How Much Does a Condo or HOA Lawyer Cost in Michigan?

Hirzel Law’s published pricing for Michigan community associations. Jump to your question:

Michigan Fees at a Glance

$325–$525 / hour: Attorney hourly rates
$100–$200 / hour: Administrative and paralegal rates
Flat fees, avg. $500: Standardized policies and filings

A condominium or homeowners association board should be able to understand how its law firm charges before deciding whether to hire it. Hirzel Law’s current attorney rates for Michigan community association clients range from $325 to $525 per hour. We also offer flat fees for certain standardized legal services. For defined projects, such as many legal opinions and governing document amendments, we can often provide an estimate after reviewing the scope of work. Litigation and other contested matters are harder to predict because costs depend in part on opposing parties, opposing counsel, courts, experts, discovery, and the timing of resolution.

This pricing guide explains our current Michigan condo and HOA attorney rates, flat fees, when an estimate may be available, why some legal matters are difficult to predict, and what additional costs an association may incur.

At a Glance

Michigan Condo & HOA Attorney's Fees

Pricing Question	Current Approach
Attorney hourly rates	$325–$525 per hour
Administrative & Paralegal rates	$100–$200 per hour
Law Clerk / Summer Associate rate	$250 per hour
Standardized recurring work	Flat fees available for listed services
Defined projects	Estimates are often available after scope review.
Litigation / Contested disputes	Hourly rates. Unfortunately, costs generally cannot be reliably predicted in advance, due to the numerous variables in litigation, but we can provide general estimates.
Initial retainer	Generally not required for initial retention or individual matters unless the client fails to pay invoices in a timely manner

Hourly Rates

What Are Hirzel Law's Hourly Rates for Michigan Condo and HOA Clients?

Our current Michigan community association rates are:

Support Team

$100–$250 / hour

Legal Assistant / Administrative: $100
Paralegal: $200
Summer Associate / Law Clerk: $250

Attorneys

$325–$525 / hour

Associate Attorney: $325
Senior Attorney / Of Counsel: $375
Member: $425
Kevin Hirzel: $525

Time is billed in minimum increments of one-tenth (.1) of an hour. Depending on the matter, billable time can include correspondence, document review and drafting, emails, legal research, meetings, telephone calls, court appearances, discovery, mediation, travel time, and trial. Not every matter requires the most senior attorney. Hirzel Law uses attorneys, paralegals, law clerks, and legal assistants where appropriate, so that work can be assigned based on the experience and judgment required for the task.

A Note About These Published Rates

The rates on this page are Hirzel Law’s current rates for new condominium associations, homeowners associations, and other community association clients, and are subject to change. Most community associations are nonprofit corporations, and we understand that boards must be responsible stewards of association funds.

For that reason, Hirzel Law maintains a separate community association fee schedule. Under our current pricing, attorney rates for non-association corporate and real estate clients are generally $100 per hour higher than the community association attorney rates published above. Rates for other legal professionals may also differ.

We believe this pricing structure helps community associations obtain experienced condominium and HOA attorneys at rates that reflect the unique nature of association representation and the budget realities faced by volunteer boards. The terms of each client’s signed fee agreement ultimately control.

Retainers

Does Hirzel Law Require a Retainer for Michigan Associations?

Hirzel Law does not generally require an initial retainer for Michigan community association clients. The firm may require a refundable retainer later during a representation when circumstances warrant one.

A retainer, if required, is an advance for security and is not an estimate of the total attorney fees or costs.

Flat Fees

Which Michigan Condo & HOA Legal Services Have Flat Fees?

Some recurring legal services for community associations are predictable enough that we can publish the price in advance.

Rules & Compliance Service	Flat Fee
Collections Policy	$500
Bylaw Enforcement Policy	$500
Fair Housing Policy	$500
Homeowners' Energy Policy Act Policy	$500
State of Michigan LARA Annual Report	$100
Condo/HOA Report Card	$2,000

The $500 policy pricing is for an initial compliance draft. Additional customization is billed at the applicable hourly rate.

Collections

Flat Fees for Condo and HOA Collections in Michigan

Hirzel Law uses flat fees for several standard steps in the Michigan assessment collection process:

Michigan Collection Fee Schedule

Flat fees · per step

Initial Demand$400
Lien$350
Optional Final Demand$200
Complaint$1,000
Foreclosure by Advertisement$1,150
Discharge of Lien$150

These flat fees apply to the specific services described in our collection fee schedule. Other work, including certain communications, settlement negotiations, payment plans, debt disputes, litigation, collection of judgments, and post-foreclosure work, is billed at the applicable hourly rate. Third-party expenses and recording costs may also apply.

Estimates

Can Hirzel Law Estimate a Michigan Condo or HOA Legal Project?

Often, yes. If the board requests an estimate and the legal project has a defined scope and relatively few variables, we can frequently estimate the anticipated number of attorney hours or provide a reasonable fee estimate after reviewing the matter.

Examples may include written legal opinions, amendments to governing documents, reviews of specific declaration or bylaw provisions, and other clearly defined general counsel projects.

An estimate is not a fixed fee, cap, promise, or guarantee.

Actual attorney fees may be higher or lower if the facts change, additional legal issues arise, the board changes the scope, additional revisions are requested, or circumstances outside the association’s control require additional work.

The purpose of an estimate is to give the board useful budgeting information when the scope is reasonably predictable, without creating false certainty about work that has not yet been completed.

Predictability

Why Can't a Condo or HOA Lawyer Predict Every Legal Bill?

Standardized recurring work: Usually predictable; flat fee may be available
Defined legal projects: Often reasonably estimable after scope review
Contested disputes and litigation: Difficult to predict reliably in advance

Litigation is the clearest example. The total cost can depend on how the opposing party responds, whether motions are filed, the amount of discovery, the number of depositions, the use of experts, court scheduling, insurance issues, and when the case settles.

For that reason, Hirzel Law generally does not cap the total attorney fees for litigation. We can discuss the expected next phase of a case, anticipated work, settlement opportunities, and significant cost decisions as the matter develops so that the community association can evaluate costs as the litigation proceeds.

Costs

What Costs Are Charged in Addition to Attorney Fees?

Depending on the matter, a Michigan community association may also incur:

Court filing fees
Service of process
Court and deposition reporters and transcript costs
Postage, messenger, and delivery charges
Expert witness fees
Register of deeds search and document costs
Recording fees
Reproduction expenses
Travel-related expenses

The amount of these costs depends on the matter. A routine legal opinion may involve few or no outside expenses, while litigation or a construction defect matter may require substantial third-party costs.

Controlling Fees

How Can a Board Control Its Legal Fees?

The hourly rate is only one part of the total cost. Boards can often reduce unnecessary legal expenses by defining the question, organizing the relevant documents, using a single point of contact, involving counsel before making a high-risk decision, and requesting an estimate when the scope is reasonably predictable.

For a more detailed discussion, see the guides below.

Transparency

Why Does Hirzel Law Publish Its Community Association Pricing?

Boards are spending association funds. We believe they should be able to understand how a prospective community association law firm charges before deciding whether to retain it.

Who We Serve

Hirzel Law has represented more than 2,000 community association clients. We represent condominium associations, homeowners associations, master associations, and other community associations throughout Michigan.

We represent community associations. We do not represent individual owners in claims against their condominium or homeowners association.

Community Association Law

Need Legal Counsel for Your Michigan Condominium or HOA?

We are Community Association Attorneys representing condominium and homeowners associations in Michigan.

Request a Proposal

Talk with a Condo & HOA Attorney (866) 394-4642