Fees

The philosophy behind legal fees charged at The Law Office of Richard L. Shea is performance. We like to set up fee agreements that compensate us for results, not time. After all, if a lawyer is paid only for his time, does he really have an incentive to be efficient and conclude the matter early? With a flat fee structure available in many cases, our clients enjoy certainty and predictability in their cost of representation, and know that our objective is the same as theirs. Unfortunately, not all matters lend themselves to such fee arrangements, and in some cases, they are not permitted at all.

Below is a summary of how we are compensated. Of course, every case is different, and before we ever accept representation in any matter, you will be told, in writing, precisely how your unique case will be billed.

Fixed Fees Cases

Many of our services are charged on a flat fee basis. In these matters, a portion of the fee is paid at the beginning and the remainder of the fee is due upon cetain events. For example, in an estate planning matter a portion of the fee is paid at the beginning and the remainder is paid when the documents have been drafted.

Hourly Rates

If you choose to work with us on an hourly basis, we will assess your billing needs and arrange a reasonable retainer fee for you. Retainers are a sum of money clients pay before the start of work. We hold the retainer in trust for the client, and subtract our hourly fees and costs from such retainer fee. If your representation spans over multiple months, you will be provided a statement showing a detail of work that has been performed in your case and the charges for that work. Periodically you will be expected to replenish the retainer by the charges billed. Upon completion of our representation, your final bill will be charged against your retainer, with any remaining balance refunded to you. Please call for a consultation to discuss our hourly rates and retainer fees for your pending matter.

Online Discounts

Occasionally certain services are made eligible for online only discounts. You can find these online only specials in the far right column under the heading “Online Discounts.”

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