| SERVICE | FEE |
|---|---|
| CONSULTATION: Initial office visit (first half hour only) Multiple office visits billed at hourly rate |
$100.00 |
| UNCONTESTED DIVORCE: (Kanawha County cases only) No-fault divorce based upon “irreconcilable differences” involving children, real estate or debts where the other party is represented by counsel or filed an Answer; where there is no property to divide or there is an agreement on all issues prior to the divorce filing; or where the Respondent does not appear or defend. (Additional drafts of agreement will be billed on an hourly basis in addition to retainer paid. Fee does not include review or preparation of “QDRO”). | $2,600.00 |
| DIVORCE FULLY RESOLVED BY WRITTEN AGREEMENT WITHIN 35 DAYS OF FILING | $3,000.00 |
| PREPARATION OF PROPERTY SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT AND/OR AGREED ORDER WITHOUT FURTHER REPRESENTATION OR INVOLVEMENT IN NEGOTIATION | $1,000.00 |
| CONTESTED DIVORCE: Minimum retainer for contested divorces – involving children for $6,500.00 twenty-six (26) hours of professional services. A divorce is considered contested unless the parties have entered into a written agreement before the case is filed fully settling all issues, including children, alimony, real estate, debts, taxes, etc. (Fee does not include additional costs of the case all fees for “QDRO,” Orders, Deeds, or exception hearings.) | $7,000.00 |
| CONTESTED DIVORCE WITHOUT MINOR CHILDREN | $6,000.00 |
| ADDITIONAL CHARGES FOR CONTESTED DIVORCE WITH BUSINESS VALUATION (does not include expert witness fee) |
$6,000.00 |
| ADDITIONAL CHARGES FOR CONTESTED DIVORCE WITH DISCOVERY | $3,000.00 |
| APPEALS OR MOTIONS FOR RECONSIDERATION at Circuit Court, not Supreme Court (per hearing) |
$900.00 |
| SUPREME COURT APPEALS – Minimum Retainer | $7,500.00 |
| DEEDS/DEEDS OF TRUST (per document) | $150.00 |
| WILLS (Simple – no minors) | $250.00 |
| OTHER TRANSFERS | $350.00/hr. |
| REVIEW OR PREPARATION OF “QDRO” BY WRITTEN AGREEMENT WITH CLIENT (Without a written agreement and prepayment, lawyer has not been hired to prepare the QDRO) |
$850.00 |
| POST-DIVORCE MODIFICATION OF CASE WE HANDLED INITIALLY: (Kanawha County cases only) Single hearing to modify decree concerning single issue such as Parenting Plan, support, alimony, parenting of children age 14 or older. Multiple issues may require additional fees. | $1,500.00 |
| POST-DIVORCE MODIFICATION OF CASE WE DID NOT HANDLE: (Kanawha County cases only) Single hearing to modify decree concerning single issue such as Parenting Plan, support, alimony, parenting of children age 14 or older. Multiple issues may require additional fees. | $2,500.00 |
| SUBSEQUENT HEARINGS BILLED AS FOLLOWS: | $350.00/hr. |
| PROCEEDINGS TO MODIFY PARENTING PLAN OR OF CHILDREN (required minimum retainer) |
$2,500.00 |
| CONTEMPT PROCEEDINGS (one hearing) (required minimum retainer if more than one hearing) |
$1,500.00 $2,500.00 |
| SUBSEQUENT HEARINGS BILLED AS FOLLOWS: | $350.00/hr. with at least an additional deposit |
| OTHER COLLECTION ISSUES: Required minimum retainer | $1,500.00 |
| PRENUPTIAL Retainer to start | $1,000.00 |
| MINIMUM ADDITIONAL FEES FOR: | FEE |
| ALL ABOVE FOR PUTNAM AND BOONE COUNTY CASES | $250.00 |
| ALL ABOVE FOR JACKSON AND LINCOLN COUNTY CASES | $400.00 |
| ALL ABOVE FOR CLAY, RALEIGH, CABELL OR MASON COUNTY CASES | $500.00 |
| ALL DRIVE TIME IS BILLED AT REGULAR HOURLY RATE | $350 |
GENERAL FEE INFORMATION
The above fees do not include court costs ($135.00 filing fee) or expenses incurred for service of process ($25.00 minimum), required parenting class ($25.00) or any other professional fees incurred such as for the services of a CPA, appraiser, or other expert. Time is billed in increments of 0.10 hours. Time includes, but is not limited to the time spent meeting with client and witnesses; telephone calls; time spent preparing, working, investigating or researching a case; time spent in court or waiting in court; and time spent traveling.
Ordinarily, the initial attorney fee of $1,800.00, $5,000.00, $6,500.00, $9,300.00 or $11,300.00 together with the filing, service of process and parenting class fees must be paid in full before the case can be filed. Income and circumstances are taken into consideration, however, and alternative arrangements are sometimes made for filing cases without full advance payment of attorney fees. Contested cases on custody or those involving substantial assets will not be commenced without full advance payment. Without exception, the total of all fees and costs must be paid in full before a final court hearing will be scheduled. Client agrees that we can withdraw as counsel in the case thirty (30) days prior to any scheduled hearing if billed attorney fees remain unpaid.
Fees for contested matters vary from case to case. Cases will be considered contested if there are any unresolved issues when retained; if there are any substantial settlement negotiations; if there are contested hearing; or if there are numerous phone conversations or office visits concerning the case. The hourly fee on a contested case is Two Hundred and Fifty Dollars ($350.00) per hour. Client must keep Pepper & Nason informed of any change of address or phone number. Please be aware that we cannot respond to text messages or emails. Our communication will be by phone, face-to-face or by letter only.
Mediation for parenting plans and other financial issues in divorce cases.
Andrew Nason will provide mediation services for domestic cases. Cases referred by Court Order from a Family Court Judge will be charged pursuant to the West Virginia Supreme Court sliding scale. For all other family law mediation the first four (4) hours will be billed at $1,000.00 payable in advance with any additional hours billed at $275.00 per hour.