Billing practices
Before services start we require an upfront deposit and a signed engagement packet. An attorney-client relationship or a confidential mediation relationship is not established until these two things are done.
Payment for the upfront deposit and any additional payments are only accepted through a secure on-line payment link. This allows you to keep your payment information private and confidential throughout the process.
The secure on-line payment link allows for payments through a banking account or credit card.
We do not accept personal checks or cash.
Cost of Services
BILLING RATES
Our firm does “item pricing”. This means the service item is billed at a set price. Below are our current item prices. Rates may change over time. We try to keep the website as up to date as possible. If rates were to change during representation, you get thirty days notice via email before any change.
(1) Consults and communications between Client and Attorney either in person, via phone, via Zoom, or via email - $275/hr.
(2) Mediation sessions with Attorney in mediator role - $275/hr.
(3) Communication in firm, communication with other external contacts, communication with other outside counsel by any staff member - $150/hr.
(4) Communication with Client via phone, email, secure message, or text for calendaring, scheduling, or other clerical reasons - $150/hr.
(5) Communication with mediating parties via phone, email, secure message, or text that is not a mediation session- $150/hr.
(5) Drafting or revising of writings and documents, review, and/or analysis of anything related to the case, planning and preparation for anything related to the case, and research of any kind related to the case - $150/hr.
(6) Management of data and files - $90/hr.
The above does not include costs, typically a client or mediating parties are asked to reimbursement the firm for any out-of-pocket expenses paid by the firm on behalf of the case. Below are set costs for reimbursement-
(1) In-office photocopying or printing: 20¢/page
(2) Paper filing or document request or delivery to court: $40/visit
(3) Mileage for travel: 50¢/mile
(4) Envelopes: small/big - 50¢/ 75¢
deposit for services
We do require an upfront deposit for services. The deposit is placed in a trust account. When a client or mediating party is sent an invoice via email, s/he has three days to dispute any part of the bill before the invoice is paid using the money placed in trust. Invoices are typically sent bi-weekly.
Our deposit request for initial services are as set forth below-
1) Litigation Document Production services- $2,000 for a new case, $3,000 for an open or postjudgment case
2) Divorce mediation cases- $5,000, which can be split between the parties.
3) Collaborative cases- $4,000
The initial trust deposit does not always cover the requested services.
If the monies in trust drop below $1,000 we do ask for the trust account to be replenished up to a maximum amount of the initial deposit.
After the initial trust deposit if it appears your case will cost more than the initial deposit, we do offer a payment plan.
We highly encourage you to provide information on your budget regarding services, so we can provide you our recommendation of the best service option based on your budget.