How Much Do Wrongful Death Lawyers Charge in Georgia?

Wrongful death lawyers in Georgia are paid under terms set out in a written fee agreement, so that document is where the answer lives. This page explains how to read that agreement, what a free first consultation means here, and which costs to ask about. It is general information for families in Georgia, including metro Atlanta, and it is not advice about your own situation.

The short answer: fees are set out in a written agreement

Wrongful death lawyer fees are set out in a written fee agreement, and that is the place to look first. Read it closely before you decide anything. Ask about any term you don’t understand, and ask for the answer in writing.

Losing someone is painful. Many families face this question while they are still grieving and handling paperwork they never expected. It is reasonable to want clear answers before you commit to anything.

Ask the lawyer to walk you through the agreement line by line. Good questions include how any fee is calculated, when it would be owed, and what happens if the matter ends before a lawsuit is filed. Keep copies of everything you sign.

Fee terms can differ from one lawyer or firm to another. A general article cannot tell you what your agreement says or how it would apply to your family. For background on the practice area, read our wrongful death guide.

What a free first consultation means at this firm

The firm offers a free first consultation that is confidential and carries no obligation to continue. That is the only fee statement this page makes about the first meeting.

In a first consultation, you describe what happened and ask your questions. The lawyer can explain how the process works and what a written agreement would cover. You may bring papers you already have, such as a death certificate, a police report, or medical records, so the conversation covers the facts you know. These are documents of what happened, and this page does not say how they will affect any claim.

Attending a consultation does not commit you to hiring the firm. You are not required to continue after it. You can take time to think it over before deciding anything.

A consultation is a conversation, not a promise. No one can tell you how a matter will turn out from that first meeting.

How wrongful death lawyers are paid, in general terms

Wrongful death lawyers are paid under arrangements described in the written agreement you sign, and that agreement controls. Compensation arrangements can take different forms. The agreement says which form applies to your matter and when any amount is due.

This page does not describe how any percentage or stage-based term works. Those details belong in your written agreement. Online summaries cannot replace it for your situation.

Who brings the claim also matters. Under Georgia law, a surviving spouse or, if there is no surviving spouse, a child or children may recover for the homicide of a spouse or parent. Georgia law addresses how the value of a decedent’s life may be measured in a wrongful death claim, and how that applies depends on the facts of each case; consult a lawyer about your own situation. Whether a particular person may recover depends on the facts and the relationships involved.

When no one is entitled to bring the action under those sections, an administrator or executor may bring it for the next of kin, depending on the facts of the case and subject to exceptions; consult a lawyer about your own situation. Ask a lawyer how these rules apply to your family.

Court costs and case expenses are separate from attorney fees

Court costs and case expenses are separate from attorney fees, and a client may still be responsible for them. Costs can include items such as filing fees, charges for records, and fees for outside professionals who review documents. Which costs arise depends on the facts of the case.

Ask specific questions. How would costs be paid while the case is open? Would you owe any of them if the case does not succeed? Who pays which costs if the matter ends early? Get the answers in writing.

Don’t assume costs will be small or that someone else will cover them. The written agreement sets out what you are responsible for.

Georgia law also addresses damages a personal representative may seek for funeral, medical, and other necessary expenses. That applies when a death results from a crime or from criminal or other negligence (O.C.G.A. § 51-4-5). Whether particular expenses qualify depends on the facts. These are items a claim may seek, not costs you pay the lawyer.

Why fees cannot tell you what a claim is worth

No fee, cost, or claim value can be figured from general information like this page. Fees and claim value are separate questions.

A fee is set by the agreement. A claim’s value depends on facts this page does not know about your loved one’s situation. Our team cannot estimate or value your case from a web page.

This page does not include averages, typical payouts, or sample settlement figures. Those numbers describe other situations, not yours, and they can give a misleading sense of what to expect.

Georgia law refers to the “full value of the life of the decedent, as shown by the evidence.” How that standard applies depends on the facts and the evidence in each case.

Whether a claim exists depends on the facts. No outcome can be promised. Take questions about recovery to a lawyer after the facts are reviewed.

Questions to ask about fees before you decide

Before you decide, ask how fees are calculated, what happens to costs, and what you would owe if the case ends early. A short list can keep the conversation focused.

• How is any attorney fee calculated, and when is it owed?
• Who pays court costs and case expenses, and when?
• Would I owe any costs if the case does not succeed?
• What happens if the matter ends before a lawsuit is filed?
• Who is the responsible lawyer, and how do I reach them?

Peter F. Jaraysi is the responsible lawyer named on this page. Ask that the agreement be explained to you in plain words before you decide anything.

Georgia sets time limits for filing. Georgia law generally sets a two-year filing deadline for actions for injuries to the person, but exceptions exist and the deadline depends on the facts of each case; consult a lawyer about your own situation (O.C.G.A. § 9-3-33; Cameron v. JMP Pizza, Inc. (2026)). The statute contains exceptions. How any deadline applies to a wrongful death matter depends on the facts, so ask a lawyer how it applies to your situation.

Is wrongful death a criminal charge?

A wrongful death lawsuit is a claim for money, and it is generally separate from any criminal charge. A criminal case and a civil claim can both arise from the same event, depending on the facts.

One does not automatically decide the other. A criminal case may proceed on its own timeline, and a civil claim has its own rules and questions.

Georgia law also addresses how a criminal prosecution can affect time limits. Georgia law may toll the limitation period for certain tort actions brought by the victim of an alleged crime while the prosecution is pending, but this depends on the facts of each case and exceptions may apply; consult a lawyer about your own situation. That tolling is limited to six years, except as § 9-3-33.1 provides. Whether this applies to your matter depends on the facts, and that is a question for a lawyer.

Talking with our team about your family’s questions

Our team can walk you through the fee agreement, the costs, and the free first consultation at a pace that works for you. You don’t have to sort out the paperwork alone.

You may be researching this for a parent, spouse, child, or friend who has died. The death may have followed an accident or incident you did not choose. You may also be trying to understand costs before you decide anything. That is a lot to carry.

If you want fee terms explained in plain words, contact our team through the contact page and ask about the free first consultation.

Disclaimer: This page is general information, not legal advice, and reading it does not create a lawyer-client relationship. Slam Dunk Attorney is based in Duluth, Georgia. The responsible lawyer is Peter F. Jaraysi. Contact: contact page.