Settlement After Fees Calculator
Calculate your net settlement recovery after deducting attorney contingency fees and litigation costs from the gross settlement amount.
How to use this tool
- Enter gross settlement amount, contingency fee and litigation costs in the fields above.
- Results update instantly as you type — or click Calculate.
- Read your your net recovery and the full breakdown beneath it.
This is an estimate, not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and individual circumstances. Consult a qualified attorney before making any legal decisions.
Estimate how much of a settlement you will actually receive after paying your attorney's contingency fee and reimbursing advanced litigation costs. Actual deductions depend on your retainer agreement — review it carefully.
Formula
Attorney fee ($) = gross settlement × contingency rate ÷ 100
Net recovery ($) = gross settlement − attorney fee − litigation costs
Net as % of gross = (net recovery ÷ gross settlement) × 100
How it works
This calculator deducts a percentage-based contingency fee and fixed litigation costs from a gross settlement amount to show the plaintiff's actual take-home amount. The contingency fee is applied to the gross settlement before costs are subtracted, which is the most common billing arrangement in the United States; some agreements apply the fee to the net-of-costs figure instead, so always check the retainer agreement. Results are an estimate and do not account for medical liens, Medicare/Medicaid subrogation, or tax implications.
Worked example
Worked example
- Inputs: gross settlement = $100 000, contingency fee = 33 %, litigation costs = $5 000.
- Attorney fee: $100 000 × 33 ÷ 100 = $33 000.
- Net recovery: $100 000 − $33 000 − $5 000 = $62 000.
- Net as % of gross: ($62 000 ÷ $100 000) × 100 = 62 %.
Attorney fee: $33 000; net recovery: $62 000 (62 % of gross).
Key terms
- Contingency fee
- An attorney's fee calculated as a percentage of the recovery amount, paid only if the case is won or settled.
- Gross settlement
- The total amount agreed to be paid by the defendant before any deductions for fees, costs, or liens.
- Litigation costs
- Out-of-pocket expenses advanced by the attorney during the case such as filing fees, expert witness fees, and deposition costs.
- Net recovery
- The amount the plaintiff actually receives after all attorney fees, costs, and other deductions are subtracted from the gross settlement.
- Subrogation lien
- A claim by an insurer or government programme (e.g. Medicare) to be reimbursed from a plaintiff's settlement for benefits it previously paid.
Frequently asked questions
- What is a contingency fee?
- A contingency fee is a percentage of the recovery that the attorney earns only if the case is won or settled. Typical rates are 33% pre-trial, 40% if an appeal is filed.
- Are costs deducted before or after the fee?
- This varies by retainer. Some agreements deduct costs from the gross before calculating the fee; others deduct them after. Read your agreement carefully or ask your attorney.
- What counts as litigation costs?
- Common costs include court filing fees, process server fees, deposition transcripts, expert witness fees, medical records, and investigation costs.