Consultations, Fees and Costs

Below are answers to some frequently asked questions about the costs of family and criminal law services of Schmergel & Mersberger, PLC:

How long are initial consultations?

For family law cases and other civil matters, initial consultations usually last one hour and they are not free. The consultation will be billed for the hourly rate of the attorney with whom you meet and payment will be due at that time. We do not accept checks for initial consultations. For criminal and traffic defense cases the consultation is included in the flat fee for the case, which will be determined at the time of the consultation.

Does the firm represent me once we have had an initial consultation?

No. To engage the services of Schmergel & Mersberger, PLC, you must sign a written agreement and pay a fee advance or deposit, often referred to as a retainer, or a flat fee for certain criminal matters.

How can I pay the firm?

Schmergel & Mersberger, PLC accepts:

  • Cash
  • Check
  • Wire transfers
  • Money Orders
  • Visa
  • MasterCard
  • American Express
  • Discover
  • PayPal
  • Square

What are some examples of costs I will incur beyond attorney fees?

Costs often include items like the following:

  • Court filing fees
  • Court reporters
  • Copying charges
  • Postage
  • Couriers
  • Private investigators
  • Process servers
  • Experts
  • Consultants