The Flat-Fee Divorce Concept

The flat fee concept takes a new approach to the client/lawyer relationship. In the flat fee approach, the lawyer determines, in the initial client interview, what the case will require in terms of preparation, discovery, research and court appearances. The lawyer then quotes a flat fee to the client. The fee agreement will identify the number of court appearances to which the client will be entitled to have the Staten Island divorce lawyer appear in court under the flat fee agreement. The fee agreement will also specify that additional court appearances will require a flat fee, paid in advance. The fee agreement will also identify the depositions that the flat fee will cover and will identify that additional depositions will be charged, in advance, at a flat fee per day.

The fee agreement will allow the Staten Island divorce attorney to modify the advance payment terms, as the attorney, in his discretion, deems appropriate to the circumstances of the case. The flat fee agreement also requires that the client pay the expenses of the litigation, including filing fees, deposition stenographer attendance and transcript fees, expert witness fees, etc. The result is that the client knows up front the cost of the divorce litigation. If the client wishes to expand the litigation by requiring additional court appearances, the client feels the economic impact when the decision to make additional court appearances is made. Thus, the client is able to make a better educated decision in regard to whether to resort to the courtroom for resolution.

Family law attorney, Eric M. Gansberg, Esq., is located on Staten Island, New York, and represents men and women with divorce, child support and family law throughout the New York City area, including Staten Island, Annadale, Arden Heights, Bay Terrace, Dongan Hills, Eltingville, Emerson Hill, Fort Wadsworth, Graniteville, Grant City, Grasmere, Great Kills, Greenridge, Grymes Hill, Heartland Village, Huguenot, Lighthouse Hill, Midland Beach, New Dorp, New Springville, Oakwood, Old Town NY, Pleasant Plains, Prince's Bay, Randall Manor, Richmond Valley Richmondtown, Rosebank, Rossville, Shore Acres, Silver Lake, South Beach, St. George, Tottenville Beach, Ward Hill, Westerleigh, Willowbrook, Woodrow, other areas of Staten Island, New York City, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens, Bronx, Long Island, Suffolk County, Nassau County, Westchester County, and Rockland County.