Frequently Asked Questions
Where are you located?
My office is located at 420 Main Street, Suite 9, in Summersville, West Virginia. It is on the second floor of the Robert Lee Building, right next to the Summersville Baptist Church, and across Main Street from Nicholas Home Medical.
Do you accept walk-in appointments?
I do not accept walk-in appointments. Because I’m usually busy focusing on my cases, I have to schedule all appointments within a set block of time each day to minimize disruptions. But you can always call!
Do you charge for consults?
Yes. I charge $250.00 for a 45-minute consult in my office for all cases. However, I usually will speak with potential clients for 5 or 10 minutes on the phone to make sure the case is actually something I can help with. Consult fees must be paid prior to the consultation beginning.
Why do you charge for consultations?
I do this for several reasons. First, I’m focusing on helping my clients and running my business. The number one obstacle to that is a limited amount of time in a day. “Tire-kickers” take up that time. If I accept a client, I want to know they are serious about hiring me and that they are willing to invest up front for my services. However, if someone pays the consult fee, I will credit that towards their retainer should they retain me as their attorney. Second, I charge for the same reason a doctor charges you for your first visit to their office: because time is valuable. And time I give away for free is time I’m taking away from current clients. If they paid for my time, then everyone else should to.
What types of cases do you handle?
The bulk of my practice centers on real estate work and family law. However, I also handle estate work and a select amount of criminal cases. I do the following work: real estate transactions, real estate disputes, divorces, custody and relocation disputes, adoptions, domestic violence protection proceedings, estate planning and litigation, and certain criminal defense cases.
Are there any types of cases you do not do?
Yes. I am not a true “general practitioner”. I do not take personal injury cases, social security disability, or worker’s compensation cases. There are other more specific areas of law I will not dive into. If you don’t see your issue covered on my page, feel free to call and ask. If I can’t take the case, I will refer you to someone who can do it, and do it well.
Do you offer payment plans?
No. However, if I believe a case has merit, I am flexible on how it is approached, discuss that at the consultation, and give clients options that allow them to pay a retainer consistent with their goals. I will always charge a retainer (deposit) or flat fee up front, and it must be paid in full prior to me starting on a case.
How much is your retainer?
It depends on the complexity of the case and what you want to accomplish. A case that I think I may be able to settle before getting to Court will require a lower retainer than a case that I know is going to be litigated. A good general rule is that I will not accept a retainer that covers less than ten (10) hours of my time. Most of the time, I will require retainer covering between fifteen (15) and twenty (20) hours of my time.
Do all cases require a retainer or do you accept flat fees?
All cases do not require a retainer because it isn’t practical. For instance, preparing estate plans or real estate documents don’t typically require a large retainer. So, generally, I charge flat fees for those. However, if the document is complex, I may ask for a larger flat fee.
What counties and courts do you practice in?
I accept cases in Nicholas County, Braxton County, Fayette County, Raleigh County, Greenbrier County, and Kanawha County in West Virginia. I practice in Magistrate, Family, and Circuit Court. I also accept appeals to the Intermediate Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia. I also accept civil cases in United States District Courts.