- What do you charge?
- Can I make my opponent pay my attorney's fees?
- What if I can't afford to hire an attorney, will the court appoint one for me?
- How long will my case take?
- How do I schedule an appointment?
- What is a Telephone Consultation?
- What should I bring to a Consultation?
What do you charge?
Basic fee structure:
A retainer is an amount paid to secure representation of a law firm or attorney. Stange Law Firm, LLC requires that a retainer be paid prior to beginning representation. The retainer is a deposit against future legal services. Our services are billed on an hourly rate and we will incorporate our trained legal staff to assist with the legal work at lower rates to help minimize your overall costs. We require that clients maintain all or most of the retainer balance at all times during representation. You will be told the amount of the retainer required during your initial consultation. If there is a retainer balance at the conclusion of your case, you will receive a refund of the remaining balance. Many matters can be handled for the retainer or less. Other matters may take much more extensive work and time.
For your convenience, in addition to traditional payment methods, we accept Visa, Discover, MasterCard and American Express. After becoming a client, you will meet our staff who will assist with you case, and you may receive additional reading material and forms to complete via e-mail. We look forward to the possibility of meeting with you for a consultation. If you decide to arrange a consultation with one of our attorneys, please simply call us to make the appointment.
Flat Fee Cases:
In the vast majority of cases, we do work on an hourly basis because of the unpredictability of litigation. However, in some rare cases (prenuptial agreements being a common example), we may work on a flat fee basis. We must discuss with you the particulars of your case before we can determine if a flat fee basis can be effective for your situation.
Can I make my opponent pay my attorney's fees?
Depending on the circumstances of your individual case, we may ask the Court to order the other party to reimburse you for your attorney's fees and expenses. Please keep in mind that attorney's fees are not awarded in every case, it is up to the judge's discretion whether or not to grant such an award. We will therefore, still need your Initial Retainer to begin a case and you are ultimately responsible for all attorney's fees and expenses of litigation that are incurred. Any reimbursement or award by the court will be applied to your bill as the fees are received. Any excess will be immediately refunded to you when the case is complete.
What if I can't afford to hire an attorney, will the court appoint one for me?
Unfortunately, in family law cases, the court is not required to provide you with an attorney and will not do so. If you would like to hire Stange Law Firm, LLC, but would need to obtain a loan, you can try to apply for a legal loan at MyLegalLoan.com. Stange Law Firm is a provider through MyLegalLoan.com. For your convenience, Stange Law Firm, LLC also accepts all major credit cards. However, if you do not qualify for a loan or a credit card, there are two agencies in St. Louis that offer free legal services to those who qualify for such services (but qualification is limited), including Legal Services of Eastern District of Missouri and Catholic Legal Services.
How long will my case take?
As mentioned before, every case is different and the length of the case will be largely determined by the complexity of the case and whether or not you and your opponent can reach an agreement.
How do I schedule an appointment?
One of the most important services we provide to potential clients is the initial consultation. During this meeting, we can review your paperwork, evidence and other documents in addition to answering any questions you might have. Our goal is to gather enough information from you to understand your unique situation, desires and goals in order to give you customized advice.
Each prospective client receives one free hour consultation with an attorney. This consultation is YOUR time, so the better prepared you are, the more we can help you. We will perform an initial analysis, and inform you of the strengths and weaknesses of the case. There will be weaknesses in your case, and we will always be upfront and honest about your case's weakness and will brainstorm strategies to either repair or mitigate those weaknesses long before the case arrives in court.
If you are considering retaining Stange Law Firm LLC, the consultation process is an opportunity for you to become acquainted with our professional staff, who will assist you throughout your case. The consultation always remains confidential, even if you do not retain us. In addition, if your spouse or opposing party contacts us at any time in the future, they will be informed that we cannot provide any services to them.
Please feel free to inquire at any time during or after the consultation about the costs of any future representation. Every case is unique, and as a result, attorney's fees can vary greatly from case to case. We are not able to give you an estimate of costs until we sit down with you, review your paperwork, and listen to your story. We pledge to always give a candid analysis of what the costs of your case might be.
What is a Telephone Consultation?
For the convenience of our out-of-state or out-of-country clients, which Stange Law Firm, LLC services on a regular basis, we also provide telephone consultations. A "telephone consultation" is the same as an in-person consultation, except for the fact that it occurs via telephone. At any point during or after the consultation, you may choose to retain our firm.
Contact us at 314-219-1865 or via email to schedule your initial consultation
What should I bring to a Consultation?
Your consultation with Stange Law Firm, LLC will be more productive if you provide certain documents. If you have a large number of documents, please make copies prior to your arrival, so we can spend the consultation time discussing your case, rather than making copies. If you do not have access to all of the documents, you can bring them to our office later.
Divorce Cases:
- Tax returns, W2s, 1099s, and documentation of income of you and your spouse for the past 5 years.
- Recent statements for IRA, 401-K or other retirement and/or pension plans for you and your spouse.
- Any evidence such as pictures, tapes, recordings or other evidence that corroborates what you are alleging. (such as infidelity, domestic violence, financial irresponsibility, etc.)
- Any information relating to the marital home - mortgages, tax assessed value, appraisals, etc.
- All recent bank statements for both spouses, showing the current balance.
- Any pleadings that have been filed in the current case, or in any related case.
Other Domestic Cases:
- Your Tax returns, W2s, 1099s, and documentation of for the past 5 years.
- Any evidence such as pictures, tapes, recordings or other evidence that corroborates what you are alleging. (such as infidelity, domestic violence, financial irresponsibility, etc.)
- All of your recent bank statements, showing the current balance.
- Any pleadings that have been filed in the current case, or in any related case.
- For modifications, it is essential that you bring the order that you want to modify.
Contact a St. Louis Divorce Lawyer
Contact us online or by phone to schedule a free and confidential hour (sixty-minute) consultation at any of our four convenient locations in St. Louis, St. Charles and Jefferson County, Missouri, and Belleville, Illinois.
Saint Louis County Office: 314-219-1865 Click to learn more about this location.
Jefferson County (Arnold) Office: 636-333-0396 Click to learn more about this location.
St. Charles Office: 636-674-8118 Click to learn more about this location.
Belleville Office: 618-505-4643 Click to learn more about this location
Saint Louis City Office: 314-499-8340 Click to learn more about this location.
