Freqeuntly Asked Questions
What types of law do we practice?
We offer services in many areas of law, including personal injury and wrongful death, workers' compensation, real estate, wills, trusts, estate planning, probate and many other areas. For a complete list, please see our practice areas page.
Where are we located?
We are conveniently located on U.S. Highway 90 in downtown Lake City, Florida. For directions to our office, please see our location page.
What are our office hours?
We are open for business Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., except holidays.
How do we bill for our services?
Potential clients often are concerned about the costs associated with hiring an attorney. We offer several fee arrangements for persons interested in retaining our services.
- Hourly Rate - The firm charges an hourly rate for each attorney who works on your case, usually based on the attorney's experience level. Costs, including copies, long distance phone calls, and other expense items, as well as out-of-pocket expenses such as court filing fees, etc., are billable over and above the hourly rate. You will usually receive a monthly statement and may be asked to pay a retainer -- an advance deposit which is held in our trust account until completion of the case. Any money held on behalf of the client which exceeds the fees and costs is refunded at completion of the case.
- Contingency Fee - Fees in any contingency case are calculated based on a percentage of what you are awarded and recover in the case. The contingency fee percentage may vary under various rules set forth by the Florida Bar and sometimes Florida Statutes. If we cannot collect money for you in the case, we do not earn any fees. However, you are still required to pay expenses incurred by the firm on your behalf. Contingency fee arrangements are usually reserved for personal injury, wrongful death, workers' compensation and certain other types of cases.
- Flat Fee - In this fee arrangement, the firm charges a specified total fee for your case. Expenses such as copies, faxes, etc. may or may not be included under the flat fee. Out-of-pocket expenses such as filing fees, deposition fees, etc. must be paid in addition to the flat fee.
The above fee arrangements are the most typical but other arrangements for payment can be discussed on an individual basis. Our firm will be specific and provide you with written arrangements with regard to your case.
What payment options do we offer?
In addition to the above fee arrangements, we offer several different options for payment of legal fees and costs, including:
- Cash
- Checks
- Most major credit cards
Fees earned under contingency fee arrangements are paid upon recovery of the award and are processed through the firm's trust account.
What do we need from you?
You will play the most important part in your case. Our attorneys need your help and participation in order to best represent you. Please come prepared for your consultation and any meetings, hearings, depositions or trial by bringing in all relevant information, papers, and questions you may have. The more information you are able to provide, the less time our attorneys will have to spend searching for answers.
It is very important that you be forthcoming and honest in answering our questions. In almost all circumstances, anything you tell us as your attorneys must be held confidential. Generally, we would rather know more than less in an effort to save time and money.
It is also important to keep us informed as your case proceeds. This includes informing your attorney of any changes in your circumstances, additional or new information regarding your case, or any other pertinent information which you may encounter as the case moves forward.
