Frequently Asked Questions How do you determine your fee? Is it an hourly rate? Generally speaking, it is my practice to charge a flat fee for most of my services, especially for document preparation. I believe charging a flat fee benefits the client by allowing them to understand how much my services will cost up front. During the initial consultation and perhaps after some follow-up review of any relevant documents, I will draft either an engagement letter outlining my services and their costs, or use a standard fee agreement for such items as document preparation. The flat fee quoted will factor in the amount of time I expect to take, along with the level of complexity of the work. On occasion, I will break the fee into payments, which become payable at specific points during my work. Also, on occasion, I may require that a portion of the fee be paid as a retainer in advance. All of these items are spelled out in the engagement letter or fee agreement that I present to the client prior to beginning my work. There are certain types of cases, usually research matters or opinion letters, which I will bill on an hourly basis. In those cases, I usually establish a cap or a “not to exceed” figure, to allow the client to exercise some control in the process as to how much work they would like me to perform. Do you handle cases from Illinois or other states, besides Indiana? No, I am only licensed to practice law in the State of Indiana and as a result, I only handle cases involving Indiana residents or property located in this state. Do you have partners or associates? No, I am a solo practitioner, which allows me to decide the types of cases I wish to handle. It also allows me to give individual attention to all of my clients. However, I do have the contacts and resources to be able to reach out to other attorneys, locally and statewide, in order to take advantage of their areas of expertise to better serve my clients. Do you charge for an initial consultation? No, there is no charge for an initial consultation. This allows perspective clients to meet with me and discuss their matter face-to-face. At the initial consultation, I will obtain background information from the client, as well as have them bring in any necessary documents for my review. After my initial review, I will decide whether to accept the case and prepare an engagement letter or fee agreement for the client’s signature. Until such time as an agreement is made between myself and the client, no money is owed to me.