Our Fees and Costs

Legal representation does not need to be expensive.  Our firm’s size, flexible billing options, and commitment to building long-term client relationships allow us to offer the best representation and advice, while remaining affordable and accessible.  Because no two clients or legal issues are alike, we offer many different types of fee arrangements and payment methods to our clients.

Fee arrangements vary depending on the type of legal services required. These arrangements are often different and tailored to meet the different needs of clients.  We always discuss fee arrangements before we bill you for any work legal work.

The following are some of the more common fee arrangements:

“Good-Faith Consultation Fee”

Our Firm is committed to our existing clients and we pride ourselves on providing prompt and effective service.  For current clients of the firm with a new legal question or issue, there is no fee for an initial office consultation.  For potential clients who wish to discuss a legal question or learn more about available legal options, our Firm charges a reasonable good-faith consultation fee of $200.  While this small fee does not cover all the time and resources invested in a potential client and their legal question, it does help us qualify people who are serious about seeking legal representation.  For any client who decides to retain our Firm, the $200 consultation fee will be applied toward his or her first bill.

“Flat Fee” or “Project-Based Fee”

A common fee arrangement, whereby the client agrees to pay a simple fixed, or flat fee, to the Firm for a specified legal service or project.  The most common type of legal services provided for a flat fee are uncontested divorces, uncontested adoption, estate planning, prenuptial and other marital agreements.  A flat fee may be paid all at once or in installments.

Contingent Fee

The contingent fee arrangement is one in which the attorney’s fee is calculated as a percentage (usually around 33%) of any monetary recovery obtained for the client.  In a contingent fee arrangement, both the attorney and the client share equally in the risk and reward, and there is no attorney fee due until the conclusion of your matter.  A client will typically be responsible for the Firm’s minor out-of pocket expenses in prosecuting his or her matter, such as court filing fees, fed-ex delivery, substantial copying projects, deposition transcript costs, sheriff or constable fees, etc.

“Hourly Fee”

Lawyers are retained to provide their time and apply their knowledge, advice, and thoughtful consideration to help clients solve their problems.  An attorney’s hourly fee should fairly reflect his or her level of skill and experience.  Hourly-fee arrangements are set up to bill a client for the time that an attorney, paralegal, or law clerk spends in the thoughtful prosecution of his or her matter.

The “Retainer”

Oftentimes, and in connection with any of the above arrangements, an advanced retainer of some kind will be required. Our office will bill you on a monthly basis against this retainer. A copy of this bill, with the balance of your retainer, will be forwarded to you.  The purpose of a retainer is to ensure that funds will be available to compensate the firm for work performed and costs advanced.  The retainers remain the property of the client until earned, and are held in a Client Trust Account until earned.  Any unused funds are returned to the client at the completion of his or her matter.  For litigation and ongoing representation, a client may be asked to maintain a certain balance at all times, and replenish it whenever it dips below an agreed-upon amount