Divorce Separation Child Support Custody Juvenile Law Adoption Cohabitation Attorney Daniel E. Dalton, Tewksbury, Massachusetts Lawyer

The Civil Divorce^™

The sensible approach to a new life

Do you charge for the first telephone discussion?

No. I'm glad to spend some time to discuss anything you'd like. Please call anytime.

Do you charge for the first meeting?

Yes. I know that some Massachusetts divorce lawyers don’t charge, and you may get some useful information that way. But watch out for a free consultation that's really a quick sales pitch. For the lawyer to understand your situation, and for you to get a feel for the lawyer, you'll need to spend some time together.

The first meeting lasts an hour, maybe a bit more, and the fee is $125.

This meeting is a two-way street: you decide if you want to hire me, and I decide if I'll take you on as a client. On average, I don't accept about one out of three people, even if they want to hire me. Often it's because I sense that we just won't be able to work together. If so, I'll be honest and tell you that you would be better off with someone else. (If you know right now that you truly want a junkyard dog to "teach him a lesson" or to "destroy that b****," please call someone else.)

After we talk, I'll tell it to you straight. I don't sugarcoat things just to make you feel better (the worst thing a lawyer can do). And I don't pressure you. Experience tells me that some people don't want to do anything right away. They often just want to discuss their options.

You and I will discuss your situation and decide what approach may work best for you.

May I pay with a credit card?

Yes. Visa, MasterCard, and Discover are accepted.

Do you have a written agreement listing services and fees?

Yes. Always.

Full-Service Divorce: Fixed Fee

Why hourly billing is bad for you (and the lawyer, if you care)

Most lawyers bill by the hour for every task. A typical bill might look like this:

9/29/08 Tel. conf. w/client .2

9/30/08 Rev. letter from wife's atty.; discuss w/cl. .4

10/1/08 Tel. conf. w/cl.; letter to wife's atty;

review of wife's financial statement 1.2

TOTAL: 1.8 x $185/hr. = $333

Can you see how this could add up fast? Can you see how an initial payment of, say, $2,500 would be used up quickly?

I admit that I billed this way for years. It's the way the vast majority of lawyers still do it. They spend much of their time thinking about time: How much time did I spend? Did I record it correctly? Is it really fair to bill a tenth of an hour for a two-minute phone call? Spending the day on the time treadmill, they give little thought about resolving matters efficiently. And why should they? Hourly billing punishes efficiency. After all, what's in it for the lawyer to try to wind things up quickly?

I think there's a better way. When we meet, you a fixed fee, in writing, based on your particular situation, your personal goals, your desired results. There are no extra charges for phone calls, e-mails, or anything else. The fixed fee will be the final fee, guaranteed.

For the fee in your case, please call or drop me an e-mail. I'll ask you a few questions, and then be able to give you an estimate.

Mediation fee: $1,450

Fee includes:

• Up to three in-office sessions of 60 to 90 minutes each.

• Preparation of joint petition for no-fault divorce, Probate Court Financial Statements,

Affidavits of Irretrievable Breakdown; drafting of divorce agreement, all other papers

needed to file a joint no-fault divorce.

• Meeting to sign and notarize papers and to give you instructions about your court date.

Coaching, advice, document prep & review

If you want a single service, and the time needed can be reasonably estimated, I'll quote you a flat fee.

Uncontested divorce: $850

"Uncontested" means that you both have agreed on everything, including who gets what property and what debt, and all matters related to your children.

Fee includes:

• Initial meeting of one to one and a half hours.

• Preparation of joint petition for no-fault divorce, Probate Court Financial Statements,

Affidavits of Irretrievable Breakdown; drafting of divorce agreement, all other papers

needed to file a joint no-fault divorce.

• Meeting to sign and notarize papers and to give you instructions about your court date.

Expenses

Legal fees do not include out-of-pocket expenses, such as the court filing fee ($220). But you are not charged for expenses like long-distance calls, faxes, postage, routine copying, meals, mileage, or parking.

Atty. Daniel E. Dalton
885 Main St. (Rte. 38), Suite 10A
Tewksbury, MA 01876
Tel. 978-851-2444
Dalton@usa.net

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