Attorney Fees & Goals
Attorney Fees and Goals to Help Client
Very Experienced Legal Representation to Help You Achieve Reasonable Goals
Very Reasonable Attorney Fees
Simple Uncontested Agreed Divorce with no minor children, settled prior to filing with signed written agreement prepared by attorney, with no substantial assets, with spouse signing papers within 2 weeks for a retainer of $ 800.00 plus 170.00 court costs when filed in Tipton County with option to pay $ 500.00 down and the balance of $ 470.00 in 30 days upon request by client (with no court appearance necessary) for new clients with one office conference, drafting settlement papers one time, and two telephone conferences. (Retainer will cover time not to exceed 3.5 hours of attorney’s time). Please be informed that if you have no children and your case is uncontested, you have the option to file in Tipton County even if you live in Shelby County (with no court appearance necessary in Tipton County). There is a minimum 60-day waiting period after filing for divorce (with no minor children) to be final in Tennessee. All your settlement papers can be drafted right away and signed by the parties once your retainer is paid. The settlement papers should be signed prior to filing a Complaint in Court. Court costs in Tipton County are substantially less than in Shelby County, a personal appearance in court in Tipton County is not required, and this saves you money.
Simple Uncontested Agreed Divorce with children, settled prior to filing with signed written agreement prepared by attorney, with or without real estate or alimony (with each party keeping their own retirement funds), with your spouse signing the settlement papers within 2 weeks for a retainer of $ 1,123.50 plus court costs of $ 376.50 (with the option to pay $ 750.00 down and the balance of $ 750.00 in 30 days), when filed in Shelby County (with court appearance by filing spouse and their attorney necessary) for new clients with office conference, drafting settlement papers, and two telephone conferences. (The retainer will cover time not to exceed 4.7 hours of attorney’s time and court costs. Cases with minor children must usually be filed in the county and state where the minor child or children have resided for the last 6 months. A four hour parent education seminar must be attended by each parent. A parenting plan order and settlement papers drafted by your attorney are required. There is a 90-day waiting period after filing for divorce (with minor children) to be final in Tennessee. All your settlement papers can be drafted right away and signed by the parties. The settlement papers should be signed prior to filing a Complaint in Court.
Juvenile Court child support cases are $ 240.00 per hour with a retainer of $ 900.00 to cover time not to exceed 3.8 hours
Juvenile Court visitation cases are $ 240.00 per hour with a retainer of $ 1,500.00 to cover time not to exceed 6.3 hours
Contested Divorce Cases, Contested Custody Cases, Contested Parenting Time Matters; cases not settled prior to filing; or other legal services that involve any unresolved matters are $ 240.00 per hour with $ 2,500.00 paid in advance for a retainer with the total fee depending on the amount of time spent on your case. (The retainer of $ 2,500.00 will cover time not to exceed 10.5 hours of attorney’s time). A substantial amount of consultation and preparation is usually necessary to properly handle unresolved matters, contested issues, or custody fights to carry out the best interests of minor children; however, I do my best to settle your case as soon as possible. If a contested matter, contested divorce, or custody fight goes to trial against an unreasonable, selfish, or aggressive opponent, the total attorney fee will be higher than a case that is settled prior to trial. Cases that are settled prior to trial are much less expensive than cases that go to trial. The total fee will depend on the amount of time spent by your attorney. Many cases are fairly and reasonably settled at mediation with the help of an experienced family law mediator, and this type of fair and reasonable settlement saves the parties substantial money since a trial is avoided. I want to help you and your children as follows:
- To use my substantial experience, knowledge, and talent as a divorce and custody lawyer for the last 30 years in Memphis to carry out the best interests of your minor children by making appropriate provisions in all settlement papers and court orders to provide for the minor children’s needs.
- To protect your legal rights as a parent and to protect your financial future in order for you to have the necessary strength to properly respond to the emotional, financial, and other needs of your minor children each day.
- To obtain a fair and reasonable settlement or result as soon as possible and to keep the attorney fees as reasonable as possible considering all the facts and circumstances.
- To achieve the above goals - to help you think clearly, communicate accurately (both orally and in writing), plan well, organize carefully, document everything needed, negotiate effectively, and, if necessary, prove the important facts to have the best opportunity for a successful outcome in your case.
Family law cases that involve minor children usually have many complex issues. Proper preparation with the help of an experienced family law attorney to assist you prior to a Court appearance and prior to signing any papers is very important to avoid the risk of an adverse result that could have a substantial impact on your life and the lives of any minor children. It is much less expensive to deal with a legal issue by hiring me as soon as possible when the parties are still being reasonable and willing to discuss a reasonable settlement. It is much better to obtain legal advice prior to making decisions or taking actions that may result in consequences. Your decisions and actions each day determine the facts of the case. The facts of your case affect the results that you obtain in Court. Everyone needs help to properly prepare and communicate accurately and effectively.
You need the immediate help of a very experienced family law attorney whenever you become involved in any divorce, custody, parenting time, visitation, child support, modification, alimony, contempt, order of protection, injunction, separation, or other legal matter.
I accept Visa, Master Card, Discover, Checks, Money Orders, and cash. My fees are very reasonable. I make a strong good faith effort to settle your case as soon as possible. It is possible for me to draft your settlement papers right away.