FAQ

Basic fee structure:

Stange Law Firm, PC requires that an initial deposit (advanced fee) be paid prior to beginning representation as set forth in our fee agreement. The initial deposit is an advance by the client for future legal services. Our services are billed on an hourly rate (in tenth of hour increments) as set forth in our fee agreement. We require that clients maintain all or most of the initial deposit balance at all times during representation. You will be told the initial deposit (advanced fee) options during your initial consultation. If there is a balance at the conclusion of your case, you will receive a refund of the remaining balance. (Please note that a case does not conclude the day a judgment is entered, but when appeal deadlines and/or time-limits for post-trial motions have passed after the entry of the judgment.  Additionally, many cases require other ancillary matters to be completed before a case is completed.)  Further, please note that in some cases the client may owe money at the end of the case.

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. 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.

Hourly Basis:

We do work on an hourly basis (billing in tenth of hour increments rounded up) because of the unpredictability of most family law matters. For example, while the vast majority of parties would truly like to settle their family law case versus go to trial, details can often hang up settlement. In a divorce, for example, parties with kids would have to agree on how to divide all their property and debt (real estate, vehicles, bank accounts, retirement accounts, etc), child custody (legal and physical custody), child support, spousal maintenance and attorneys’ fees. Although many parties represent in an initial consultation that they think their case may settle, it is virtually impossible for us to know whether that will actually be the case on day one. At Stange Law Firm, PC, we do think that settlement is often the best path for parties in keeping down attorney’s fees and preventing prolonged, emotional litigation. On the other hand, we know that disagreements on one or two critical issues can make a client — who conceptually wants to settle — decide that they have no choice but to go to trial. For these reasons, we almost always work on an hourly basis. Please note as well that non-refundable fixed or flat fees can present ethical dilemmas, which is why we bill hourly. Further, please understand that the rates our attorneys charge can vary significantly based on the attorney.

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.  Instead, it is up to the judge’s discretion whether or not to grant such an award. We will, therefore, still need your initial deposit (advance fee) 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 refunded to you when the case is complete.

Unfortunately, in family law cases, the court is not required to provide you with an attorney and will not do so except in rare cases. If you would like to hire Stange Law Firm, PC, but would need to obtain a loan, you can apply for a credit card online. For your convenience, Stange Law Firm, PC accepts all major credit cards. However, if you do not qualify for a loan or a credit card, you might consult Legal Services of Eastern District of Missouri, Catholic Legal Services, Legal Aid of Western Missouri, Mid-Missouri Legal Services, Legal Services of Southern Missouri, Kansas Legal Services, Land of Lincoln, Legal Aid Services of Oklahoma or other pro bono agencies.

For the convenience of our out-of-state or out-of-country clients, which Stange Law Firm, PC services on a regular basis, we also provide telephone and video consultations. A telephone consultation or video conference is the same as an in-person consultation, except for the fact that it occurs via telephone or by video conference. At any point during or after the consultation, you may choose to work with our firm.

Your consultation with Stange Law Firm, PC 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 should you decide to hire us.

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 judgment / court order that you want to modify.