discovery.

Trial Preparation Hours

If your case looks like it might go to trial your attorney will need extra time to get everything ready. This includes preparing witnesses, exhibits, legal arguments and handling any pre-trial motions. Enter the estimated number of hours your attorney will spend specifically on trial prep.

OtherThis section includes anything else not already covered—travel time to and from court, postage for legal mailings, parking fees, courier services and more. These miscellaneous charges can range from $100 to $500 depending on how your case is managed.

What Happens When You Click “Estimate”?

Once you’ve entered your numbers the calculator adds everything up. It combines the attorney’s fees (hourly rate times total hours), court costs, expert fees and everything else. The result gives you a general idea of the financial commitment involved in pursuing a civil case in Wisconsin.

A Word of Caution

Litigation costs can change quickly—especially if the case becomes more complicated or drags on longer than expected. This tool is for estimation only and isn’t a substitute for a conversation with your attorney. Your lawyer will give you the best insight based on your specific case and goals.

Talk to a Wisconsin Civil Litigation Attorney

If you’re considering filing a lawsuit—or defending one—it’s a good idea to speak with a lawyer who understands the Wisconsin courts. At O’Flaherty Law, our team takes the time to walk you through every step so you’re not left in the dark. We’re here to help you make smart, informed decisions.

Contact us today to schedule a consultation and get clarity on your legal costs before you commit.

Why O'Flaherty Law?

Cost-Effective

When we started our firm in the midst of the recession, we learned to survive in a lean environment and pass the savings on to our clients.  As the economy has improved, we have not changed our philosophy.  We are hungry to grow our client base, and so we have intentionally set our rates below what the market will bear.  Our mission is to make each client walk away feeling that they got more value than they paid for.  This is easier to do when we make our prices affordable.

Client-Focused

The secret to our success as a firm is incredibly simple: we build a personal relationship with each of our clients and treat them with the respect that they deserve.  We pride ourselves on our open lines of communication, frequent check-ins with our clients, and our accessibility.  We are here to help you in any way we can, often leveraging our network of resources to assist you with non-legal issues that you may be having.  We are your one-stop problem-solver and trusted adviser.  All attorneys say that they provide excellent client service, but, unlike other attorneys, we practice what we preach.  We make sure every client walks away happy . . . period.

Comprehensive

We are your community law firm.  Our business is built on long-term relationships with our clients.  Our clients have the luxury of building trust over time with one team of attorneys, rather than having to find a new attorney for each different type of matter that arises over the course of their lives.  No one attorney can be experienced at everything.  That is why we have worked hard to assemble a team of attorneys with extensive experience in different areas of experience.  Our attorneys work together closely to bring our collective experience to bear on any issue that may arise for our clients.

Great at What We Do

Since our business comes entirely from referrals and community involvement, our reputation for quality legal work is our greatest asset . . . and it is extremely important to us.  Each of our attorneys is truly experienced in his or her practice areas, with the highest personal standards of excellence.  We are proud of our reputation in the community, and we did not achieve it by accident.  Our reputation for excellence comes from hard work, continuing education, and an above-and-beyond approach to our clients’ cases.