Frequently Asked Questions

• How much will it cost?
  • Family Law
  • Estates & Trusts
• Can costs be minimized without hurting my case?
• Who will oversee my case?
• How does the billing process work?
• What makes your firm different?

How much will it cost?
Legal costs can differ greatly depending on the facts and circumstances of each case and the type of fee agreement. We offer a variety of fee agreements as follows:

Family Law
Family Law services, including divorce, separation, annulment, domestic violence, paternity, child custody, spousal support, child support, property division, enforcement, modifications, breach of fiduciary duty, and move-away issues are typically covered under an Evergreen Retainer which requires an advance deposit of $2,500 to $3,500. Under some circumstances, we may consider Flat Fee or Attorney Lien agreements.

Estates & Trusts
Estates & Trusts services fall into three categories:

• Probate Administration. Fees for standard probate administration services are covered under a Statutory agreement. They are specifically set out in Probate Code §10810. If necessary, extraordinary probate administrative services are billed at our regular hourly rate. The Court must approve all probate fees.
• Estate & Trust Matters, including administration, will contests, trust disputes, construction, accounting, breaches of duty, removal of trustee, fraud, and surcharge type matters may be covered under an Evergreen Retainer, Flat Fee, or Contingency Fee agreement.
• Conservatorship & Guardianship matters are usually covered under Evergreen or Statutory agreements.

  Top of Page

Can costs be minimized without hurting my case?
We strive to balance cost-effective legal services with meritorious results. Each case is evaluated based on it's unique facts and circumstances. The more we know about the facts and circumstances of a case, the better we can anticipate and help manage legal issues and their related costs. Effective communication at every stage of a legal matter, coupled with the use of technology in the delivery of our legal services, enables us to serve clients in an affordable manner. By emphasizing effective communication, we minimize costs without compromising our clients' rights.

Top of Page

Who will oversee my case?
All cases remain under the supervision of Mr. Lemmons. He is primarily responsible for client communication, establishing case strategies, managing the delivery of legal services and litigation. Since he delegates other specific tasks to skilled members of the firm, he encourages a close working relationship between himself, our clients and staff. Our clients have regular contact with Mr. Lemmons.

Top of Page

How does the billing process work?
Statements for services are generally sent out monthly and are usually based on negotiated hourly rate. Hourly rates for attorneys range from $200 to $300, legal assistants are $125 a hour. Rates are set based on experience, expertise, and the complexity of each case. We offer alternative fee agreements in some cases. They include Evergreen Retainers (which require deposits between $2,500 and $3,500), Fixed Fee, Contingency Fee, mixed Hourly Fee and Contingency, and Statutory Fee agreements.

The fees and costs in probate administration matters tend to be more predictable than in family law and probate litigation cases; however, we can rarely predict the costs in any case with a high degree of certainty. To give our clients more control over legal fees and costs, we prepare a cost verse legal benefit analysis of various options when possible.

Top of Page

What makes your firm different?
In the practice of law there is no substitute for efficient preparation. We use technology. Technology is more than an efficient means of communicating, it has transformed the way informed professionals practice law. From legal research, calendar management and day-to-day client transactions, to the efficient preparation of monthly statements, we rely on modern technology to quickly deliver quality services. We believe the use of technology benefits our clients as follows:

Communications
Improved communication channels serves as a transparent, but reliable, link between all members of our firm and each individual client.

Efficiency
Rapid turnaround through the use of electronic tools and resources.

Cost Effectiveness
Our approach saves time by building upon existing foundations for research and the creation of legal documents.

Quality
Work quality is improved with the application of constantly updated, improved or revised work product, software, and laws.

Information
Instant access to reliable databases for monitoring ever changing laws, trends, opinions, and information in our practice areas.

We believe this approach helps us meet our goal of providing each client with quality legal services that are delivered in a timely, efficient, and professional manner.

Top of Page