Our fees and costs
The office offers a half hour consultation for nominal fee. Your case will be reviewed and a retainer will be set if the case is one suitable for the office. Most matters are billed at an hourly rate of $300.00 for attorney time, and $125.00 per hour for paralegal document preparation.
Some routine matters are amenable to fixed fees. Some common examples are simple wills, deeds, joint venture agreements, bankruptcy, evictions, financial power of attorney documents, and advance health care directives.
This office employs the contingency fee in personal injury mattersonly. The amount is subject to negotiation; however, 33 1/3% prior to filing the Memo to Set and 40% thereafter is standard.
In certain cases such as probate matters, the fees are set by statute. As an example, current law provides for statutory probate fees (based upon appraised estate value) of 4% for the first $100,000; 3% of the next $100,000; 2% of the balance up to $1,000,000, and so forth. (Prob. Code 10800).
Costs are the responsibility of the client. Typical costs include filing fees; process serving fees; charges for copies of records; narrative reports by treating physicians; expert testimony; deposition charges.
We discourage bringing conflicts to the courts because of the high legal fees and the loss of time. Our objective is to resolve conflicts quickly and efficiently by negotiation, mediation and conversation. If court proceedings are necessary, we assist you in retaining lawyers who specialize in litigation.