Attorney's Fees: The basic premise of setting a fee schedule is simple and that is to be fairly compensated for work that is performed on a client's behalf. Abraham Lincoln said "A lawyer's time and advice are his stock in trade". Sometimes, it is simply impossible to tell in advance of a contested case how much time is going to be involved in order to achieve a resolution for the client. Other times, with certain uncontested matters and bankruptcies, a flat fee is appropriate because the great majority of cases are uncontested and the only additional charges are for the relatively rare contested matter. A client should expect to pay $1,200.00, in attorney's fees, plus court costs, for a simple, totally uncontested dissolution of marriage and $900.00, plus court costs, for a totally uncontested bankruptcy. My office has a more detailed fee schedule which we will be happy to fax or e-mail to you at your request. Please remember that these fees are minimum fees and subject to change depending on the circumstances of your particular case. For contested matters, an hourly rate is usually charged after the minimum amount of time has been expended.

Court Costs: Monies paid by clients that are separate from attorney's fees, representing expenses that the attorney must pay to other persons or groups for the client's case. At the time of writing this, bankruptcy court filing fees are $209.00 for Chapter 7 in the Middle District of Florida and $194.00 for Chapter 13 in the Middle District of Florida. The court filing fee for a Dissolution of Marriage in Pinellas County, Florida is $363.00 and the service of process fee is $25.00. These fees are different in other counties. Those court costs can also fluctuate depending on whether or not different types of expenses have to be incurred for a client's particular case.

In dissolution of marriage cases, a common question is whether or not the other spouse will have to pay all of part of the client's attorney's fees. There is no cut-and-dried answer to this because it depends on financial circumstances of the parties and is generally left to the discretion of the Judge. Often, I will seek and be able to obtain an award of attorney's fees for the client, but it is important for the client to remember that the client is always ultimately responsible and if reimbursement for attorney's fees is awarded by the Court, the client is still responsible for paying the attorney's fees before reimbursement is made.

It is always important to have a clear understanding of fees and how the client will be charged at the beginning of the attorney/client relationship. I am always happy to discuss fees and costs with a client at any time.