Don’t let the fear of attorney’s fees deter you from securing professional guidance in navigating the legal system. We can help.
Navigating the legal system can be scary, but at Pro Legal Care LLC, Attorney Zachary Townsend and his team aim to provide you with clear and well-communicated information about your options and your path forward.
What is a retainer?
A retainer is fee paid in advance to lawyers to secure services. Retainers go into a trust account where the money does not earn interest for the law firm and must still be earned by the lawyer on your case. Your attorney will track his or her time and other expenses necessary to provide you with legal care, and bill those expenses against your retainer. When your initial retainer has been exhausted, your attorney may ask you for another deposit.
If you qualify, a Pro Legal Care LLC payment plan may be an option once your initial retainer fee is paid.
How much do lawyers charge per hour?
The hourly rate for attorneys will vary by the attorney and their level of experience, the legal matter type, and the area of the country that you live in. What this means to the client is that navigating the legal system feels more scary and full of expensive unknowns than is really necessary. Knowing your attorney’s hourly rate is just one part of the equation in determining how much your case may cost you. You also want to ask your attorney the minimum time they charge for each type of communication, the minimum for court proceedings, and if their hourly rate is different for court time versus time on your case spent outside of court.
How much does a criminal defense lawyer cost?
Your total costs for criminal defense will vary depending on a number of factors, including the seriousness of the crime you’ve been charged with and whether or not you have prior offenses that the prosecution will be taking into account.
A crime that is considered to be aggravated can also cause a longer or more complicated criminal defense. Factors that make the crime worse will increase your defense costs, such as injuries sustained by victims, weapons used, children being present, or multiple crimes being committed at once.
An attorney representing you for a DUI charge is considered a criminal defense appearance and costs will also reflect the circumstances in which you were charged.
How much does a divorce cost?
The cost of a divorce will be dependent on the length and complexity of the marital assets. The amount of shared property, the value of the marital estate, any additional real estate that is owned by the parties, and the presence of investment accounts or retirement accounts can also lead to a longer or more complicated divorce process.
If one or both of the parties own a business, the divorce can be more difficult to navigate. Pro Legal Care LLC attorneys are experienced in business owner divorce and high income divorce.
Children of the marriage will also add cost to the divorce process, as a Parenting Plan and necessary child support agreements or orders will need to be entered prior to the dissolution of the marriage.
In divorce or any other family law matter, the biggest variable that affects the cost of the attorney is the contested nature of the case, and the level of desire to settle versus litigate for each party. Cases where the parties are agreeable, honest, and have a mutual goal to amicably agree to a fair split of assets and a Parenting Plan that is best for the children will always have lower attorney fees. When one or both parties wants a long drawn-out court battle, cannot find any middle ground, are not honest with the court or the other party, and force the case to go to trial, the legal fees will be substantial for both sides.
What percentage does a lawyer get in a settlement?
Typically personal injury attorneys receive 1/3rd of the total settlement amount awarded to the client or injured party. In some cases that require a jury trial or appellate work, the percentage may be as high as 40%. Outside of injury cases, attorneys usually do not collect any percentage of settlement. One exception is for debt collection cases and other cases that revolve around money that is owed that never got paid. Percentages of settlements are not typically allowed in any other type of case – it is considered unethical to have an outcome-based attorney fee or percentage of settlement fee in other matters, such as divorce or criminal defense.
If you’ve been the victim of car accident injuries, had a slip and fall, or are otherwise injured and in need of legal assistance, we offer free initial consultations to review your case. If we agree to take your personal injury case, Pro Legal Care LLC attorneys will not collect until we receive a settlement for you. Upon taking your case, our team will work tirelessly with your insurance company, the opposing insurance company, your medical providers, and you to make sure that you are made whole again.
Lawyer Payment Plans
Depending on your situation, you may qualify for a Pro Legal Care LLC payment plan. The only way to determine if you qualify to make payments for your legal care is to schedule a free initial consultation with an attorney today. Schedule your consultation by calling (815) 200-8802 or by requesting an appointment online.
