Your Local Family Law Attorney
THE VALUE OF A LEGAL CONSULTATION
I’m devoting an entire Page to legal consultations because of the importance I place on its value to both a client and the average person with a legal question. My description may seem complex. It is not meant to be. But there is much confusion and a bit of fear when one first seeks help from a professional. This page is meant to dispel that fear with knowledge of just what a legal consultation is, here at Monte K. Snyder, Attorney.
What is a legal consultation?
It’s an act of consulting or conferring; e.g. a patient with a doctor; a client with a lawyer. It involves deliberations of persons on some subject with a professional. It is often associated with a conference between the counsel engaged in a legal case, to discuss questions, or arrange the method of conducting it.
What is a legal consultation?
It’s an act of consulting or conferring; e.g. a patient with a doctor; a client with a lawyer. It involves deliberations of persons on some subject with a professional. It is often associated with a conference between the counsel engaged in a legal case, to discuss questions, or arrange the method of conducting it.
A LEGAL CONSULTATION IS THE BEST USE OF AN ATTORNEY’S TIME THAT YOU CAN MAKE.
It is also perhaps the most underused of all the legal services. The law is very complex and each situation is unique. Free legal information online and DIY kits from your office supply store are necessarily general --"one size fits all." By contrast, an attorney provides legal advice to a specific client with specific needs and wishes. While "consumer" legal information you obtain may be accurate in general, it may not be accurate when applied to your particular case.
Often, what appears to be a simple case involves much more than meets the eye. An attorney is trained to look beneath the surface of an issue, and understands that an apparently straightforward case may not be so at all. A lawyer can help you determine which of your concerns require professional assistance. For those concerns that do, a lawyer can help you with expertise developed over years of study and practice. If you fail to secure or to protect your legal rights in the correct way, at the required time, you may lose those rights altogether.
Intelligent, honest people have signed important documents without fully understanding the obligations they were assuming, or the rights they were giving up--then found themselves frustrated by expensive, time-consuming problems that could have been avoided by seeking legal advice early, before signing any legal document, e.g.
In short, Always consult with an attorney if you have a legal problem. Your situation is unique, with its own set of circumstances & legal issues. Only through a professional consultation can your interests be properly protected. The legal consultation can be the best investment you can make before those important decisions.
Often, what appears to be a simple case involves much more than meets the eye. An attorney is trained to look beneath the surface of an issue, and understands that an apparently straightforward case may not be so at all. A lawyer can help you determine which of your concerns require professional assistance. For those concerns that do, a lawyer can help you with expertise developed over years of study and practice. If you fail to secure or to protect your legal rights in the correct way, at the required time, you may lose those rights altogether.
Intelligent, honest people have signed important documents without fully understanding the obligations they were assuming, or the rights they were giving up--then found themselves frustrated by expensive, time-consuming problems that could have been avoided by seeking legal advice early, before signing any legal document, e.g.
- a lease, contract, divorce decree, sales/purchase agreement, application, etc. It is far easier to change a term in an agreement before it is signed than afterwards when the parties have acted or relied upon it.
- Similarly, early planning when a couple begins to consider a separation or a divorce can smooth the process and emotional trauma involved.
- Estate planning is a useful tool for anyone, not just the rich.
- As Abe Lincoln said; "An attorney’s time and advice are his stock in trade." Seeking advice early generally reduces your legal fees. You may avoid expenses, time expended, lost profits, etc. by addressing the problem early.
- A bumper sticker promoting higher education reads: "If you think education is expensive, try ignorance." Likewise, if you think legal advice is expensive, try doing without it.
In short, Always consult with an attorney if you have a legal problem. Your situation is unique, with its own set of circumstances & legal issues. Only through a professional consultation can your interests be properly protected. The legal consultation can be the best investment you can make before those important decisions.
WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT?
In Person legal consultation
An in person consultation follows the initial telephone contact, through an appointment with the caller, and usually lasts at least 60 minutes. I will usually request that the caller bring certain documents he/she may have with them to the consult, so I may examine them. I may ask that he/she make some notes regarding the problem and bring them to the consult. This way he/she won’t forget something while we are discussing issues. I may request that questionnaires be completed, if applicable, to gain more specific information. Again, this ensures a thorough review of issues and facts during our meeting. The in person consult is a give and take between the consumer and myself. A defined and structured conversation about his/her problem.
This may be the beginning of my legal representation of the consumer/client, should the consumer wish to retain my professional services.
Please do not hesitate to call for a consultation. You will gain insight into your problem, avoid costly mistakes, & meet with me to see if we may be a good team match should legal representation be required. I enjoy consultations, so don't feel embarrassed.
For tips on choosing an attorney, visit my blog.
An in person consultation follows the initial telephone contact, through an appointment with the caller, and usually lasts at least 60 minutes. I will usually request that the caller bring certain documents he/she may have with them to the consult, so I may examine them. I may ask that he/she make some notes regarding the problem and bring them to the consult. This way he/she won’t forget something while we are discussing issues. I may request that questionnaires be completed, if applicable, to gain more specific information. Again, this ensures a thorough review of issues and facts during our meeting. The in person consult is a give and take between the consumer and myself. A defined and structured conversation about his/her problem.
- At the conclusion of our meeting, I will have much consumer supplied information upon which to analyze the problem: determining the nature of the problem, surrounding circumstances, the effects it may be causing, and the legal framework which may govern or apply to the problem.
- At the conclusion of our meeting, you will have gained knowledge about the problem you are asking about, an estimate of the actual cost to address it, and your legal options for dealing with it.
This may be the beginning of my legal representation of the consumer/client, should the consumer wish to retain my professional services.
Please do not hesitate to call for a consultation. You will gain insight into your problem, avoid costly mistakes, & meet with me to see if we may be a good team match should legal representation be required. I enjoy consultations, so don't feel embarrassed.
For tips on choosing an attorney, visit my blog.
CLICK HERE FOR MY OFFICE INTAKE FORM - Please bring the printed completed form (hard copy) with you to your consultation.
FEES FOR LEGAL CONSULTATIONS:
Do you offer "free" consultations?
No. Except for item "C." below, I do charge a small fee for the in person consultation. Many hours have been devoted to making this website helpful and informative. All of the information here is available at no charge to everyone who wants to read it. I believe this is the highest level of service that I can provide for free.
This fee will be collected up front, prior to the consultation. Cash, Personal Check, Cashiers Check, Money Orders are accepted.
Strategic planning for the future course of any legal proceedings begins with this "in person consultation", including the estimate of your attorney fees and expenses. When you have a consultation at Monte K. Snyder, Attorney, you are getting answers to your questions, immediately, customized, relevant to your unique situation, and I charge for this service.
Don't expect to get valuable legal guidance that will help you and your family during a "free" initial consultation. When a lawyer routinely gives away their time for a "free" initial consultation, it’s not to give you an education! It’s so you can meet the lawyer and decide whether you want to work with him or her. (A MEET AND GREET) "Free" legal advice is worth about what you pay for it — or, in some cases, less.
In Person Consultations may be treated in different ways depending upon the problem presented:
A. When a consumer is seeking help with a distinct legal process, such as a divorce, post divorce decree modification, domestic violence, child custody/support, civil suit, juvenile justice, etc., there is a $195.00 charge for the in person consultation. (A Doctor's visit is from $185.00 or more, an independent auto mechanic is from $130.00 an hour) Online and telephone marketplaces that offer legal advice services, like Avvo, charge much more. (Comparable attorneys charge from to $275.00 and more for a consultation.)
B. When a consumer seeks an analysis/drafting of a legal document(s) as to its meaning and/or implementation, how to change it, or to draft a document which embodies the terms he has confided in me, (typically a commercial contract type situation or divorce decree) there is a minimum charge of $270.00.
C. When a consumer is seeking help for, automobile accident, and personal injury, there is NO CHARGE.
All communications with me regarding a legal matter are considered confidential by me.
Now that you know what to expect, what are you waiting for? Pick up the phone and give me a call. 1 513 423-8912
You can also email me through my contact form below, or by clicking on my email icon at the top of a page. I usually respond the same day, or at least within 24 hours. Please leave your phone number, and a brief description of your problem. I'm here to help.
TALKING TO AN ATTORNEY ONLINE FOR LEGAL ADVICE:
I frequently respond to questions online (I offer this Free on some internet sites), and even on the initial phone call. However, my responses are necessarily limited in the assistance offered. Watch this short video produced by the Ohio State Bar Association about the limitations and usefulness of talking to an attorney online or phone.
Location to Serve You:
- Neighborhood Clients: Catalina Manufactured Home Park at 6501 Germantown Rd., Lot 41, Middletown, Ohio, 45042-1264, 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.
