Billing practices

Before services start, we require an upfront deposit and a signed engagement packet.

Attorney-client or confidential mediation relationships only start after the above two action items are completed.

Payments are only accepted through a secure on-line payment link where you can pay using a banking account or credit card. The link keeps your payment information private and confidential throughout the process.

Service Progression

Our firm wants to provide you the best services available within your budget. Our recommended service progression is to start with our free fifteen minute screening phone call to make sure our firm is the right fit for you. If we look like a good fit, then we recommend a paid one-hour consult to answer pressing questions and discuss service optons.

For people considering mediation or collaborative services, a joint initial consult is recommended.

After the initial consult, it you want further services, we move forward with what you selected.

Staff work remotely with services typically provided via telephone, mail, e-mail, and videoconferencing. Our office location does accept service or drop off of documents from 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. excluding the lunch hour.

Cost of Services

deposit for services

We do require an upfront deposit for services. The deposit is placed in a trust account. When an invoice is sent via email, you have three business days to dispute any part of the bill before the invoice is paid using the money placed in trust. Invoices are sent either bi-weekly or at the end of services.

Our deposit request for an initial hour consult is $300.

After the initial consult, the upfront deposit requested ranges anywhere from $800 to $7,500. The amount requested depends on the following-

   (1) The type of service selected.

(2) The type of case involved (premarital, postnuptial, divorces, legal separations, child custody, paternity actions, etc.).

(3) Whether your case is just starting or already filed with the court. If you already have a court case, whether your case is pre- or post-judgment.

It’s important you know that the initial trust deposit does not always cover the requested services and you may need to pay more. For mediation services the deposits can be split between the parties.

Our goal is to match the best service option for you within your budget.

Payment plans

We offer payment plans for our service options. To be eligible for a payment plan, you must be willing to place a credit card on-file with the firm, to provide a credit card statement confirming availability of funds, and then to have that card automatically charged according to your payment plan agreement.

We highly encourage you to provide information on your budget regarding services during the one hour consult, so we can provide recommendations of the best service options based on your budget.

BILLING RATES

Our firm does “item pricing”. This means the hourly rate is based on the activity. Rates range from a high of $275 per hour for such tasks as consulting or court appearances to $90 per hour for clerical and file management tasks.

The above does not include costs. Clients are asked to reimburse the firm for any out-of-pocket expenses paid by the firm on their behalf.