DamusLaw
RATES
DAMUS & ASSOCIATES is committed to providing quality legal services at competitive and reasonable rates. The predominant factors that determine what the cost of our services will be is the difficulty of the specific legal matter and the amount of time we believe it will take to resolve the matter. Other factors that may be considered are the amounts in controversy or at risk, the reputation and history of the adverse party (as well as that of its legal counsel) and whether the matter involves severe time constraints.

Our firm may charge in one of five ways:
HOURLY
FLAT RATE
PERIODIC RETAINERS
CONTINGENCY FEES
HYBRID FEES

An HOURLY FEE is the most common fee arrangement. This method is often used when it is difficult to estimate the length of time and effort it will take to complete a case. A minimum deposit is required and detailed monthly statements are sent to our clients who are also responsible for all legal costs incurred. By law, costs are billed to all clients, regardless of the fee basis.

For certain cases, including most all PROBATE and INJURY cases, our firm advances all costs. In PROBATE matters, our firm also accrues all fees and does not expect payment until the fees have been approved by the Court and final distribution is made to the heirs.

A FLAT RATE is a fixed fee to perform a certain amount of work. For new INCORPORATIONS, this is the most common way we charge for services and offers a real value for our clients.

PERIODIC RETAINERS are preferred by certain business clients and are usually paid monthly. The advantage to the client is that all legal costs can be a controlled and budgeted periodic expense. All time spent is accounted for and periodically the amount of the retainer is reviewed and adjusted down or up by mutual agreement according to past experience.

CONTINGENCY FEES are commonly used in INJURY cases and DISABILITY cases, where we agree to perform legal services in return for a fixed percentage of a recovery if we win your case or settle your case. In such cases, there is no fee unless we collect. Contingency fees are also often used in COLLECTION cases as well as in EMINENT DOMAIN (CONDEMNATION) cases.

HYBRID FEES are a combination of two of the other four fee arrangements. We offer such fee arrangements to meet the special needs of our clients in certain cases. For example, sometimes a matter is best handled for a reduced contingency fee coupled with a reduced hourly fee. Other examples are an hourly fee with a fixed minimum and/or maximum fee, a contingency fee with a flat fee charged only in the event of litigation (often used in collection cases), or a contingency fee that provides for a priority recovery to the client up to a certain amount that is free of the contingency fee (often used in condemnation cases).



 

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