FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Q: WILL I KNOW WHAT MY FINANCIAL OBLIGATIONS ARE?
A: Each client will receive a personalized written contract for legal services at the commencement of the attorney-client relationship. This contract will specify the legal services to be delivered by me and the responsibilities of the client, along with the terms of payment for those services, and any expenses which may be involved.
You will also receive a written estimate for the cost of your typical legal services upon contract for services.
COMPARE - WHY PAY MORE?
You will also receive a written estimate for the cost of your typical legal services upon contract for services.
- Hourly billed legal services from $240.00 to $270.00 per hour, billed to the nearest tenth of an hour. Many comparable attorneys charge from $275 to $350 and more.
- Estate planning documents: wills, powers of attorney, as well as contracts, leases, deeds, affidavits & similar document preparation, are billed at a Flat/Fixed Rate, (NO HOURLY BILLINGS) depending upon the complexity of the requested service.
- Check out my Flat/Fixed Attorney Fees for marital Dissolution, starting at $2,400.00, plus court costs and expenses.
COMPARE - WHY PAY MORE?
Q: WHAT PAYMENT METHODS ARE ACCEPTED?
A: The In Person Consultation Fee will be collected up front, prior to the initial consultation.
Cash, Personal Check, Cashiers Check, and Money Orders are accepted for all legal services.
Cash, Personal Check, Cashiers Check, and Money Orders are accepted for all legal services.
CLICK HERE FOR MY OFFICE INTAKE FORM - Please bring the printed completed form (hard copy) with you to your consultation.
Q: WHAT GEOGRAPHICAL AREAS DO YOU SERVE?
A. Clients are served throughout the following Southwest Ohio counties:
Montgomery, Butler, Warren, Clinton, Preble, Darke, Miami, Shelby, and Greene.
Montgomery, Butler, Warren, Clinton, Preble, Darke, Miami, Shelby, and Greene.
Q: WHAT HOURS ARE YOU OPEN?
A: Monday through Friday 9:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. (By Appointment Only)
- Appointments available after hours
- Closed Saturday and Sunday
- Always available by telephone and email.
Q: A LEGAL SERVICE OFFERED TO HANDLE MY DIVORCE FOR $1,800.00. WHY SHOULDN'T I HIRE THEM?
Myth: A good lawyer (or legal services) can be found cheaply or for free.
Truth: You would not walk into the supermarket and ask for free food. A brand new car with an incredibly low price tag would probably make you suspicious. Would you seek medical treatment from an internet doctor? So why would you expect a good family law attorney to be cheap or free? Why would you want to pinch pennies when you are about to reorder your future life?
A: There are lots of alternatives that claim to be money-saving options to hiring a lawyer. These include self-help books, companies that provide and complete legal forms, and companies that contract with local attorneys to provide legal services to their customers. (Blog: Online Legal Services: Are You Getting What You Pay For?) (See also - The Wild West of Divorce Marketing) These resources may assist with understanding your problem, but they cannot take the place of your local attorney. Your local professional attorney can tailor advice to your specific needs, along with a strategy to obtain them. A lawyer also is ethically bound to look out for your best interests.
Hiring an attorney contemplates a personalized relationship and service to you, that is, customizing your legal representation to your specific needs. A quoted fee that seems too good to be true may mean that you will get the same estate plan that everyone else gets, pulled from a drawer. Your shared parenting plan may be nothing more than a "plug and play" clause into a standardized form. One size fits all. This is the kind of service provided from divorce and trust mills, or online legal services.
Many online legal service providers offer little for the money they charge:
Why struggle with do-it-yourself forms as opposed to retaining a lawyer to do the job right in the first place?
At Monte K. Snyder, Attorney, you deal directly with me, no paralegals or assistants.
This is law with a "Personal Touch," and is what I do. I'm proud of it.
For tips on choosing an attorney, visit my Blog.
For TIPS ON CHOOSING THE RIGHT LAWYER, CLICK THE BUTTON TEXT BELOW.
Truth: You would not walk into the supermarket and ask for free food. A brand new car with an incredibly low price tag would probably make you suspicious. Would you seek medical treatment from an internet doctor? So why would you expect a good family law attorney to be cheap or free? Why would you want to pinch pennies when you are about to reorder your future life?
A: There are lots of alternatives that claim to be money-saving options to hiring a lawyer. These include self-help books, companies that provide and complete legal forms, and companies that contract with local attorneys to provide legal services to their customers. (Blog: Online Legal Services: Are You Getting What You Pay For?) (See also - The Wild West of Divorce Marketing) These resources may assist with understanding your problem, but they cannot take the place of your local attorney. Your local professional attorney can tailor advice to your specific needs, along with a strategy to obtain them. A lawyer also is ethically bound to look out for your best interests.
Hiring an attorney contemplates a personalized relationship and service to you, that is, customizing your legal representation to your specific needs. A quoted fee that seems too good to be true may mean that you will get the same estate plan that everyone else gets, pulled from a drawer. Your shared parenting plan may be nothing more than a "plug and play" clause into a standardized form. One size fits all. This is the kind of service provided from divorce and trust mills, or online legal services.
Many online legal service providers offer little for the money they charge:
- Don't expect any advice, counseling, or assistance with the court.
- Analysis of your unique situation and a strategy with tactics to obtain your goals.
- You are responsible for filing your own documents with the court,
- navigating the court's compliance office to get those documents approved,
- comprehending the court's Federal, State, and local court rules,
- interpreting the legal principles involved in your jurisdiction,
- then representing yourself in court,
- and paying the court costs and your own expenses.
Why struggle with do-it-yourself forms as opposed to retaining a lawyer to do the job right in the first place?
- Simply preparing the required court forms during a divorce or post-decree procedure, without any knowledge of the legal principles involved, or a strategy to protect your unique interests, is not a bargain.
- An estate plan that does not achieve its purpose is not a bargain.
At Monte K. Snyder, Attorney, you deal directly with me, no paralegals or assistants.
- Your legal matter will get my personal attention,
- customized to your specific needs,
- at an affordable price.
This is law with a "Personal Touch," and is what I do. I'm proud of it.
For tips on choosing an attorney, visit my Blog.
For TIPS ON CHOOSING THE RIGHT LAWYER, CLICK THE BUTTON TEXT BELOW.
Q: HOW ARE ATTORNEY FEES CALCULATED?
A: Fees are how an attorney makes his living. Setting fees is largely subjective, based on experience, local practice, and varies from attorney to attorney. An attorney that gives true value through his or her advice is what you should focus on. As President Abraham Lincoln said; "An attorney's time & advice are his stock in trade."
An attorney usually bills his time in one of three ways:
1a. Many documents, such as contracts, leases, marital dissolutions, and estate planning, can be effectively priced using the flat fee method, depending upon complexity.
2a. If your need is of a complex nature or may involve other people, businesses, or government agencies, effective control over future events surrounding your need is no longer totally within your control. In these situations, an hourly fee is common. Your initial retainer/written contract will be my best estimate of the actual cost to accomplish your goal. These are only estimates, based upon my experience of a typical case similar to yours. The actual final cost may be more or less.
Your legal fees should become part of your budget. Beware of a "low ball" fee for a legal service. It is unrealistic and a disservice to you, since your planning and expectations will consequently be unrealistic as well.
3a. A percentage fee is also called a contingent fee, since it is usually based upon the condition that a recovery will be obtained from your opposing party, from which I will take a percentage of that sum in payment of the attorney fee. If a recovery is not obtained, you will owe no attorney fee for my services. However, you are still responsible for the expenses of your suit, such as long distance phone calls, copy fees, mileage charges, deposition and transcript charges, court filing fees etc. Social Security Disability is an example of a contingent fee.
My fee agreement with you will only be made following an in person consultation with you to ascertain your unique needs and determine the best course of action to attain those needs.
An attorney usually bills his time in one of three ways:
- NO HOURLY BILLINGS) A Flat Fee for service of a specific task, e.g. one fixed price.
- An Hourly Rate based upon the attorney's time spent on the case.
- A Percentage or Contingency Fee, of any final recovery, commonly a personal injury type of case or Social Security Disability.
1a. Many documents, such as contracts, leases, marital dissolutions, and estate planning, can be effectively priced using the flat fee method, depending upon complexity.
2a. If your need is of a complex nature or may involve other people, businesses, or government agencies, effective control over future events surrounding your need is no longer totally within your control. In these situations, an hourly fee is common. Your initial retainer/written contract will be my best estimate of the actual cost to accomplish your goal. These are only estimates, based upon my experience of a typical case similar to yours. The actual final cost may be more or less.
Your legal fees should become part of your budget. Beware of a "low ball" fee for a legal service. It is unrealistic and a disservice to you, since your planning and expectations will consequently be unrealistic as well.
3a. A percentage fee is also called a contingent fee, since it is usually based upon the condition that a recovery will be obtained from your opposing party, from which I will take a percentage of that sum in payment of the attorney fee. If a recovery is not obtained, you will owe no attorney fee for my services. However, you are still responsible for the expenses of your suit, such as long distance phone calls, copy fees, mileage charges, deposition and transcript charges, court filing fees etc. Social Security Disability is an example of a contingent fee.
My fee agreement with you will only be made following an in person consultation with you to ascertain your unique needs and determine the best course of action to attain those needs.
Q: WHAT IS OHIO'S COURT SYSTEM LIKE?
A: Many people have only a sketchy knowledge of what Ohio's court system is like, how it is structured, or how you fit into your state's court system. The Ohio State Bar Association has produced a short video to introduce you to your court system. I invite you to take a peek along with Matt as he investigates.
Location to Serve You:
- Clients: Catalina Manufactured Home Park at 6501 Germantown Rd., Lot 41, Middletown, Ohio, 45042, on State Route #4 [My Home - by appointment only] (Near the Land of Illusion Haunted Scream Park.)
- Phone: 513 423-8912
- Email: Monte K. Snyder, Attorney
THE INFORMATION PROVIDED ON THIS SITE IS INTENDED TO BE A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF SOME OF THE LEGAL PROCESSES INVOLVED IN THE ISSUES ADDRESSED. ALL INFORMATION IS LIMITED TO OHIO. IT IS NOT INTENDED AS LEGAL ADVICE ON YOUR PARTICULAR CIRCUMSTANCES. IT IS ONLY INTENDED TO ASSIST YOU IN UNDERSTANDING THOSE PROCESSES.