A Little Bit About Our Fees...
Our fees are generally charged based upon the amount of time required to perform the work. We have a set hourly fee which is charged in one-tenth hourly increments. We provide a monthly itemization of the services performed and the time spent on those services.
We generally require a retainer for many of the services we perform, specifically litigation (law suits) and family law matters. The retainer is drawn upon to cover our own fees as well as any expenses encountered while we handle your case. The retainer amount varies based upon the type of work to be performed.
While we are handling your matters, your retainer is placed in an escrow account from which payment is made to us at the end of each month. Clients are required to replenish the escrow balance each month after fee payments are made, thus restoring the retainer. When your matter has been settled, the last month's billing will be paid out of the escrow account and the balance (if any) is then refunded to the client.
We also handle some litigation matters on a contingent fee basis. This is sometimes referred to as a "percentage fee". A contingent fee means that our lawyer service fee is contingent upon our obtaining a recovery for the client. If no recovery is obtained, then we receive no fee.
The contingent fee varies from 33 1/3% to 40% of the award. In addition to paying the contingent fee, clients must also reimburse our office for any out-of-pocket expenses that we have had to pay on behalf of the client (such as court filling fees, record retrieval fees, medical reports, etc.).
Finally, we also charge a fixed fee for certain tasks. The preparation of commonly required documents, such as basic wills and deeds, may be done for a fee to be quoted at the time the job is accepted. The fee for complex instruments, however, may be determined at our normal hourly rate.
If you have any questions about the fee for your matter, please do not hestitate to ask. We will be more than happy to explain our billing or to quote a fee for you.
See Also:
If you have never been to an attorney before or have further questions about what to expect from an attorney, please see our New to Law? page.
If you have never been to an attorney before or have further questions about what to expect from an attorney, please see our New to Law? page.