FEES
Since every case is factually different from another, you must contact us for a specific fee quote given your particular circumstances. This section is meant to provide you with a “general idea” of how we charge. The particulars here are provided as “examples” and not “offers”. Your fees may be more, or less, than what is indicated in this section depending upon the facts of your case.CRIMINAL CASE FEES
Fees applicable in DUI cases generally range from a minimum of $1,500.00 and up, depending on the complexity of the particular case, the seriousness of the
charges, whether the case proceeds to trial and if so, how long the trial lasts as well as other factors that increase the amount of time required for the quality representation offered by this office. In non-DUI criminal cases, such as Drug Offenses and other Misdemeanor or Felony Charges, the fees are based upon similar factors, and may be lower than the minimum described above.
We do offer payment plans in certain situations, to qualified clients. We also accept Visa and Mastercard for your convenience.
PERSONAL INJURY CASE FEES
Fees are generally a portion of the settlement/judgment/recovery, plus expenses. As is standard with most all personal injury cases, the fee is one-third of the gross recovery, plus expenses. Therefore, if your settlement/judgment/recovery is $100,000.00 and expenses are $5,000.00… the attorney’s fee is one third of the gross recovery (or $33,333.33). That leaves a total of $66,666.67, minus the $5,000 in expenses leaves $61,666.67 net to you.
Fees and expenses are expenditures which are necessary to properly represent you. You are not charged any attorney’s fee if there is no recovery/settlement/judgment. However, advanced expenses and costs are the responsibility of the client. Although we may advance those costs and you do not have to pay them during the proceedings, they are ultimately the client’s responsibility and are deducted from the client’s recovery.
Although not an exclusive list, some of the expenses could be as follows: For example, when we retain a doctor to review medical records or testify at a deposition or trial, he must be paid. We advance costs for such expenses, as well as court stenographers, filings, service of process, non-local travel and most photocopying. Although these fees are typically advanced by our office, they are eventually paid by the client and are deducted from the client’s net recovery when the case is completed.
FAMILY LAW CASE FEES
Fees are generally billed on an hourly basis for Family Law Cases, however we do offer some Flat Rate Fees for uncontested Divorces. Flat rate fees depend upon whether the divorce is contested and whether there are minor children involved, but can start as low as $750 and go upward from there. In any event, you will not be charged for the initial consultation (sometimes by phone), and you will know and have to agree in advance before any fees will be charged or assessed.
The typical retainer for a Contested Divorces (where the parties disagree as to the division of property, custody, support, alimony and/or other issues) range from a minimum of $2500.00. We bill hourly from those retainers, and also use the retainers to pay for Court Costs and other related fees and expenses. Your billing starts from zero, therefore the retainer is not considered “already earned”, as with some law firms, unless there are special circumstances that would warrant such a fee. In those cases you would know well in advance and have to agree before any fee is charged or assessed.
The retainer is sometimes used for more than just an attorney’s fee. Handling the retainer in this fashion prevents you from having to pay additionally for the filing fees, and some other costs of litigation. The actual amount of the initial retainer may vary depending upon the complexity of the case and issues presented. Every situation is different, and we will offer a detailed evaluation of your particular case during a Free Consultation, prior to any obligation on your part.
Again, we offer a detailed evaluation of your case during a Free Consultation, which will provide you with a good idea of how much your case will cost. At RLG, nothing will be hidden and there will be no surprises with regard to fees.
FEES IN OTHER AREAS OF LAW
Ridings & Elliott generally bills for services either as a flat rate, or by the hour. Our billing structure is fair and easy to understand. However, since we can not possibly give an example of fees charged in every particular case, we ask that you simply contact us for a FREE CONSULTATION, where we will quote you a fee structure for your particular issue.
Success in the legal business can be measured in many ways. At Ridings & Elliott, we measure success based upon the willingness of the client to refer friends and family to our offices for their legal issues. That requires us to perform at a level where the client leaves us satisfied that they received legal services worth what they paid, or more.
We strive for success in every file.
