Limitations on Consultations
(1) Online Capability Required. Because of the nature of our online consultation process, all clients are required to have full online capability for emailing from a keyboard device and transmitting documents electronically.
(2) No Texting Please. We do not offer consultations or any other legal services by text. While texting may be suitable for quick and brief communications, the texting of sentence fragments and one-liners is not a professional way to discuss a nuanced legal case. Please use a keyboard device and take your time.
(3) Group Consults. We do not offer group consults with multiple persons at different email addresses. While group legal discussions are fine in an office conference room, they quickly become chaotic by email. Our policy is to work with one client at one email address.
(4) Tax Advice. We do not offer tax, accounting, or bookkeeping advice. We do not have a CPA on staff. Always consult a qualified CPA in conjunction with seeking legal advice on business and real estate matters.
(5) DIYers. We occasionally encounter inquirers who want assistance doing their own legal work. This is not part of our business model, nor does it meet our standards of professionalism.
(6) Handling Your Case. Consultations are offered with the understanding that our firm is not obligated to accept or handle the case going forward.
Instructions for Proceeding with an Initial Consult
(1) Step One: Inquire. Please complete the client inquiry form on our contact page. We will need a concise summary of your situation, including: What is your case about, briefly? Who are the parties involved? Where does it occur? In Texas? Which city or county? When does it occur—what is the timeframe/timeline of events? Why are you seeking legal assistance? A consultation? Document preparation? A lawsuit?
(2) Step Two: Confirm Availability. If you have submitted your initial inquiry, then please confirm that the matter is within our expertise and we are available to consult. This may already be clear. We may have already offered or recommended a consultation.
(3) Step Three: Payment. Select the appropriate consultation option and then make payment. The system will send us both a payment confirmation by email and your case will be placed in our queue.
(4) Step Four: Q&A. Please be prepared with a list of specific questions you may have. After an initial email exchange and discussion, a phone call is available if needed.
(5) Step Five: Conclusion. The consultation may last up to the prescribed time limit (usually 1 hour) over a period not to exceed 3 consecutive business days, when it automatically concludes.
Other Types of Consultations
In addition to the introductory consultation we offer:
Review/Comment on Residential Real Estate Earnest Money Contracts (up to 1 hour): Fees are $450 flat fee for a sales price of up to $499,999; $550 for a sales price of $500,000 to $999,999; $650 for a sales price of $1M to $1.499M; $750 for a sales price of $1.5M up to $1.99M; for a sales price over $2M, fees are $850 and up – inquire. This paragraph-by-paragraph review/comment is available online for unsigned TREC and TAR contracts only.
Contract review/comment by the attorney uses up most of the available hour, particularly in complex transactions. Extended services past the first hour are at our $450 hourly rate.
Asset Protection Review or APR (up to 1.5 hours): Fees are $750 for issues up to $1.5M; $1.5M to $2.5M – $950; $2.5M and up – $1,250. If seeking guidance to protect assets when a judgment or litigation (pending or threatened) is involved, this is the appropriate consultation option.
Asset protection advice beyond the APR is at our regular $450 hourly rate thereafter. However, clients needing extended guidance beyond the APR should consider a flat-fee asset protection retainer for 30 days ($2,500), 60 days ($3,500), or 90 days ($5,000). Available online only.
Litigation Review (up to 1.5 hours): $750. Includes a review of the status of a pending court case related to real estate or business law.
This is a review, comment, and suggestion process that focuses on the substantive and procedural issues raised by the lawsuit. It is not an asset protection review. It is not an agreement to act as attorney of record in the pending case. Available online only.
General Hourly Rate: $450
Other Important Terms of Service
(1) Disclaimer. Our response to your initial inquiry is preliminary and general in nature and not a thorough analysis or formal legal opinion upon which anyone may rely. It is not intended as legal advice or to be a substitute for a consultation.
(2) No Guarantees. We offer no guarantees of law or legal outcome in connection with a consultation. We do not guarantee that we will be able to assist with a legal problem or that we will be able to resolve it.
(3) Courtesy Required. We realize this is the internet. However, inquirers who are rude to staff, overly entitled, insulting, demanding, disrespectful, or belligerent (yes, this happens) will be immediately terminated. Please be courteous and professional. We promise to return the favor.
(4) Terms of Service Apply to All Clients. Please read our firm’s complete policies at the Fees & Policies page of the website. These terms of service apply without exception to all inquirers and clients in place of individual fee agreements or engagement letters.