Terms and Conditions/New Client Inquiry Information

Before having an initial consultation with us, we need to have some idea as to the details of your case and your full contact information.  We collect some of this information with an online form.  NONE of the information you provide is shared with anyone outside our firm and the court in which your case is filed.  The purpose of your initial consultation is for us to advise you as a prospective client concerning your unique situation and to obtain detailed information that will be used to prepare the documents needed for your case.  The purpose is not to render a definitive legal opinion on all issues, as it may not be possible for us to fully assess your matter during an initial consultation.  However, our clients usually obtain a tremendous amount of information about the divorce process in general and valuable insight as to how the issues in their case may be addressed:

One of three outcomes is possible following your initial consultation:

1. You may decline to use our services;

2. We may decline to represent you; or

3. We and you mutually agree to the terms of representation.

The questions in our online form will help us to understand your situation and to get information in a way that will save you and us valuable time at the consultation. Your responses are protected by attorney/client privilege and will be held in strict confidence.  Please do not submit this information if you are not seriously interested in obtaining an uncontested divorce.  We are not presently accepting clients for any contested cases.

TERMS OF REPRESENTATION

1. Our fee is due in full to start your case and is to be paid during the initial telephone conference or in-person meeting. We accept all forms of payment including all major credit/debit cards. Our fee is $200.00 for the initial telephone conference or in-person meeting in which we obtain full details about your case and provide legal advice and other legal services to you. Normally, this is simply included in our flat fee for your case. However, if you do not hire us to actually proceed with the divorce case at the initial telephone conference or in-person meeting, you will be charged the $200.00 for the consultation. But, if you then hire us to actually represent you in the divorce within thirty days of the initial telephone conference or in-person meeting, we will apply the $200.00 consultation fee toward the total fee for your case so that the consultation is performed an no charge to you at all. We reserve the right to charge you $200.00 if you fail to keep your scheduled in-person meeting or if you fail to appear at a scheduled court appearance of which we have notified you in advance.

2. Our firm does not represent you with regard to the matter described by you in our online information sheet or discussed during your consultation unless and until you have paid the agreed-upon fee.

3. We do not practice in Rockdale County at all. 
   
   
4. If we decide that we cannot represent you, our decision not to represent you should not be taken by you as an expression regarding the merits of your case or any issue in it. 
   
   
5. By filling out this form, you are only providing information to us as a potential client. This does not mean that you have hired an attorney and no payment is required from you simply because you submitted the form.  However, any information that you reveal will remain private and confidential. You may decline to give any information that you do not want to provide at this time.  Later, however, we must have and you must reveal full information that we may request during the course of your divorce case. 
   
   
6. Even in an uncontested case we can represent ONLY you.  It is our policy and practice in uncontested cases for which a client has paid a flat fee NOT to discuss the issues of your case with your spouse or any attorney representing him/her Typically, we will not have even have any contact with your spouse.  Certainly, we will not and cannot give your spouse any legal advice at all. 
   
   
7. At your request, and your spouse's agreement, we may agree to have a joint conference (either by phone or in person) with you and your spouse. 
   
   
8. We custom-prepare all documents needed to formalize the agreements made by you and your spouse informally and file them to the court to process your case to completion on your behalf.  However, no documents are filed with the court until they all have been properly signed and notarized by you and/or your spouse.
   
   
9. We reserve the right not to represent you if your case turns out to be contested (if/when the two of you cannot agree on the details or your spouse refuses to sign the necessary documents for any reason).
   
   
10. Our fees DO NOT include court costs such as filing fees, service fees or publication fees.  Additionally, our fees DO NOT include preparation of Qualified Domestic Relations Orders, wills or any real estate transfer documents.  However, for our uncontested divorce clients we can prepare and record certain real estate transfer documents at an additional fee. Please inquire as to whether these additional costs apply to your case and, if so, how much additional you will pay. 
    
    
11. Typically, your spouse will not be "served" with any legal documents.  Instead, he/she will merely sign an Acknowledgment of Service and Waiver along with all of the other documents for the uncontested divorce case.
    
    
12. All documents necessary for the filing and processing of your uncontested case with the court will be sent to you by email along with detailed instructions and it will be your responsibility to obtain all necessary and properly notarized signatures from your spouse.
    
    
13. All documents are prepared, processed in strict compliance with Georgia Law. We will advise you only on the requirements of Georgia Law as necessary for your case. 
    
    
14. For our flat fee you are entitled to unlimited changes to your draft Settlement Agreement for forty-five (45) days from the day that we send you the first draft of the Agreement for your review. If you request that any changes be made after forty-five (45) days from the day that we send you the first draft of the Settlement Agreement, we will charge an additional fee of $25.00 for each of those additional versions of the draft Settlement Agreement.

If you acknowledge the above conditions and information and agree to the above Terms of Representation, please CLICK the below link to be taken to the form that will collect the information about your case. 

First & Last Name (required)

I have read and understand the terms and conditions

 

 

 

Law Office of Robert L. Jones
707 Whitlock Avenue, SW, Suite G5
Marietta, GA, 30064

Phone: (770) 794-3220
Fax: (770) 794-3225

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