How much will my fees be?

Answer: Fees for services depend on the type of case. Our fees for many criminal cases are charged as a flat fee for the first stage of a case and then as an hourly fee thereafter. In most areas of domestic relations practice, the fees will be charged at hourly rates. In personal injury/accident cases, the fees will usually be on a contingency fee basis, where the attorney fees are only paid if a recovery is made.

What is the difference between Dissolution and Divorce?

Answer: Although both a dissolution and divorce are proceedings to end a marriage, a dissolution can only be used if the husband and wife reach a complete agreement on all issues that must be resolved before ending the marriage. This means they must agree on all terms with regard to property and debt division, spousal support and any child related issues. If they cannot come to a complete agreement, then a divorce action will need to be filed so that a judge can hear evidence and make a decision concerning any contested areas.

What is the difference between Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 Bankruptcy?

Answer: Although there are too many differences to fully set forth in a short summary, some of the basic differences are as follows: In a Chapter 7 bankruptcy case, the Debtor generally does not have to pay future income to the Bankruptcy Court. However, if the Debtor owns property with equity above the amount the law says the Debtor can keep, then the Bankruptcy Court will take that particular property and sell it and use the proceeds to pay Creditors. Additionally, if a Debtor is behind on payments on a loan secured by property the Debtor wants to keep (for example, a house), a Chapter 7 bankruptcy does not provide a mechanism for curing the default. As a result, if a Debtor has not worked out new terms with the Creditor, the property will be subject to repossession or a forced sale. In a Chapter 13 bankruptcy case, a Debtor must pay money to the Bankruptcy Court for at least 3 years and up to 5 years. The benefit of a Chapter 13 bankruptcy is that the Debtor can keep property that would have been taken by the Court and sold in a Chapter 7 case. Further, a Chapter 13 case gives a Debtor the opportunity to cure defaults by "catching up" on amounts owed to Creditors before the Chapter 13 case is concluded and therefore prevent repossessions and forced sales.