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- 1 - (L A W F IR M ) ATTO RNEY S A T L A WFee R eta in er A gre em en t T his A gre em en t i s b y a n d b etw een ( L aw F ir m ), A tto rn ey s a t L aw a n d ( C lie n t) . T Y PE O F L EG AL S E R V IC E: (L aw F ir m ), A tto rn ey s a t L aw w ill p ro vid e r e p re se n ta tio n in th e fo llo w in g m atte r(s ): _ _ __ Rev ie w d om estic r e la tio ns m atte r_ _ __ Rep re se n t C lie n t i n d om estic r e la tio ns m atte r_ _ __ Rep re se n t C lie n t o n a p peal_ _ __ Post D ecre e M atte rA TTO RNEY 'S F E ES: A tto rn ey 's f e es w ill b e c h arg ed a s f o llo w s:_ _ __ w ill b ill a t t h e r a te o f $ _ ___ p er h our._ _ __ w ill p ro vid e r e p re se n ta tio n a t $ ____ p er h our.P A RALEG AL F E ES: S en io r p ara le g al f e es w ill b e c h arg ed a t t h e r a te o f $ ____ p er h our.J u nio r p ara le g al f e es w ill b e c h arg ed a t t h e r a te o f $ _ ___ p er h our.L A W C LER K : A ll l a w c le rk s w ho a re a ssig ned t o t h e f ile w ill b ill a t t h e r a te o f $ ____ p er h our.O TH ER ST A FF C H AR G ES: With th e ex cep tio n of atto rn ey s an d para le g als an d w ord p ro cesso rs , __ __ does not ad ditio nally ch arg e fo r th e se rv ic es of its se cre ta rie s, re cep tio nis t, bo okkee p er o r o th er s ta ff p ers o ns w ho w ork w ith t h e f ir m o n a r e g ula r o r p erio dic b asis . W ord p ro cesso rs w ho a re r e ta in ed f o r f in an cia l d ata e n tr y a n d r e co ncilia tio n p ro je cts o n y our c ase will b e b ille d a t t h e r a te o f $ _ ___ p er h our.A DJU ST M EN T T O T H E H OURLY R ATES: T he h ourly r a te s q uote d f o r a tto rn ey s, p ara le g als a n d l a w c le rk s a re s u bje ct t o a d ju stm en t a n d m ay b e i n cre ase d f ro m t im e t o t im e. T he c lie n t w ill b e no tif ie d o f a ll s u ch i n cre ase s p rio r t o t h e i n cre ase b ein g c h arg ed t o t h e c lie n t. B IL LIN G IN CREM EN TS: Y our case w ill b e b ille d to th e n eare st 1 /1 0th o f an h our. This c o nsis ts o f 6 m in ute s. - 2 - All n on-e m erg en cy c alls m ad e t o t h e r e sid en ce o f a n a tto rn ey o r o th er s ta ff m em ber w ill b e b ille d t o the f ile a t t h e r a te o f .5 h ours , w hic h i s t h e e q uiv ale n t o f 3 0 m in ute s.R ETA IN ER : T he in itia l re ta in er s h all b e $ ____. T his in itia l re ta in er is a d ow n p ay m en t o n th e fe es t o b e c h arg ed b y t h e a tt o rn ey s a n d a n y o th er a p pro p ria te s ta ff m em bers w ho w ork o n y our c ase , co sts th at a re in cu rre d o n y o ur b eh alf in th e o ffic e a n d c o sts th at a re in cu rre d o n y our b eh alf th at re q uir e th e s e rv ic es o f in div id uals o r e n titie s lo cate d o uts id e o f th e o ffic es o f (L aw F ir m ). Y our in itia l re ta in er s h all b e d iv id ed in to tw o c o m ponen t p arts . A p ortio n o f y our re ta in er s h all b e fo r op era tin g e x pen se s, a n d a p ortio n o f y our r e ta in er s h all b e f o r c o sts . 1 . Opera tin g E xp en se s: $ ____ o f y our r e ta in er s h all b e p la ced in to o ur o pera tin g a cco unt f o r im med ia te u se . $ ___ _ s h all b e p la ced in to a tr u st a cco unt fo r fu tu re u se . (In te re st o n th e tru st a cco unt i s t a k en b y t h e S ta te o f _ ___ a n d i s n ot r e fu ndab le t o t h e c lie n t.) 2 . Non -r efu ndab le F ees: A m in im um c h arg e o f $ _ ___ s h all b e n on-re fu ndab le in th e e v en t t h at s e rv ic es a re t e rm in ate d e arly i n o ur r e p re se n ta tio n o n y our c ase , e .g ., y ou r e co ncile w ith yo ur s p ouse . T his i s t o c o ver a d m in is tr a tiv e c o sts o f o pen in g a n d c lo sin g y our f ile . 3 . Refu nds: T he in it ia l r eta in er le ss $ _ ___ o r a c cru ed fe es a n d c o sts , w hic h ev er is g re ate r, s h all b e r e fu nded to th e c lie n t a t s u ch tim e a s ( L aw F ir m )is r e le ase d f ro m r e p re se n ta tio n a s th e a tto rn ey s o f r e co rd . M ONTH LY S T A TEM EN TS: The c lie n t w ill re ceiv e a m onth ly sta te m en t o f a tto rn ey s' fe es, d is b urs e d c o sts a n d t r u st b ala n ces. T he s ta te m en t w ill d esc rib e t h e t y pe o f w ork t h at w as p erfo rm ed on t h e c ase , t h e a m ount o f t im e i n cu rre d f o r t h e a ctiv ity , a n d t h e d olla r v alu e o f t h e t im e i n cu rre d o n the f ile . C osts a n d d is b urs e m en ts w ill a d ditio nally b e id en tif ie d a n d th e a m ount o f th e c o st w ill b e re co rd ed . D is b urs e m en ts fro m th e tr u st a cco unts w ill b e n ote d a s w ill a ll b ala n ces re m ain in g in tru st a cco unts . L ate c h arg es w ill a ls o b e n ote d o n b ills . (L aw F ir m ) w ill e n deav or to p ro vid e m onth ly b ills to th e c lie n ts o n o r b efo re th e _ ___ d ay o f e ach and e v ery m onth . C harg es w ill b e re co rd ed fo r th e p re ced in g m onth ly o nly . P ay m en ts th at a re re ceiv ed w ill b e r e co rd ed a g ain st t h e m onth ly b ill i n w hic h t h ey w ere r e ceiv ed .T he b illin g c y cle c o m men ce s o n th e f ir s t d ay o f e ach m onth a n d c o ntin ues th ro ugh th e la st d ay o f th at m onth .P A YM EN T O F F E ES: T he c lie n t i s e x pecte d t o p ay h is o r h er b ill i n f u ll p rio r t o t h e e x pir a tio n o f th e th ir ty - ( 3 0 ) d ay p erio d f r o m th e c lo sin g d ate o n th e s ta te m en t. T o th e e x te n t th e b ill is n ot p aid in f u ll, th ere w ill b e la te c h arg es im pose d o n th e o uts ta n din g b ala n ce. T his is m ore f u lly d esc rib ed here in afte r i n t h e s e ctio n e n title d L ate C harg e. A t th e e n d o f a c ase , a n y o u ts ta n din g b ala n ces m ust b e p aid w ith in th ir ty - ( 3 0) d ay s a fte r th e c lie n t re ceiv es a c o py o f t h e f in al o rd er o r j u dgm en t a n d d ecre e. I f p ay m en t o f t h e f e es i s n ot m ad e i n f u ll wi th in th at p erio d o f tim e, ( L aw F ir m ) m ay e le ct to p urs u e c o lle ctio n o f th e f e es th ro ugh litig atio n or a n y o th er m ean s o f c o lle ctio n a v aila b le t o t h em . - 3 - LA TE C H ARG ES: I f a s ta te m en t h as n ot b een p aid i n f u ll p rio r t o t h e e x pir a tio n o f t h e t h ir ty ( 3 0) d ay p erio d f ro m th e c lo sin g d ate o n th e s ta te m en t, a L A TE C H ARG E o f o ne a n d o ne-h alf p erc en t (1 .5 % ) p er m on th ( 1 8% ) p er a n num w ill b e i m pose d o n t h e u npaid o uts ta n din g b ala n ce. S ee " Y ou r Billin g R ig h ts " a n d " A dvic e o f L ate C harg e" w hic h a re a tta ch ed t o t h is a g re em en t. A W ARDS O F A TTO RNEY 'S F E ES A ND C O ST S: A n a w ard o f a tto rn ey 's f e es a n d c o sts b y t h e c o urt to th e c lie n t w ill n ot a ffe ct th is a g re em en t. T he c lie n t is r e sp onsib le f o r p ay m en t o f a ll f e es an d c o sts th at a ccru e p urs u an t to th e b ills su bm itte d to th e c lie n t. A n a w ard b y th e c o urt is a n ob lig atio n o f a n o pposin g p arty t o t h e c lie n t n ot t o ( L aw F ir m ). ( L aw F ir m ) i s u nder n o o blig atio n to in cu r c o sts to c o lle ct fe e s th at a re a w ard ed b y th e c o urt. (L aw F ir m ) w ill a ssis t th e c lie n t, if po ssib le , to c o lle ct th e fe es th at a re a w ard ed b y th e c o urt. A ny p ortio n o f a n a w ard m ad e b y th e co urt w hic h i s p aid d ir e ctly t o ( L aw F ir m ) w ill b e c re d ite d t o t h e c lie n t's a cco unt. A PPE A LS A ND P O ST -D EC REE R ELIE F: T his a g re em en t d oes n ot in clu de a p peals a n d r e lie f th at is s o ught f ro m th e ju dg m en t a n d d ecre e o f d is so lu tio n, u nle ss s p ecif ic ally s ta te d . P ro fe ssio nal se rv ic es re n dere d a fte r th e ju dgm en t a n d d ecre e o f d is so lu tio n is e n te re d a re c h arg ed in th e s a m e ma n ner p ro vid ed b y t h is a g re em en t. A s e p ara te r e ta in er f e e m ay b e r e q uir e d f o r e n fo rc em en t o f t h e ju dgm en t a n d d ecre e o f d is so lu tio n. A s e p ara te re ta in er s h all b e re q uir e d fo r a n y a p peal th at th e clie n t s e ek s t o o bta in w ith t h e s e rv ic es o f ( L aw F ir m ). F E E D IS P U TE S: ( L aw F ir m ) w ill c o opera te t o r e so lv e a n y f e e d is p ute s w ith t h e c lie n t. T he c lie n t h as t h e r ig ht t o s u bm it t o ( L aw F ir m ), w ith in s ix ty ( 6 0) d ay s o f t h e d ate o f a n y d is p ute d s ta te m en t, a writte n n otic e to th e fir m w hic h s ta te s w hat is d is p ute d a n d re q uests th at (L aw F ir m ) re v ie w th e billin g sta te m en t. See " Y O UR B IL LIN G R IG HTS" a tta ch ed h ere to . Such n otic es re g ard in g dis p ute s m ust b e s e n t to ( L aw F ir m ), A tto rn ey s a t L aw , A tte n tio n: B ookkeep er, ( A ddre ss), ( C ity , St Z ip ). A ny u nre so lv ed f e e d is p ute s m ay b e s u bm itte d to th e A rb itr a tio n C om mitte e o f th e S ta te Ba r o f ( S ta te ). T o th e e x te n t th at s u ch d is p ute s a re s u b m itte d f o r a rb itr a tio n, th e a rb itr a tio n w ill b e bin din g o n b oth t h e c lie n t a n d ( L aw F ir m ). H IR IN G N EW C O UNSE L , W IT H DRAW AL O F S E R VIC ES B Y ( L A W F IR M ): I n t h e e v en t t h at ( L aw F ir m ) w ith dra w s f ro m t h e c ase a s a tto rn ey s o f r e co rd , o r t h e c lie n t d is m is se s t h e s e rv ic es of ( L aw F ir m ) a n d/o r r e ta in s th e s e rv ic es o f o th er c o u nse l in p la ce o f ( L aw F ir m ), th e c lie n t s h all pa y ( L aw F ir m ) $ ____ p er p ag e f o r a ll c o pie s o f th e f ile th at th e c lie n t a n d/o r h is /h er n ew c o unse l re q uests . S aid s u m s h all b e b ille d to th e c lie n t a n d s h all b e p aid b y th e c lie n t to geth er w ith a n y a n d all o th er f e es a n d c o sts t h at r e m ain u npaid a t t h e t im e t h at ( L aw F ir m ) c ease s t o r e p re se n t t h e c lie n t. C O M MEN CEM EN T O F R EPR ESE N TA TIO N: R ep re se n ta tio n w ill n ot c o m men ce u ntil ( L aw F ir m ) r e ceiv es a s ig ned c o p y o f t h is A gre em en t a n d t h e i n itia l f e e r e ta in er a n d c o st d ep osit f ro m t h e clie n t. T his A gre em en t is v oid u nle ss (L aw F ir m ) re ceiv es a s ig ned A gre em en t fro m th e c lie n t wi th in t h ir ty ( 3 0) d ay s o f t h e d ate o f ( L aw F ir m ) s ig natu re o n t h is A gre em en t. C LIE N T'S S IG NATU RE: Clie n ts sh ould not sig n th is ag re em en t until th e clie n t has re ad , u n ders ta n ds an d v olu nta rily accep ts each an d ev ery te rm o f th is A gre em en t. If y ou h av e an y qu estio ns a b out t h is A gre em en t, y ou c an d is c u ss t h em w ith t h e a tto rn ey o n y our c ase . T here w ill b e no c h arg e to y ou fo r s u ch d is c u ssio ns. A dditio nally , y ou m ay h av e a n oth er a tto rn ey re v ie w th is - 4 - Agre em en t. T he c lie n t's sig natu re o n th is A gre em en t a ck now le d ges th at th e c lie n t h as re ad th e Ag re em en t, unders ta n ds th e A gre em en t an d volu nta rily accep ts each an d ev ery te rm of th e Ag re em en t. T he c lie n t's s ig natu re a ls o a ck now le d ges r e ceip t o f a c o py o f t h is A gre em en t. P R IM ARY A TTO RNEY : The atto rn ey w ho is prim arily re sp onsib le fo r your case w ill be _ _ ____. (L aw F ir m ),A TTO RN EY S A T L A W _ ___________ ____ Date : _ __________________ F or t h e F ir m __ _____ _______________ _________ Date : _ __________________C lie n t - 5 - (L A W F IR M ), A TTO RNEY S A T L A W YO UR B IL LIN G R IG HTS - K EEP T H IS N O TIC E F O R F U TU RE U SET his n otic e c o nta in s im porta n t in fo rm atio n a b out y our r ig hts a n d o ur r e sp onsib ilitie s u nder th e F air Cr e d it B illin g A ct.N O TIF Y U S I N C ASE O F E R RO RS O R Q UEST IO NS A BO UT Y O UR B IL LIf y ou th in k y o ur b ill is w ro ng, o r if y ou n eed m ore in fo rm atio n a b out a tr a n sa ctio n o n y our b ill, wr ite u s a t th e a d dre ss lis te d o n y our b ill. W rite to u s a s s o on a s p ossib le . W e m ust h ear f ro m y ou no la te r th an s ix ty ( 6 0) d ay s a fte r w e s e n t y ou th e f ir s t b ill o n w hic h th e e rro r o r p ro ble m a p peare d . Yo u c an t e le p h one u s, b ut d o in g s o w ill n ot p re se rv e y o ur r ig hts .In y our l e tte r, g iv e u s t h e f o llo w in g i n fo rm atio n: - Your n am e a n d a cco unt n um ber. - The d olla r a m ount o f t h e s u sp ecte d e rro r. - Desc rib e th e e rro r a n d e x pla in , if y ou c an , w hy y ou b elie v e th ere is a n e rro r. I f y ou need m ore i n fo rm atio n, d esc rib e t h e i te m y ou a re n ot s u re a b out. Y O UR RIG H TS AND OUR RESP O NSIB IL IT IE S AFT ER W E REC EIV E YO UR WR IT TEN N O TIC EW e m ust a ck now le d ge y our l e tte r w ith in t h ir ty ( 3 0) d ay s u nle ss w e h av e c o rre cte d t h e e rro r b y t h en . Wi th in n in ety (9 0) d ay s, w e m ust e ith er c o rre ct th e e rro r o r e x pla in w hy w e b elie v e th e b ill w as co rre ct.A fte r w e re ceiv e y our le tte r, w e c an not tr y to c o lle ct a n y a m ount y ou q uestio n, o r re p ort y ou a s de lin quen t. W e c an c o ntin ue to b ill y ou fo r th e a m ount y ou q uestio n, in clu din g fin an ce c h arg es, an d w e c an a p p ly a n y u npaid a m ount f ro m th e b ala n ce o f th e d ep osit. Y ou d o n ot h av e to p ay a n y qu estio ned a m ount w hile w e a re i n vestig atin g, b ut y ou a re s till o blig ate d t o p ay t h e p arts o f y our b ill th at a re n ot i n q uestio n.If w e f in d t h at w e m ad e a m is ta k e o n y our b ill, y ou w ill n ot h av e t o p ay a n y f in an ce c h arg es r e la te d to a n y q uestio ned a m ount. If w e d id n ot m ak e a m is ta k e, y ou w ill h av e to p ay th e q uestio ned am ount a n d y ou m ay h av e to p ay f in an ce c h arg es. In e ith er c ase , w e w ill s e n d y ou a s ta te m en t o f th e a m ount y o u o w e a n d t h e d ate t h at i t i s d ue.If y ou f a il t o p ay t h e a m ount t h at w e t h in k y ou o w e, w e m ay r e p ort y ou a s d elin quen t. H ow ev er, i f ou r e x pla n atio n d oes n ot s a tis fy y ou a n d y ou w rite t o u s w ith in t e n ( 1 0) d ay s t e llin g u s t h at y ou s till re fu se to p ay , w e m ust te ll a n yone w e r e p ort y ou to th at y ou h av e a q uestio n a b out y our b ill. A nd, we m ust t e ll y ou t h e n am e o f a n yone w e r e p orte d y ou t o . W e m ust t e ll a n yone w e r e p ort y ou t o t h at - 6 - th e m atte r h as b een s e ttle d b etw een u s w hen i t f in ally i s .If w e d on't fo llo w th ese ru le s, w e c an 't c o lle ct th e fir s t fif ty d olla rs ($ 50.0 0) o f th e q uestio ned am ount, e v en i f y our b ill w as c o rre ct. - 7 - (L A W F IR M ), A TTO RNEY S A T L A W ADVIC E O F L A TE C H ARG EThe F ee R eta in er A gre em en t p ro vid es t h at i f t h e c lie n t d oes n ot p ay a n y o uts ta n din g b ala n ce w ith in thir ty ( 3 0) d ay s o f r e ceiv in g th e s ta te m en t, a L A TE C H ARG E o f 1 .5 % p er m onth w ill b e im pose d on th e u npaid o uts ta n din g b ala n ce. T his is a n A NNUAL P E R CEN TA GE R A TE o f 1 8% w hic h is an e ffe c tiv e ra te o f 1 9.5 6% . T he L A TE C H ARG E w ill b eg in to a ccru e th ir ty (3 0) d ay s a fte r th e da te o f y our s ta te m en t. I f p aid in f u ll p rio r to th e e x pir a tio n o f th e th ir ty ( 3 0) d ay p erio d, n o L A TE CH ARG E w ill b e im pose d . I f a L A TE C H ARG E is im pose d , th e c lie n t w ill r e ceiv e a s ta te m en t a s of th e en d o f each b illin g p erio d se ttin g fo rth se p ara te ly (a ) th e b ala n ce o f th e acco unt at th e be g in nin g o f th e b illin g cy cle (" B ala n ce fro m la st sta te m en t" ); (b ) p ay m en ts th ere o n (" C urre n t pa y m en ts " ) a n d c re d its th ere to ( " A dju stm en ts " ) d urin g s u ch b illin g c y cle ; ( c ) th e b ala n ce o n w hic h th e L A TE C H ARG E) is co m pute d w hic h is th e un paid bala n ce (b ala n ce su bje ct to L A TE CH ARG E) w hic h i s t h e s u m o f t h e a m ounts d ue i n t h e a g in g c o lu m n ( i.e . t h ir ty ( 3 0) d ay s, s ix ty ( 6 0) da y s, etc .) ; (d ) "L ate C harg e"; (e ) ch arg es fo r le g al se rv ic es in cu rre d d urin g th e b illin g cy cle ("C urre n t F ee s" ); ( f) c o sts i n cu rre d d urin g t h e b illin g c y cle ( " C urre n t C osts " ); ( g ) t h e b ala n ce d ue o n th e b illin g d ate ( " T ota l D ue"); ( h ) t h e m onth ly p erio dic r a te o f L A TE C H ARG ES b y w hic h t h e N ew Bala n ce m ust b e p aid to a v oid a d ditio nal L A TE C H ARG ES; a n d (k ) th e a d dre ss to b e u se d fo r no tic e o f a n y b illin g e rro rs . T he m in im um p ay m en t r e q uir e d to b e m ad e w ill b e a s s e t f o rth w ith in the F ee R eta in er A gre em en t. C urre n t p ay m en ts s h all b e a p plie d f ir s t to th e p ay m en t o f o uts ta n din g co sts , th en L A TE C H ARG ES, a n d th en to th e fe es fo r le g al s e rv ic es. (L A W F IR M ) re se rv es th e rig ht to am en d or m odif y th e te rm s an d co nditio ns se t fo rth here in upon notic e to clie n t in acco rd an ce w ith a p plic ab le l a w .