Your greatest probability of having a triumphant case for a PPH lawsuit is if you have taken Fen-Phen (Fenfluramine and Phentermine) to drop weight. Fen-Phen regulates serotonin in the body to affect ones need to eat. Elevated levels of serotonin can disapprovingly affect ones heart in such a way as to injure it. Assuming you have PPH caused by the utilization of Fen-Phen, your symptoms would comprise, but would not be restricted to, briefness of breath and upper body pains. Fen-Phen can even cause heart valves to give away, resulting in the requirement to trade those injured heart valves.
In addition to the use of Fen-Phen, Redux can also have caused damage that would materialize to be the same as folks who may have used Fen-Phen. A legal PPH lawsuit could be filed with your attorney or lawyer when ones cause for mounting PPH is from a consequence of taking Fen-Phen or possibly Redux.
If you have used Fen-Phen or Redux, and you think you may have PPH, it would be smart to ring your lawyer to talk about the legal options you have, since you would be rather qualified to file a PPH lawsuit. It would be a civil lawsuit, which means a victim would be able to get back damages suffered from having taken these beforehand said pharmaceuticals. This can consist of therapeutic expenditures, lost pay, your possible income lost, pain and anguish, and ones relatives could even be provided a financial amount in a case which PPH ended up being deadly to the patient.
About the Author
Steve Gargin operates http://www.pph-help.comwhich is a website dedicated to describing aspects of PPH, better known as Primary Pulmonary Hypertension. Steve Gargin is not a lawyer or a doctor, so please seek professional help concerning PPH.
Saturday, April 7, 2007
Finding the Right Attorney for Real Estate Investing
Hiring a real estate attorney is one of the most important decisions to consider when first becoming involved in real estate investing. The right Attorney will keep one on tract and lessen the liability in investing in real estate. For a real estate amateur, buying or selling a home without an agent, a real estate lawyer will always be of assistance in order to look into matters which he or she may not be aware of.
Steps to hiring a Real Estate Investing Attorney.
Make a list of Attorney’s
Through contacts (friends, family members, colleagues, bar-association members), make a list of lawyers.
Screening
Next, find out everything about the listed attorneys and then do an initial screening shortlist three or four prospective attorney candidates:
Few things to pay attention to on screening:
• Analyze the biographies and Web sites for the attorney and their law firms
• Experience in the law field, especially in law pertaining to real estate
• Go through a few client testimonials and other references of the attorney
• Check out the archives of your local newspaper. Has there been any publicity about the lawyer or the cases that he or she has handled?
• Ask about conflicts of interest. Does the lawyer represent any opposing parties? Does the lawyer represent any of the competitors?
There are basically two types of real estate lawyers: those who handle lawsuits (called litigators) and those who primarily handle contract matters (called transactional lawyers). Some lawyers do both, but most of them tend to specialize in one area or the other. If you are involved in a lawsuit or may end up in one, look for a litigator. Otherwise, a lawyer who handles transactions may be your best bet.
Tips & Warnings
• Start with the easiest, least expensive steps an attorney can perform first. Sometimes a little help is all you need.
• Attorneys are willing to handle multiple tasks for a fixed price or retainer.
• Make sure the attorney specializes in real estate and has expertise in the areas required
• It is preferable that an attorney also be a licensed real estate broker.
• Real estate brokers are not attorneys and cannot give legal advice.
Pros & Cons of Hiring an Attorney
If not a seasoned buyer or seller, it would always be safe to hire an attorney in order to look at things like zoning or permitted use laws, neighborhood or condo association by-laws, environmental restrictions, tax issues, and all of the other sections that can pop up in future.
A Real Estate lawyer will add cost to the transaction because of his or her fees. While these costs are usually not excessive, they are a consideration. Using a Real Estate lawyer may cause the deal to close at a later date due to his or her need to review and revise the purchase and sale agreement.
About the Author
Marcell Corkern is a writer and active Real Estate Investor and specializes in investments of residential real estate and residential mortgages
Steps to hiring a Real Estate Investing Attorney.
Make a list of Attorney’s
Through contacts (friends, family members, colleagues, bar-association members), make a list of lawyers.
Screening
Next, find out everything about the listed attorneys and then do an initial screening shortlist three or four prospective attorney candidates:
Few things to pay attention to on screening:
• Analyze the biographies and Web sites for the attorney and their law firms
• Experience in the law field, especially in law pertaining to real estate
• Go through a few client testimonials and other references of the attorney
• Check out the archives of your local newspaper. Has there been any publicity about the lawyer or the cases that he or she has handled?
• Ask about conflicts of interest. Does the lawyer represent any opposing parties? Does the lawyer represent any of the competitors?
There are basically two types of real estate lawyers: those who handle lawsuits (called litigators) and those who primarily handle contract matters (called transactional lawyers). Some lawyers do both, but most of them tend to specialize in one area or the other. If you are involved in a lawsuit or may end up in one, look for a litigator. Otherwise, a lawyer who handles transactions may be your best bet.
Tips & Warnings
• Start with the easiest, least expensive steps an attorney can perform first. Sometimes a little help is all you need.
• Attorneys are willing to handle multiple tasks for a fixed price or retainer.
• Make sure the attorney specializes in real estate and has expertise in the areas required
• It is preferable that an attorney also be a licensed real estate broker.
• Real estate brokers are not attorneys and cannot give legal advice.
Pros & Cons of Hiring an Attorney
If not a seasoned buyer or seller, it would always be safe to hire an attorney in order to look at things like zoning or permitted use laws, neighborhood or condo association by-laws, environmental restrictions, tax issues, and all of the other sections that can pop up in future.
A Real Estate lawyer will add cost to the transaction because of his or her fees. While these costs are usually not excessive, they are a consideration. Using a Real Estate lawyer may cause the deal to close at a later date due to his or her need to review and revise the purchase and sale agreement.
About the Author
Marcell Corkern is a writer and active Real Estate Investor and specializes in investments of residential real estate and residential mortgages
The Role of Your Wrongful Death Lawyer
When a life is cut short by someone else’s negligence, the law in this country says that the only remedy available is monetary compensation. And, after a wrongful death accident, you may be thinking that it is inappropriate to contact a wrongful death lawyer too soon after the death, because of what other people might think or say. But I must say that it is your choice to determine when you are ready to contact a wrongful death lawyer to back you up in your case.
A wrongful death lawyer plays an important role in every wrongful accident case. He helps determine if you have a viable claim and make sure that no important deadlines for filing are missed. He deals with complex legal issues involving tort law, probate law, contract law, and insurance law. He ensures that the claim is moving forward at a time when you may need to focus on helping yourself and your family work through the emotional loss. He takes steps to preserve evidence and testimony which might be lost if too much time has passed.
However, you must also know that wrongful deaths are not always caused by individual members of the civilian populace. During these instances, the role of wrongful death lawyers on the prosecutor side is to prove that negligence was the reason for the death currently under discussion. Their role is to represent a defendant and prove that the client was not negligent and didn’t cause the death of the victims involved.
The legal process can truly be intimidating and confusing. A major part of a wrongful death lawyer’s role is to demystify the process for you. He takes the time to explain things in plain English for you to be able to make informed decisions that are in your best interest for the long term. He commits himself in representing and protecting the rights of individuals and families. Most of the wrongful death lawyers around do not represent insurance companies, hospitals or large corporations.
After all, in both cases, the roles of your wrongful death lawyer are still the same. That is, to help you win the wrongful death case that you’ve been a part of. For the people in the prosecution, the focus of your concern must be on getting better – protecting your right to compensation – and getting the compensation and justice you deserve as a survivor of someone who was wrongfully killed. And for those people in the defense, your main concern is to prove that the accused has not been negligent in his actions.
About the Author
A wrongful death lawyer plays an important role in every wrongful accident case. He helps determine if you have a viable claim and make sure that no important deadlines for filing are missed. He deals with complex legal issues involving tort law, probate law, contract law, and insurance law. He ensures that the claim is moving forward at a time when you may need to focus on helping yourself and your family work through the emotional loss. He takes steps to preserve evidence and testimony which might be lost if too much time has passed.
However, you must also know that wrongful deaths are not always caused by individual members of the civilian populace. During these instances, the role of wrongful death lawyers on the prosecutor side is to prove that negligence was the reason for the death currently under discussion. Their role is to represent a defendant and prove that the client was not negligent and didn’t cause the death of the victims involved.
The legal process can truly be intimidating and confusing. A major part of a wrongful death lawyer’s role is to demystify the process for you. He takes the time to explain things in plain English for you to be able to make informed decisions that are in your best interest for the long term. He commits himself in representing and protecting the rights of individuals and families. Most of the wrongful death lawyers around do not represent insurance companies, hospitals or large corporations.
After all, in both cases, the roles of your wrongful death lawyer are still the same. That is, to help you win the wrongful death case that you’ve been a part of. For the people in the prosecution, the focus of your concern must be on getting better – protecting your right to compensation – and getting the compensation and justice you deserve as a survivor of someone who was wrongfully killed. And for those people in the defense, your main concern is to prove that the accused has not been negligent in his actions.
About the Author
Looking for tips and suggestions about legal matters, visit http://www.personalinjurylawyersinc.com
The Intricacies of Personal Injury Cases
The laws on personal injury are truly comprehensive and complicated. Many lawyers might be focusing on personal injury cases but you have to find the one who really specializes on the claim that is similar to yours. Compared to any other fields of employment, there are also specializations in the legal genre. It is therefore important for you to identify first the type of personal injury that you have experienced and suffered before getting the services of a personal injury lawyer.
When you’ve been a victim of personal injury at work or in the street, you can be entitled to large amounts of compensation. For you to be able to win your personal injury case and get the compensation that you deserve, you’ll certainly need the assistance of reputable personal injury lawyers. However, choosing one is definitely critical and you’ll surely wonder if how you can best eliminate all the confusion and ambiguity in hiring an attorney. When we speak of personal injury claims, settlements can range from hundreds to thousands of dollars.
Legal matching services can help you locate the right personal injury lawyer for your personal injury case. With it, you don’t have to worry much about the legal process and just expect for good things to come your way through these competent lawyers. You will always want to get the highest possible claims so you need a competent legal counsel for this. Take note that the payment of these claims depends not only on the facts of the lawsuit but the lawyer’s capacity as well.
Say, you have been involved in an accident of a bus line in a certain state. Remember that there are complexities of city liability and state law that your lawyer need to know before taking on your case. When involved on a medical malpractice case, on the other hand, you have to consider an attorney who has previous experiences in taking on doctors and their lawyers. Why is this important? Well, you have to know if the lawyer is knowledgeable enough to help you gain full advantage of the laws on personal injury.
Based from reliable sources, many people who have been injured in accidents and personal injury cases don’t really know that they can be compensated for their injuries, pain and suffering. They only get to realize this with the help of proper legal help. With legal assistance, their innocence will just make them face medical expenses on their own shoulders. See, this is how important these personal injury lawyers are.
About the AuthorThe laws on personal injury are truly comprehensive and complicated. Many lawyers might be focusing on personal injury cases but you have to find the one who really specializes on the claim that is similar to yours. Compared to any other fields of employment, there are also specializations in the legal genre. It is therefore important for you to identify first the type of personal injury that you have experienced and suffered before getting the services of a personal injury lawyer.
When you’ve been a victim of personal injury at work or in the street, you can be entitled to large amounts of compensation. For you to be able to win your personal injury case and get the compensation that you deserve, you’ll certainly need the assistance of reputable personal injury lawyers. However, choosing one is definitely critical and you’ll surely wonder if how you can best eliminate all the confusion and ambiguity in hiring an attorney. When we speak of personal injury claims, settlements can range from hundreds to thousands of dollars.
Legal matching services can help you locate the right personal injury lawyer for your personal injury case. With it, you don’t have to worry much about the legal process and just expect for good things to come your way through these competent lawyers. You will always want to get the highest possible claims so you need a competent legal counsel for this. Take note that the payment of these claims depends not only on the facts of the lawsuit but the lawyer’s capacity as well.
Say, you have been involved in an accident of a bus line in a certain state. Remember that there are complexities of city liability and state law that your lawyer need to know before taking on your case. When involved on a medical malpractice case, on the other hand, you have to consider an attorney who has previous experiences in taking on doctors and their lawyers. Why is this important? Well, you have to know if the lawyer is knowledgeable enough to help you gain full advantage of the laws on personal injury.
Based from reliable sources, many people who have been injured in accidents and personal injury cases don’t really know that they can be compensated for their injuries, pain and suffering. They only get to realize this with the help of proper legal help. With legal assistance, their innocence will just make them face medical expenses on their own shoulders. See, this is how important these personal injury lawyers are.
About the Author
For comments and questions about the article, you may visit http://www.mesrianilaw.com
When you’ve been a victim of personal injury at work or in the street, you can be entitled to large amounts of compensation. For you to be able to win your personal injury case and get the compensation that you deserve, you’ll certainly need the assistance of reputable personal injury lawyers. However, choosing one is definitely critical and you’ll surely wonder if how you can best eliminate all the confusion and ambiguity in hiring an attorney. When we speak of personal injury claims, settlements can range from hundreds to thousands of dollars.
Legal matching services can help you locate the right personal injury lawyer for your personal injury case. With it, you don’t have to worry much about the legal process and just expect for good things to come your way through these competent lawyers. You will always want to get the highest possible claims so you need a competent legal counsel for this. Take note that the payment of these claims depends not only on the facts of the lawsuit but the lawyer’s capacity as well.
Say, you have been involved in an accident of a bus line in a certain state. Remember that there are complexities of city liability and state law that your lawyer need to know before taking on your case. When involved on a medical malpractice case, on the other hand, you have to consider an attorney who has previous experiences in taking on doctors and their lawyers. Why is this important? Well, you have to know if the lawyer is knowledgeable enough to help you gain full advantage of the laws on personal injury.
Based from reliable sources, many people who have been injured in accidents and personal injury cases don’t really know that they can be compensated for their injuries, pain and suffering. They only get to realize this with the help of proper legal help. With legal assistance, their innocence will just make them face medical expenses on their own shoulders. See, this is how important these personal injury lawyers are.
About the AuthorThe laws on personal injury are truly comprehensive and complicated. Many lawyers might be focusing on personal injury cases but you have to find the one who really specializes on the claim that is similar to yours. Compared to any other fields of employment, there are also specializations in the legal genre. It is therefore important for you to identify first the type of personal injury that you have experienced and suffered before getting the services of a personal injury lawyer.
When you’ve been a victim of personal injury at work or in the street, you can be entitled to large amounts of compensation. For you to be able to win your personal injury case and get the compensation that you deserve, you’ll certainly need the assistance of reputable personal injury lawyers. However, choosing one is definitely critical and you’ll surely wonder if how you can best eliminate all the confusion and ambiguity in hiring an attorney. When we speak of personal injury claims, settlements can range from hundreds to thousands of dollars.
Legal matching services can help you locate the right personal injury lawyer for your personal injury case. With it, you don’t have to worry much about the legal process and just expect for good things to come your way through these competent lawyers. You will always want to get the highest possible claims so you need a competent legal counsel for this. Take note that the payment of these claims depends not only on the facts of the lawsuit but the lawyer’s capacity as well.
Say, you have been involved in an accident of a bus line in a certain state. Remember that there are complexities of city liability and state law that your lawyer need to know before taking on your case. When involved on a medical malpractice case, on the other hand, you have to consider an attorney who has previous experiences in taking on doctors and their lawyers. Why is this important? Well, you have to know if the lawyer is knowledgeable enough to help you gain full advantage of the laws on personal injury.
Based from reliable sources, many people who have been injured in accidents and personal injury cases don’t really know that they can be compensated for their injuries, pain and suffering. They only get to realize this with the help of proper legal help. With legal assistance, their innocence will just make them face medical expenses on their own shoulders. See, this is how important these personal injury lawyers are.
About the Author
For comments and questions about the article, you may visit http://www.mesrianilaw.com
How To Find A Lawyer?
The average person may not even know how to begin looking for a good lawyer. There are many source of information with daunting names like the attorney public records or certified lawyer referral service, but once you get the break down of how everything words together it's pretty simply.
Referrals from business associated and / or family – It sounds like the simplest place to start, but many people may be embarrassed about asking what legal professional a fellow work associate or family member users, but you don't have to be. With so many lawyers out there it's likely you can get a personal referral to someone who can help you without even having to do much a search.
Attorney public records – Once you've found a lawyer or attorney you're thinking about suing, you can checked their official bar membership record which will include their address, phone number, discipline history and other marks on their professional reputation. It's easier now then ever on the Stat Bar's website. If you see anything that doesn’t check out, you may want to reconsider your choice.
Certified Lawyer referral services – Do a quick search online or in the Yellow Pages and you'll be sure to find a State Bar certified lawyer referral service. They can steer you in the right direction if you don't know where else to look.
Certified Legal Specialists – State Bars maintain lists of attorney who are certified specialists in particular areas of law. For example the California state bar certified specialists in appellate law, workers' comp, tax law, family law, immigration, estate planning, bankruptcy, and criminal law. They may even have this list directly on the state bar's website.
Free Legal Aid Agencies – Depending on your financial and personal situation there may be an entire number of agencies devoted to giving you free legal advice and basic legal resources. Many law schools also have free clinics available.
Advertisements and Professional Websites – Take a Google search and you'll see tons of PPC and professional advertisements for lawyers of all types. Just be sure to thoroughly check them out, but you can shop for a lawyer the same way you would a car.
All in all there are many different viable options for you to begin your search. Just be sure not to settle for the first lawyer you find and be sure you get along with the person. Depending on your needs you may be entering into a long term business relationship with them so be sure you get along and can work together.
MyAbogado.com is a popular legal directory that helps users locate legal professionals across the country while providing the legal community and litigation support providers with a low cost method to market their services to other professionals and members of the public across the country. To find out more, please visit myabogado.com
About the Author
myabogado.com
Referrals from business associated and / or family – It sounds like the simplest place to start, but many people may be embarrassed about asking what legal professional a fellow work associate or family member users, but you don't have to be. With so many lawyers out there it's likely you can get a personal referral to someone who can help you without even having to do much a search.
Attorney public records – Once you've found a lawyer or attorney you're thinking about suing, you can checked their official bar membership record which will include their address, phone number, discipline history and other marks on their professional reputation. It's easier now then ever on the Stat Bar's website. If you see anything that doesn’t check out, you may want to reconsider your choice.
Certified Lawyer referral services – Do a quick search online or in the Yellow Pages and you'll be sure to find a State Bar certified lawyer referral service. They can steer you in the right direction if you don't know where else to look.
Certified Legal Specialists – State Bars maintain lists of attorney who are certified specialists in particular areas of law. For example the California state bar certified specialists in appellate law, workers' comp, tax law, family law, immigration, estate planning, bankruptcy, and criminal law. They may even have this list directly on the state bar's website.
Free Legal Aid Agencies – Depending on your financial and personal situation there may be an entire number of agencies devoted to giving you free legal advice and basic legal resources. Many law schools also have free clinics available.
Advertisements and Professional Websites – Take a Google search and you'll see tons of PPC and professional advertisements for lawyers of all types. Just be sure to thoroughly check them out, but you can shop for a lawyer the same way you would a car.
All in all there are many different viable options for you to begin your search. Just be sure not to settle for the first lawyer you find and be sure you get along with the person. Depending on your needs you may be entering into a long term business relationship with them so be sure you get along and can work together.
MyAbogado.com is a popular legal directory that helps users locate legal professionals across the country while providing the legal community and litigation support providers with a low cost method to market their services to other professionals and members of the public across the country. To find out more, please visit myabogado.com
About the Author
myabogado.com
Attorney Fees - Part 2 - Fee Arrangements
This is Part 2 of this 4-part article. Please refer to the other 3 parts to read this article in full.
Based on the type and complexity of your legal situation, your attorney may apply any one of the fee arrangements (listed below) to your case or a combination of few. Make certain that you fully understand it. The typical fee arrangements are: initial consultation fee, hourly fee, standard fee, retainer fee, contingency fee and statutory fee. Of course, the ball doesn't stop there. You will most likely be hit by other legal fees outside of your attorney fee arrangements – covered in Part 4 of this multi part article. In this Part 2 you will have an opportunity to read about the initial consultation fee, hourly fee and the standard fee. Please refer to Part 1 to read the introduction to legal fees and to read about the fee agreement.
Fee Arrangements
Initial Consultation Fee - This fee is what the lawyer charges for your first visit. Make sure you ask what the fee is when you make your initial appointment. Some attorneys charge their usual hourly rate for this visit, some charge a reduced rate, while others offer free initial consultations. Usually by the end of this initial consultation you will know whether you want to hire this lawyer, and the lawyer will decide if he or she wants to take your case. Don't expect to get much legal advice, if any, during this visit. This visit is where you get to interview the attorney and the attorney gets to hear your legal issue.
Hourly Fee - This fee can vary from lawyer to lawyer. It can also vary from city to city, the type of problem, and the amount of experience the lawyer has. More experience the lawyer has, more confidence he or she has in handling your case, therefore they could charge more. At your initial consultation, always ask the lawyer to estimate how long your case will take. But, don't forget that circumstances may change, and your case may take longer than the lawyer expected at the beginning. Some attorneys may consider reduced rates for low-income people. These attorneys will make a decision based on your financial situation, the type of assistance you are seeking, and their current caseload, whether they are willing to lower their fees for you or not.
Remember, if the lawyer decides to charge you by the hour, as amusing as it may sound he or she will track and bill every minute spent working for you. This includes answering your phone calls, preparing documents, doing research, talking to the other side's lawyer, going to court and so on. In addition to that, don't forget to ask if other attorneys or employees at the firm will be spending time on your case and at what rate, because you will be billed for their time too.
A lawyer may ask you to sign a promissory note as security for the fees. Also, a bankruptcy attorney will require payment in advance, since that fee, if not paid before filing bankruptcy is dischargeable by you in the bankruptcy. So, the attorney wants to make sure he or she gets their money before you're no longer required to pay your debts. In addition, a lawyer may request a retainer fee as a down payment. This means that the legal fees will be deducted from the retainer, at the agreed upon hourly rate, until the retainer is used up. Then, the lawyer will either ask you to replace the retainer or bill you for any additional time spent on your case. In any case, always ask for a receipt for fees you have paid. In case of a dispute, the receipt is your evidence.
Standard (Flat) (Fixed) Fee - Regardless of how they refer to it, this is a set fee used for routine legal matters, such as drawing up a will, purchase or a sale of a property, title examination, handling an uncontested divorce, and such. It basically means that regardless of how much time the lawyer spends, this fee is used when the lawyer is performing a specific service with a predictable time commitment. When you and your lawyer agree to a fixed fee, make sure that you know what it does and does not include. Also, you need to ask your lawyer (and get it in writing, i.e. e-mail, letter, memo) whether the fee could change if your case becomes unexpectedly complex.
Retainer fee, contingency fee and statutory fee - covered in Part 3 of this article.
Disclaimer: The author and publisher of this article have done their best to give you useful, informative and accurate information. This article does not represent nor replace the legal advice you need to get from a lawyer, or other professional if the content of the article involves an issue you are facing. Laws vary from state-to-state and change from time-to-time. Always consult with a qualified professional before making any decisions about the issues described in this article. Thank you.
About the Author
This article was produced by Attorney Resources and Information website. Please visit find a lawyer if you need to find a lawyer or if you need more information to help you with your attorney.
Based on the type and complexity of your legal situation, your attorney may apply any one of the fee arrangements (listed below) to your case or a combination of few. Make certain that you fully understand it. The typical fee arrangements are: initial consultation fee, hourly fee, standard fee, retainer fee, contingency fee and statutory fee. Of course, the ball doesn't stop there. You will most likely be hit by other legal fees outside of your attorney fee arrangements – covered in Part 4 of this multi part article. In this Part 2 you will have an opportunity to read about the initial consultation fee, hourly fee and the standard fee. Please refer to Part 1 to read the introduction to legal fees and to read about the fee agreement.
Fee Arrangements
Initial Consultation Fee - This fee is what the lawyer charges for your first visit. Make sure you ask what the fee is when you make your initial appointment. Some attorneys charge their usual hourly rate for this visit, some charge a reduced rate, while others offer free initial consultations. Usually by the end of this initial consultation you will know whether you want to hire this lawyer, and the lawyer will decide if he or she wants to take your case. Don't expect to get much legal advice, if any, during this visit. This visit is where you get to interview the attorney and the attorney gets to hear your legal issue.
Hourly Fee - This fee can vary from lawyer to lawyer. It can also vary from city to city, the type of problem, and the amount of experience the lawyer has. More experience the lawyer has, more confidence he or she has in handling your case, therefore they could charge more. At your initial consultation, always ask the lawyer to estimate how long your case will take. But, don't forget that circumstances may change, and your case may take longer than the lawyer expected at the beginning. Some attorneys may consider reduced rates for low-income people. These attorneys will make a decision based on your financial situation, the type of assistance you are seeking, and their current caseload, whether they are willing to lower their fees for you or not.
Remember, if the lawyer decides to charge you by the hour, as amusing as it may sound he or she will track and bill every minute spent working for you. This includes answering your phone calls, preparing documents, doing research, talking to the other side's lawyer, going to court and so on. In addition to that, don't forget to ask if other attorneys or employees at the firm will be spending time on your case and at what rate, because you will be billed for their time too.
A lawyer may ask you to sign a promissory note as security for the fees. Also, a bankruptcy attorney will require payment in advance, since that fee, if not paid before filing bankruptcy is dischargeable by you in the bankruptcy. So, the attorney wants to make sure he or she gets their money before you're no longer required to pay your debts. In addition, a lawyer may request a retainer fee as a down payment. This means that the legal fees will be deducted from the retainer, at the agreed upon hourly rate, until the retainer is used up. Then, the lawyer will either ask you to replace the retainer or bill you for any additional time spent on your case. In any case, always ask for a receipt for fees you have paid. In case of a dispute, the receipt is your evidence.
Standard (Flat) (Fixed) Fee - Regardless of how they refer to it, this is a set fee used for routine legal matters, such as drawing up a will, purchase or a sale of a property, title examination, handling an uncontested divorce, and such. It basically means that regardless of how much time the lawyer spends, this fee is used when the lawyer is performing a specific service with a predictable time commitment. When you and your lawyer agree to a fixed fee, make sure that you know what it does and does not include. Also, you need to ask your lawyer (and get it in writing, i.e. e-mail, letter, memo) whether the fee could change if your case becomes unexpectedly complex.
Retainer fee, contingency fee and statutory fee - covered in Part 3 of this article.
Disclaimer: The author and publisher of this article have done their best to give you useful, informative and accurate information. This article does not represent nor replace the legal advice you need to get from a lawyer, or other professional if the content of the article involves an issue you are facing. Laws vary from state-to-state and change from time-to-time. Always consult with a qualified professional before making any decisions about the issues described in this article. Thank you.
About the Author
This article was produced by Attorney Resources and Information website. Please visit find a lawyer if you need to find a lawyer or if you need more information to help you with your attorney.
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