Divorce and Family Law, Wills and Estate Planning and Estate Administration practice.

We recognize the legitimate, growing concerns that clients have about the rising cost of legal services and have made a commitment to controlling legal costs by resolving disputes efficiently, fairly, and economically. We like to be part of the solution, not the problem, and will recommend alternative dispute resolution (ADR), mediation, and arbitration if that may help resolve the dispute.

We have an initial consultation fee of $45.00 for all matters except personal injury, worker's compensation or Social Security disability, for these there is no initial fee.

For most matters we work on a retainer basis and bill at $175.00 per hour. A retainer is what you pay an attorney "up-front" to get involved in your case. The money is not the attorney's. It is placed in the attorney's trust account. As the money is earned the attorney can take the money out of the trust account to pay himself. If the case is resolved and not all of the retainer has been earned, you get back what has not been earned. If the initial retainer has been used up you will need to pay additional fees (we are willing to work out reasonable payment plans.)

For personal injury, worker's compensation or Social Security disability we offer our client's a contingent fee arrangement -- you pay us a percentage of what we win for you. If we don't win you don't have any attorney fees.

Divorce and Family Law

Our retainer is $1,500.00 to $2,500.00 for Family Law Matters. (depending upon the complexity of the case.)

Wills and Estate Planning

Most clients prefer a set fee for the work in this area. We are able to provide the following documents and set fees.

(We believe that most people need all four of these documents for a complete estate plan and so provide a discount of $75.00 on the above fees - if all the documents are prepared at the same time.)

In addition, some estates use a "Living Trust" as a planning device. We charge $1,000.00 (if no estate tax planning is required) to prepare an estate plan using a Living Trust. This plan includes the above documents as well as the Living Trust.

Estate Administration

The probate of most estates can be handled at the "informal" and "unsupervised" level. At this level we will handle all the legal aspects of the estate for $950.00. There are additional costs which include Filing Fee - $136.00, Publication - $40.00 and certified copies of Letters - $10.00 each.

If the estate cannot be handled at the informal, unsupervised level we bill at $175.00 per hour with a $1,500.00 retainer.