Family law litigation is complex, and not having an attorney can have negative life-altering consequences. Family law litigation can also be costly, but at the Law Office of Channe G. Coles, you have options.
Legal services are offered in two manners: full-service representation with a retainer billed at an hourly rate and in some circumstances limited-scope representation with a flat-rate fee.
Affordable Rates for Full-Service Representation
The Law Office of Channe G. Coles requires a much more affordable retainer to begin services and more reasonable hourly rates than other local firms. By offering affordable services, more people in our community are able to afford the legal representation they need and deserve.
Need-Based Attorney’s Fees Requests
Whether you’re going through a divorce, separation, or a child custody battle, you may be able to ask for an attorney’s fee contribution from your spouse or co-parent because California Law requires that parties have equal rights and access to representation during a family law proceeding.
At the Law Office of Channe G. Coles, we are experienced in navigating the legal and factual hurdles of requesting and obtaining attorney fee awards, especially those based on an inability to afford the cost when the other party has access to funds. We work diligently with each client to determine their particular needs and the existence of community assets or funds available for contributions towards attorney fees, even if such assets are in the control of the opposing party.
The specifics of your case will determine whether or not you can make such a request. Before trying to litigate matters on your own, contact us to schedule your consultation to determine if you qualify for a need-based attorney’s fee request.
What About Limited-Scope Representation?
Limited-scope representation is when you and a lawyer agree that the lawyer will handle specific aspects of your case, and you will handle others, often at a flat-rate fee. This is different from more traditional arrangements between lawyers and clients where a lawyer is hired to provide legal services on all aspects of a case, from start to finish. Limited-scope representation is sometimes called “unbundling” or “discrete task representation.”
Here are some examples of limited-scope arrangements: • You can consult a lawyer and get legal information and advice about your case when you need it, paying on an hourly basis. • You can hire the lawyer to represent you on certain issues in your case (like child support and custody) while you do the rest yourself. • You can hire the lawyer to represent you in preparing a need-based motion for attorney fees in order to obtain the funds necessary to retain representation on all matters of your case. • You can hire the lawyer to prepare the forms and other court documents but file them yourself and represent yourself at the hearings. • You can hire the lawyer to coach you on how to represent yourself at the court hearings and help you prepare the evidence that you will present in court. • You can hire the lawyer to help you with the more complicated parts of your case, such as discovery and legal research while you do the simpler tasks yourself.
Affordable Help on a Specific Family Law Matter
At the Law Office of Channe G. Coles, we provide "unbundled" services for clients who normally could not afford a family law attorney or who only want representation on specific, limited tasks, all on a more affordable basis.
Contact Us Today to Find Out What’s Best for You
Not all matters are appropriate for flat-rate services; some cases may be too complex or require heavy litigation to resolve the issues. Schedule a consultation today to see how we can help guide you through this process.