Child Custody & Divorce Litigation

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If either party is not open to attempting a fairminded mediation, you will likely need to hire your own lawyer.  You should do so sooner rather than later for your best chance of getting the best outcome.  I bring you over 18 years of experience litigating divorce and other family law cases in Utah courts.  To best serve you, I provide a range of attorney services, from limited-scope (unbundled) flat-rate services to full service hourly-rate legal representation.  Both are described below.

Many who need an attorney's help simply cannot afford full-service representation.  Although you will remain solely responsible for managing all aspects of your case when choosing limited scope (known as unbundled) attorney services, you can get valuable advice and support from an experienced famly law attorney to better understand, better prepare and ultimately have a better chance of getting the results you want.

The benefit of unbundled attorney services is that they allow you to get some specific legal advice and other help with your case when you get stuck or become concerned while managing your own case.  It is a very good idea to schedule a unbundled consultation at the very beginning of your case, even before you file anything, and then schedule additional consultations, as needed.  Availability is limited, so you should plan on scheduling in advance as much as possible.

Unbundled services can include flat-rate document review and advice consultations, coaching you on representing yourself, preparation of documents, and even single hearing representation in court, and other services. 

I typically charge flat fees (not hourly rates) for unbundled services, so you know the exact price up front.  Flat fees for document review and advice consultations of different durations are listed at reduced rates (as compared to my full service rates) on the appointments page of this website.  Other flat-rate services specific for your case, such as document preparation can be considered during your flat rate consultation, and a reduced flat rate quoted based on the attorney's estimate of the amount of time required for the service.  

Clients often find it easier to get some financial assistance from family or friends to pay for a single important flat-rate attorney service, even though they wouldn't be able to commit to help with indeterminate hourly-rate services. Nobody plans on divorce and family law litigation.  Don't be afraid to ask your family or friends for help when you need help with such an important concern.   

When you choose full service hourly-rate legal representation, I take on the responsibility to manage your case.  This is the highest level of service, and your case receives priority.  As your attorney, I will move your case forward and respond to filings by the opposing counsel, as needed, consult with you as your case progresses, and also make reasonable efforts to promote an appropriate settlement, all while your case progresses toward trial. 

Full-service representation requires you to maintain a funded retainer.  Your retainer is your pre-payment toward future services and expenses for your case. These funds are held to guarantee payment for services as they are provided and to reimburse expenses incurred for your case.  Any unused funds at the conclusion of the attorney's services will be refunded to the client.

The standard rate for full my service legal representation is $240 per hour, and the standard retainer is $2,400.  Although this rate and retainer apply to most cases, every case is different.  Nothing on this website is intended as a contract nor offer to provide services for a designated fee rate or retainer amount.  Your contract terms may vary.  I can answer any questions you may have regarding fees during your free initial consultation, and the terms of representation for your case will be detailed in your attorney-client fee contract.

You will receive detailed billings listing services provided, in time increments of 6 minutes (which is a benefit to the client compared to the 12-minute increments billed by many other attorneys).  At each billing, you are required to replenish your retainer to its original amount (and pay for any services and expenses that may have exceeded your pre-paid retainer, if any, during the billing period).