STANDARD FEES AND COSTS 

While the following are standard fees for some types of services, the standard fee may not apply in your case if additional services are required. 

Chapter 7 Bankruptcy (Florida)               

Attorney fee                $1,000.00

Court Costs                $ Vary 

Standard fee includes preparation and filing of the bankruptcy petition, attendance with you at your 341 hearing, preparation and review of creditor prepared reaffirmation agreements, and preparation, if necessary, of a document to stop a garnishment or lawsuit.  All other services are billed at an hourly rate.  Please note that most Chapter 7 bankruptcies do not require additional services, and it can usually be determined at your initial consultation with 
Ms. Solomon whether or not you will need them.  If additional matters are involved, 
Ms. Solomon charges $250.00 per hour to handle them. 

Some examples of additional matters are: 

1. The creditor accuses you of bankruptcy fraud, and pleadings, which need to be answered, are filed in the bankruptcy court. (This is most unusual). 

2. You are behind on your mortgage payment and want to keep your home.  Ms. Solomon can negotiate with your mortgage company to see if they will make arrangements to catch up the arrearage so that you can keep your home.  Negotiations are billed on an hourly basis. 

3. You put up collateral for a loan you want to keep, but the creditor will not agree to your fair market value for the item.  Again, Ms. Solomon can negotiate a fair market value on your behalf, but this service is also billed at $250.00 per hour. (Generally, these types of negotiations do not take more than half an hour.) 

4.You want to keep your home, but the interest on your second mortgage is very high.
Ms. Solomon may be able to negotiate with the creditor to reduce the interest. This type of  service is also billed on an hourly basis. (Generally, these types of negotiations do not take more than half an hour.) 

Attorney fees and Court costs must be PAID IN FULL before the Bankruptcy Petition is filed with the Court.

If payment is made by check, the petition cannot be filed until the check clears the firm's trust account. 

Consultations for a bankruptcy are FREE, but a $30.00 deposit is required to reserve your appointment time.  This fee is refundable if you do not retain Ms. Solomon to represent you in your bankruptcy.  However, it is not refundable if you fail to appear at your appointment without giving notice to Ms. Solomon. 

Uncontested Divorce

Attorney fee                $1,000.00

Court Costs                $ Vary 

Court costs are based on service of your spouse in FLORIDA.  If your spouse does NOT live in Florida, the court costs may be higher, depending on where your spouse lives and how much the sheriff in that state charges for service. 

If you do not know where your spouse lives, you may have to PUBLISH for service. Publication costs run extra. 

If your spouse is in jail, you may have to hire a Guardian ad litem (an attorney) to represent your spouse.  The cost for this varies. 

If your spouse is on active duty in the U.S. military, there may be other issues involved with serving your spouse.  This issue should be discussed with Ms. Solomon. 

If you are the wife filing for divorce, and you want your name changed back to your maiden name, the COURT does not charge for the change if done at the time of filing, but does charge if done after the final dissolution.

If you and your spouse are in disagreement about custody, child support, property division or any other major issue, your divorce is probably not going to be "uncontested" and various fees apply.

Property Settlement and/or Custody Agreement

Attorney fee                $350.00 

The $350.00 flat fee is based on preparation of the initial agreement. If Ms. Solomon has to negotiate with your spouse or your spouse's attorney, the time involved with the negotiations and any changes to the agreement are billed at Ms. Solomon's hourly rate of $250.00.

Name Change (For a name change that is not done in conjunction with a divorce)

Attorney fee                $250.00

Court Costs                $ Additional

Simple Will or Trust

Attorney fee                $500.00   

Consultation for a divorce, separation, custody or other domestic matter

Attorney fee                FREE (for half hour consultation) 

Contested Divorce or Custody Matter

Attorney services are billed at $250.00 per hour, plus costs.