Pricing Philosophy & Fee Structure
Clients deserve clarity and directness when it comes to legal fees. Some legal professionals behave as if they are a part of a guild that does not have to explain itself – a higher order that is above having to justify its billing. I do not share this view.
A lawyer is a tradesperson. I provide a service. You should know what that service costs, what it entails, and what you can expect in return.
Where possible, I offer flat fees so you know exactly what you will pay. For matters that require open-ended work, I bill hourly with full transparency.
Payments can be made by most major payment methods using the link at the top of the page.
Hourly Billing
$210 per hour
- Billed in 1/10th of an hour (6-minute increments)
- Each invoice entry includes a clear description of the work performed
- No charges for routine administrative costs such as photocopies, postage, or local travel (I won’t nickel and dime you)
- Only substantial or extraordinary expenses are passed through at cost
Hourly billing is typically used for contested family law matters and ongoing civil disputes, where flat fees would be impossible to estimate in good faith.
Lawyers are required to keep client funds separate from their own. To do this, we use a special bank account called a trust account. When a matter is billed hourly an advance fee deposit is collected from the client and deposited to the firm’s trust account. For family law matters, this is typically in the $2000 – $5000 range. As work is performed on your case, you will receive an accounting of how your funds are used, and payment will be withdrawn from the trust account. Any unused balance will be returned to you at the end of representation.
Flat Fee Legal Services
Flat fees are available for defined and predictable matters. These fees reflect ordinary cases of their kind. If your matter involves unusual complexity I will discuss any adjustment with you before work begins.
Service | Fee |
Prenuptial Agreements | $600 flat fee |
Traffic Infraction (No Collision) | $225 flat fee |
Traffic Infraction (Collision Involved) | $325 flat fee |
Civil Protection Order Defense (including renewal defense) | $1,600 flat fee |
Prenuptial Agreements: The flat fee includes drafting, legal review, and one to two reasonable rounds of revision. Extensive corporate holdings, trusts, international assets, or complex estate structures may require custom pricing.
Family Law
Most family law matters – divorce, parenting plans, support issues – are unpredictable in scope and heavily influenced by the other party and the court. For that reason, these matters are billed hourly at $210 per hour.
Evictions / Unlawful Detainer Actions (Landlord Representation)
Evictions can resolve early or proceed through several procedural stages. To ensure fairness, I charge per stage, rather than one large fee, so you only pay for the steps your case actually requires.
Stage | Description | Fee |
#1: Notice | Draft and serve Pay/Vacate or other notice | $200 + $100 service/mailing |
#2: Filing the Lawsuit | Draft and file Unlawful Detainer complaint | $700 + $100 service/mailing |
#3: Settlement or Motion | Negotiated agreement or court motion | $400 + $100–$250 court/service costs |
#4: Court Hearing | Representation at show cause or trial | $400 + $50 court costs |
#5: Sheriff’s Writ | Coordination with Sheriff | $150 + approx. $200 in Sheriff fees |
#6: Physical Eviction | Movers and locksmith | Handled directly by client |
Total in a worst-case scenario where at no stage does the holdover tenant leave willingly: $1850 in legal fees + $550 to $700 total in court costs, process server, and Sheriff fees
Estimates & Jurisdiction
The fees listed are intended for ordinary matters. If your case involves exceptional complexity, urgency, or risk, I will tell you before additional costs are incurred
