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Expert Divorce & Family Law Services
WHAT SHOULD YOU EXPECT FROM YOUR CONSULTATION?
The anticipation of a family law consultation can be stressful. It is a scary first step in navigating
the changes that your family will go through moving forward. Knowing what to prepare for can
help alleviate any anxiety you may feel regarding this process. The purpose of our initial
consultation is to familiarize you generally with the laws and your rights under California law,
determine what your options are for reaching a resolution, and decide if Andrea is someone you
feel comfortable with and want to represent you through this legal process.
These tips will help you prepare for your consultation with our office:
1. Be open – minded. Everyone’s situation is different
It is important to listen and be open to what an attorney has to say as every case is
different. Because of the wide discretion left to the family law judicial officers in our
state, what can happen in your case may be different than what happened in your friend’s,
co-worker’s, or cousin’s cases, even though the broad facts of those cases seem similar to
yours. There are nuances in each situation that can change the course of each individual
case, and the attorney’s job is to be able to flush out those facts and determine how they
impact your situation.
2. Be honest and forthcoming with information and facts
An attorney’s ability to properly advise you is dependent upon the specific facts you
share with them. Conversations with attorneys are confidential and protected by attorney-
client privilege, meaning attorney and client communications are kept private and not
admissible in Court except for very limited and rare circumstances. These ethical rules
are intended to encourage clients to be open and honest with their attorney.
3. Bring any relevant documents to the consultation
If you have received any court documents, letters from your ex’s attorney, emails or texts
from your ex offering to resolve your matter, or any other documents believe may be
relevant to your situation, provide them to our office prior to the consultation by emailing
them to admin@amcasterlaw.com. These documents will help Andrea assess your matter
and provide sound legal advice, whether you have an upcoming Court date scheduled or
upcoming deadlines that need to be met, or whether the other party has retained an
attorney.
If your case involves financial matters (i.e., spousal support, child support, debt and
property division, etc.), you should begin gathering as much documentation and
information that is available to you – pay stubs, tax returns, bank, credit card, and
mortgage statements, copies of deeds to property and pink slips for cars, and the like. If
you do not have access to the actual statements and documents, write down as much as
you can (account numbers, bank branch locations, etc.). Whether you hire this firm,
another, or represent yourself, you will need this information as part of your mandatory
financial disclosures.
4. Create a list of questions
To make your consultation more efficient you should come prepared with a list of
questions, goals and issues that are most important to you. This will also help you
organize your thoughts prior to speaking with Andrea and can help set the tone for
moving forward.
Initial consultations are the starting point for your journey into this transition to your
“new normal.” It is also your opportunity to evaluate the attorney you are speaking with
to determine if they can best advocate for your desired outcome and can be trusted to
handle the case in a professional and attentive manner.
Andrea Merrell Caster approaches her advocacy in each case with empathy, integrity, and
compassion. She has the knowledge and experience to help you achieve your goals.
Schedule your consultation with The Law Office of Andrea Merrell Caster today to find
out how we can help you!
FEES & BILLING OPTIONS
Our firm offers hourly, fixed fee, flat fee, and hybrid billing options, depending on the type and complexity of your matter. It is important for our clients to have a clear understanding of the financial commitment required to resolve their legal matters. Fees and billing options will be discussed in more detail during the initial consultation, as they are largely dependent upon the circumstances of each individual case.
Initial Retainer: Starting at $4,000
Initial Retainer: Starting at $4,000
Initial Retainer: Starting at $4,000
Also referred to as an advanced fee, an initial retainer is a deposit made into our firm’s Client Trust Account. As fees are earned, they are paid out of the retainer deposit. The retainer may be replenished as the case develops.
The amount of the initial retainer varies based on your case’s unique circumstances, taking into account the complexity of the issues and the urgency of the matter, but generally falls between $4,000 and $10,000.
HOURLY BILLING
Initial Retainer: Starting at $4,000
Initial Retainer: Starting at $4,000
Work performed by each member of our team is billed out at a specific hourly rate under the Hourly Billing option. Depending on which member of our team works on your case, you’ll be charged a different hourly rate that will be deducted from your initial retainer. Your case’s work is distributed and shared amongst our team members in order to keep fees as low as possible while still maintaining the highest possible quality.
Under an hourly billing arrangement, each case’s overall cost is different, and our clients only pay by the number of hours worked on their matter. Things that can influence the overall costs of your case will vary and generally include the following:
- The complexity of your case
- The length of any litigation
- Court orders and number of court appearances
- Responding to actions of the Opposing Party
Specific team pricing information is provided in more detail in our retainer agreement.
Fixed Fee Billing
Initial Retainer: Starting at $4,000
Fixed Fee Billing
In addition to hourly billing, our clients have the option of choosing a fixed fee billing option, which offers more control and predictability over the overall fees.
Under this billing arrangement, the most common litigation services are included in a fixed fee schedule and payments are spread out over a year. Additional services not included in the fixed fee can be included as necessary and after consultation with our office.
Additional details about our fixed fee billing is provided in our retainer agreement.
Hybrid Billing
HOW MUCH WILL MY CASE COST?
Fixed Fee Billing
We also offer hybrid billing arrangements, where clients may be charged hourly for full-scope representation, but certain aspects within the case (i.e., specific motions, preparation of specific documents, etc.) may be charged on a flat fee, value-based basis.
HOW MUCH WILL MY CASE COST?
HOW MUCH WILL MY CASE COST?
HOW MUCH WILL MY CASE COST?
Due to the unique facts and circumstances presented by each case and the nature of the litigation process, we cannot promise or guarantee the outcome of your legal matter. Any comments made by members of our team about a potential outcome are an expression of opinion only, based on our experience and knowledge of the factors that are within our clients’ control.
Fee Estimates
HOW MUCH WILL MY CASE COST?
HOW MUCH WILL MY CASE COST?
Although we strive to give accurate fee estimates, it is critical to keep in mind that estimates are exactly that. Fees are not guaranteed, because our office only has control over what we do on your behalf – we cannot control what the court does, or what the other side does, which can largely impact the fees.
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