Family Law Matters:

• First 15 minutes of first conference on family law matters are FREE
• After 15 minutes, $150 for each 1/2 hour of conference time on family law matters
• Premarital Agreement - $450.00
  
• Parenting Agreement - $250.00
• Separation Agreement - $250.00
  
• Property Settlement Agreement - $250.00
• Divorce from Bed and Board*
• Absolute Divorce - $150.00, plus court costs
• Postseparation Support & Alimony*
• Child Custody & Support*
• Annulments - $750.00, plus court costs
• Adoptions - $750.00, plus court costs
• Paternity and Legitimations*
• Termination of Parental Rights - $750.00, plus court costs
  
• Domestic Violence - $500.00 for hearing
• Equitable Distribution of Property*

*Reasonable Hourly Rates Apply

 Auto Accidents & Personal Injury:

• Initial conference is FREE
• Auto Accidents and Other Personal Injury Claims -  Reasonable Contingent Fees -- If there is No Recovery, then No Fee is charged. Fee is 30% based on amount of recovery in settlement prior to filing suit; or 35% based on amount of recovery if suit is filed; plus out-of-pocket expenses and court costs

Deeds, Wills, & Estate Fees:

• Last Will & Testament - $150.00 simple will
• Estates*
• Durable Power of Attorney - $100.00
• Health Care Power of Attorney - $100.00
• Deed - $100.00
  
• Establish Guardianship for Incompetent*

*Reasonable Hourly Rates Apply

Some of the attorney's fees charged by Mr. Kelso are the same fees he charged for the same service when he opened his law office in 1978. For instance, when Mr. Kelso opened his office in 1978 the court cost for filing an absolute divorce was $24.00, and Mr. Kelso's fee was $150.00. Today, the court cost for an absolute divorce has increased to $225.00, but Mr. Kelso's attorney fee has remained the same. Mr. Kelso's goal is not to make a significant profit from a client's divorce, but instead to offer the option of absolute divorce at a reasonable price in hopes that a client will obtain an absolute divorce before opting to live with someone else in an out-of-wedlock relationship because he or she cannot afford to obtain a divorce.

Mr. Kelso charges a reasonable hourly rate of $300 per hour for his work on family law cases. Mr. Kelso has been certified by the North Carolina State Bar as a SPECIALIST in North Carolina family law since 1989. Other specialists within a 50 mile radius of Gaston County similar experience to that of Mr. Kelso charge fees that are substantially higher. Mr. Kelso attributes his ability to hold down fees to conducting his practice as a ministry with his wife, Debra, as a paralegal, and his ability to hold down the overhead of his office. Although Mr. Kelso's office is small by comparison to some firms, he is on the cutting edge in computerized technology with research capabilities in all major legal texts in the United States. He has handled family law cases for clients whose assets range from little or no assets to clients with assets in excess of $15 million. 

Mr. Kelso has all new clients sign a written fee agreement that explains in detail the firm's fees and expenses that will be charged for legal services. In hourly fee cases, an advance payment will be required to cover legal services provided. Advances are placed in the firm's trust account and are withdrawn only after legal services have been rendered and the fee earned. All unused advances that remain when legal services are completed are refunded to the client.

How to Minimize Attorney Fees:

It is important, at the beginning of the attorney-client relationship, that you discuss with Mr. Kelso the approach that you choose to take, and want Mr. Kelso to take, in helping to achieve your legal objectives. Some clients have unlimited financial resources and ask that Mr. Kelso take a "no-stone-left-unturned" approach in the case. Such an approach can be quite expensive because it will be necessary to engage in extensive discovery. For instance, in such cases it will be necessary to serve extensive interrogatories, requests for production of documents, requests for admissions, take depositions of parties and witnesses, and other procedures aimed at discovery of all the relevant facts that may be important in the case before the case is tried. Such an approach is likely to be very expensive, but in many cases this approach adds a significant increase in the likelihood of success and pre-trial settlement of the case. In other cases, many clients with more limited financial resources choose a "minimal fee" approach. Using this approach, Mr. Kelso will discuss with you a number of low cost methods of obtaining limited discovery that can help in discovery of relevant facts that are important to the case. For instance, instead of extensive written discovery, one or more targeted subpoenas may be used to obtain limited information. Such an approach is less expensive than a "no-stone-left-unturned" approach; however, there is the potential for not finding out important facts that may be important to the case. Moreover, the likelihood of a a pretrial settlement is reduced, and the likelihood of a successful outcome is diminished significantly by this approach. Finally, a client with very limited financial resources may simply want legal representation with little or no preparation and discovery in the case, what Mr. Kelso will refer to as the "shoot-from-the-hip-approach" to the case. Using this approach, Mr. Kelso will prepare appropriate pleadings and engage in the most minimal preparation. This is the most dangerous approach to litigation and can result in surprises along the way as the facts will simply arise at random during the hearing or trial. Using such a "shoot-from-the-hip-approach" the client gets Mr. Kelso's expertise and guidance; however, the likelihood of a fair settlement and successful outcome are diminished. However, for clients with minimal resources, who are forced to take this approach, it may be worth the risk when the alternative is no representation at all. 

Here are a few other ways that clients can minimize fee charges:

1. Since the attorney will be in touch with you when something important arises in the case, you do not need to call the attorney just to check on the status of your case.

2. The attorney charges for time based on 6 minute (.10 of an hour intervals), so when you contact the attorney discuss all the questions you have at that time rather than contacting the attorney with one question at a time. Making three separate calls with a question that is answered in 2 minutes will result in a fee of .30, whereas making one call with 3 questions that are answered in 6 minutes or less will result in a charge of only .10.

3. Do not make appointments with the attorney for "feel-good" information. Many clients contact Mr. Kelso to simply set and talk about the case and feel reassured that he or she can handle the emotional issues. Mr. Kelso's hourly charges are significantly higher than most counselors, so seek a qualified counselor to help you deal with emotional needs.

4. Mr. Kelso charges .10 for reviewing and .10 for responding to an email that is less than 300 words. Therefore, avoid extensive use of email as a means of communication with Mr. Kelso.

5. Pay your invoice when it is received. Mr. Kelso does add a finance charge of 1% each month on the outstanding balance of all invoices that are not timely paid.

Call for a free fee quote, or arrange an appointment for a FREE consultation. The first 15 minutes of the first conference in family law matters are always FREE !

For an Appointment,

Call Today!

704-865-8684