We charge a mixture of flat fees and hourly fees

No one likes an attorney who prioritizes billing over performance for their client.  We hear horror stories of attorneys around town charging $500-$750 an hour for their services, and no end in sight for when a case will be resolved.  

We offer flat fees whenever we can accurately predict the amount of work we have to put into a task.  This provides transparency and the ability to plan accordingly for you.  What we cannot predict is how difficult the other party or their attorney will be.  If the other party refuses to reasonable, then it means an evidentiary hearing in front of a Judge.  That could be a short hearing, or it could take an extraordinarily long time.  That is impossible to predict, which is why preparation for the hearing, and the hearing itself has an hourly rate.  What we can promise under those circumstances is that the delays and behavior to prolong your case will not come from us.  We will do everything we can to help you control costs.  

Prepare and file petition (includes filing fee) - $2,500

Service of Process (uncontested) - $100

Service of Process (contested) - $500

Preliminary Declaration of disclosure - $2500 for first ten hours - Hourly at $350 an hour after that

Final Declaration of disclosure - $1,000 for first five hours - Hourly at $350 an hour after that

Default / Uncontested Judgment - $1500 for the first ten hours - Hourly at $350 an hour after that

Settlement Agreement Negotiation - $350 per hour.

Discovery - $350 an hour plus reporter costs

Experts - Client pays experts

Temporary Orders - $350 per hour

Investigation - $200 per hour

Meetings and phone calls - first two hours is free, $350 an hour after that

Trial and Trial Prep - $400 an hour plus reporter costs

Post Trial - $350 an hour

Post Judgment RFO’s - Evidentiary hearings and hearing preparation is $400 an hour. 

Restraining Order (petitioner) - $7,500 for preparation and appearance at initial hearing.

Restraining Order (respondent) without filing a response - 2,500, then $400 per hour for evidentiary hearing and hearing preparation. 

Family law fees are held in a trust account until the fees are earned.  At the conclusion of the case, any leftover fees held in trust will be returned to you.  At the beginning of a case, you should expect a bill for the flat fees to initiate the proceeding, and then a $5,000 retainer to cover the hourly billing.  Ideally, your case will not need hourly billing and that retainer can be returned, but we cannot predict that at the beginning of your case.