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Frequently Asked Questions |
| How do I schedule an appointment? |
You may call us at (828) 286-3332 or e-mail clientcare@kinglawoffices.com to schedule an appointment. You may also dial any of the individual office locations directly. For contact information for all offices, please visit our Locations page. |
| Where are your locations and what are your hours? |
King Law Offices serve a five county region in North and South Carolina, and we offer four office locations to conveniently serve you. We offer appointments five days a week, with early morning, afternoon and late evening availability. Let us know your schedule and we will find an appointment time that works for you. For a complete list of office locations and hours, click here. |
| What is the fax number and email address? |
You may fax documents addressed to any staff member to 828.286.1110. This delivers the faxed information to the secure email address of central support staff member, who will then forward the information to the designated staff member at any of our office locations. You may email any information to clientcare@kinglawoffices.com. This delivers the information to the secure email address of a central support staff member, who will then forward the information to the designated staff member at any of our office locations. If you prefer to send your email to a particular staff member directly, please see our Directory page for individual staff member contact information. |
| Do you take same-day appointments? |
Yes. In order to provide our clients with convenient access to an experienced attorney, and to help clients find peace of mind as quickly as possible, we routinely schedule same-day appointments. In fact, our goal is to schedule all appointments within 48 hours, unless the caller requests otherwise. If you have an emergency situation, please call us and allow us to set up a same day meeting if at all possible. Or, if you prefer to plan ahead, we can accommodate requests for appointments well in advance. Our attorneys make themselves available for early morning and late afternoon appointments Monday – Thursday, and we generally have appointments available through lunchtime on Fridays. |
| What is the initial consultation fee? |
$75 for a 30 minute consult with Attorneys Brandon Jaynes or Rustin Duncan. $200 for a 60 minute consultation with partner Attorneys Brian King and John Crotts. Our attorneys allocate a specific amount of time for your initial consultation. More time may be taken as needed and as the attorney’s schedule permits; an hourly rate is charged after the allotted time. The consult fee is payable by cash, check, VISA or MasterCard. |
| Will you apply the initial consultation fee to my retainer? |
Yes, provided the attorney has offered a fee agreement for representation, and that you retain for legal representation within seven days of your initial consultation. |
| Can you give me advice over the phone? Can you do a virtual meeting? |
We will be happy to schedule an initial consultation for you to speak with one of our attorneys by phone. We also routinely provide legal advice to existing clients via telephone consultation. If you have Skype or Oovoo, we can conduct a virtual meeting with you if desired. This includes initial consultations and meetings with existing clients. Prepayment via our online payment tool is required for phone and video consults. |
| Will my information be protected by attorney-client privilege? |
Yes. The information you provide to our attorneys and staff is confidential. It is important that you provide us with complete and truthful information so we can properly advise you. Upon consulting with our office, you will be asked to read and indicate your agreement and understanding of our specific practices concerning conflicts in representation and attorney-client privilege. The confidentiality provided by attorney-client privilege is the most sacred aspect of what we do, and you can be assured that your confidentiality will be protected. |
| What should I bring with me to the initial consultation? |
If a phone consultation or Skype/Oovoo, email or fax the below materials at least four hours in advance. If an in-person consultation, bring the following to your initial consultation: |
• Completed New Client Information Sheet (download form) • Any existing court papers and any documents sent to you from another attorney • For Family Law and Estate Planning matters: Financial Information • Any other items that you feel may be pertinent to your particular legal matter, i.e.: - Full address and phone number(s) for anyone whom you have a claim against - Address, phone number(s), school info & birth dates of any children affected - Summary notes and/or a timeline of key events and dates related to your case - Your previous year's income tax return and any IRS-related data |
| Can I bring someone with me to the consultation? |
Yes, who you bring in to the appointment is up to you, ultimately. However, please know that there may be a point during the consultation when the attorney asks your friend or family member to wait separately during part of the consultation because their presence could jeopardize the Attorney-Client Privilege. |
| Can I bring my kids with me? |
Being parents ourselves, we know the importance of spending time with your children and the practical challenges of obtaining childcare. However, we do recommend that children be excluded from your legal consultation appointments. We find that clients are best able to maximize the efficiency and effectiveness of a legal consultation when they have hired a sitter, or when a friend or parent sits with their children. However, if you are not able to make more comfortable arrangements for you and your child, you may bring your child to the appointment. |
| I’ve heard some attorneys charge hourly, and some charge flat fees. What is the difference and how do you charge? |
There are several types of fee arrangements that attorneys use. The type of fees attorneys charge depend on the type of case they are handling and the client's ability to pay. The most common forms of billing include flat fees, hourly fees and retainer fees. All clients of King Law Offices receive and must sign a written fee agreement that clearly defines the billing arrangements and expectations. |
Flat Fee A flat fee is an amount that the attorney and client agree upon before the attorney begins work on your case. The fee is based upon the amount of work (based on number of hours) the attorney expects to put into your case and must be paid in full before work begins on your case. Hourly Fee Attorneys may also charge you by the hour for the time they put into your case. Our hourly fees for attorneys are $200 - $250, and legal assistants’ work is charged at the rate of $75 - $125 per hour. In most cases, our attorneys will be able to estimate the number of hours typically spent in a similar case and can give you an estimate of what the total fee for your case will be, based on the factors known at the outset of the case. Matters with hourly fee billing arrangements are required to maintain a minimum amount of funds on deposit in the firm trust account. Retainer Fee A retainer fee is similar to a down payment on legal services, which is paid to an attorney to guarantee he or she will be available to work on your case. This means your lawyer may need to turn down other cases in order to be available for your case. In this arrangement, you may be billed separately for work on your case, and these fees may come out of the retainer itself. If more money is required to finish the case due to the extensive work it takes to resolve it, additional fees are required to be paid before the work can continue. |
| What is a Trust Account and how does it work? |
It is helpful to think of a client trust account as a personal checking account within our firm. Matters with hourly billing arrangements are required to maintain funds in a firm trust account. To set up a trust account, you will make an initial deposit of a specified amount. Each week, we prepare a bill to include all work that our attorneys and staff have completed on your case since the last billing cycle. The amount of the total charges are then withdrawn from your trust account. The weekly bill you will receive reflects the details of the charges to the account, as well as any required replenishment deposit that must be made to maintain the trust account. |
| What are your typical legal fees? |
While fees depend on the complexity of the case, and can best be determined during a legal consultation with an attorney, we provide the following guide related to our fee structure: Business Law |
• Incorporation of a Partnership, LLC, or Corporation: $250 + costs for Secretary of State • Drafting By-Laws or Operating Agreement: $750 and up, depends upon complexity • Contracts Drafting and Negotiation: $400 and up, depends upon nature of contract • Lien Filing: $200 plus filing fee and service/mail fees • Employment Law; Collections; other Business Law matters: billed hourly |
| For organizations that need periodic access to qualified counsel for business-related legal questions, document review, and litigation avoidance guidance, we are glad to offer an Annual Corporate Retainer Plan. For details, contact our office for a complimentary consultation. |
| Estate Planning |
• Durable Power of Attorney: $200 + recording fee for Register of Deeds • Health Care Power of Attorney: $150–$200 • Living Will, or Declaration of a Desire for a Natural Death: $150–$200 • Simple Will: $200 • Simple Estate: $600 - $700 (simple will, durable POA, healthcare POA, living will) • Comprehensive Estate Plan and Trusts: $750 and up, depends on complexity |
| Family Law |
Criminal representation is most often billed on an hourly basis, at standard rates for all work performed. Flat fee quotes are available for certain types of matters, and in some cases an hourly fee arrangement with an initial trust retainer deposit is required. Fee arrangements for criminal matters are covered during the consultation appointment. Occassionally flat fee arrangements can be made based upon inquiry and individual circumstances. • Adoption: $2,000 and up, depending on individual circumstances • Full Service, Uncontested Divorce: $325 + costs for filing and service • Separation/Prenuptial Agreements: averages $1,000, but depends on complexity • Family Law Litigation: Average fees $8,500 but depends on complexity • Child custody case fees depend on the case complexity and whether it is settled (outside of court) or litigated (in court). Child custody cases start at $3,000; an average child custody case is $8,500; costs can be higher depending on a variety of circumstances. |
| Traffic & DWI |
• Speeding up to 25 mph over limit: $450, includes court costs (Driver does not need to be present) • DWI, Speeding more than 25 mph over limit, and Other Traffic Matters: $750 and up. Fee quote to be provided during consultation appointment, can be hourly or flat fee. |
| Criminal Representation |
Criminal representation is most often billed on an hourly basis, at standard rates for all work performed. Flat fee quotes are available for certain types of matters, and in some cases an hourly fee arrangement with an initial trust retainer deposit is required. Fee arrangements for criminal matters are covered during the consultation appointment. Occassionally flat fee arrangements can be made based upon inquiry and individual circumstances. |
| Civil Suits |
Legal work performed in connection with filing and/or defending civil suits are billed on an hourly basis, at standard rates for all work performed. An initial trust deposit will be required to retain representation, and fee arrangements are covered during the consultation appointment. Initial trust deposits are $1,500 - $5,000 depending upon complexity of the case. |
| Note that in the case of Family Law, Civil, and other matters between two or more individuals, the term “complexity” denotes the relative proximity to the parties in their desires, and can also relate to the expectations regarding in-court litigation versus out-of-court settlement. The farther apart the parties are in terms at the outset of negotiations, the more complex and therefore the more costly the legal action is likely to be. Additionally, when litigation and court hearings are involved, costs increase significantly. |
| Will you perform legal work for free or at a discounted rate? |
King Law Offices provides pro-bono legal services through civic and other local organizations. We do not generally accept walk-in pro-bono clients. For discounted or pro-bono legal representation, contact Pisgah Legal or Legal Aid of North Carolina. |