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:
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.