Attorney Fees

Legal Fees in General

We are committed to providing quality legal services as efficiently as possible to our clients and at a cost which is reasonably keeping within community standards. Our fees are based on criteria which may include the experience of the lawyer, the complexity of the services to be performed, the results achieved, and the time involved.

Some legal services may be performed on an hourly fee basis. In most such cases, you will be requested to pay a retainer or advance fee deposit based on a fee estimate. For other services, a predetermined (fixed) fee may be appropriate, and you may be required to pay all or a portion of this fee in advance. In some matters, legal fees may also sometimes be handled on a contingency basis, where the fees are paid as a percentage of the amount of money recovered. Sometimes our fees are a blend of the hourly and percentage arrangements.

Fees can be a difficult subject, but a clear understanding from the beginning is desirable. Our policy is to discuss the fee arrangements in advance, and we will enter into a contract with you regarding our fees. If actual fees will exceed previous estimates, we will endeavor to advise you in advance. We are always willing to discuss your concerns regarding fees.

Filing Fees and Other Costs

The clerk of the court collects a filing fee when certain papers are filed. These fees range from court to court and county to county. Filing fees for District Court matters are typically in the neighborhood of $83, while Superior Court filings are in the range of $290+. In addition to the filing fees, there are a variety of other costs which may occur depending on the type of case. Some examples are: the fee for serving the initial or subsequent papers on the other parties, typically called Service of Process, usually from $75 to $150 per service or the filing of a jury demand ranging from $125 to $250.

Additional fees may be incurred for mediation, deposition reporter costs, real estate or business appraisers, accountants and/or actuaries or other “experts” or private investigators.