Frequently Asked Questions

Before hiring a lawyer, you should spend some time researching the law firm you are considering. Ask for information about the lawyer’s education, training, and experience dealing with cases similar to yours. Ask the lawyer to go over the fee contract with you in detail, and be sure you understand how you will pay the lawyer’s fee and costs. Ask about the possible adverse consequences if your case is lost. Ask if your lawyer intends to handle your case alone, and, if you are told that lawyers from outside law firms will be assisting, find out what the fee arrangements will be.

A great deal of our time is spent gathering information from clients who contact us for the first time. Names and dates are always important and we will often ask a new client to write a chronology of the events that led him/her to seek legal counsel. We will want to hear as much detail as you can provide about your case so that we can make informed decisions about whether to accept your case and, if so, how we should begin prosecuting it. For estate planning and elder law cases, we have an extensive client questionnaire designed to provide us with the information we need to make informed recommendations about your case.

At the Morton Law Firm, you will find a courteous and professional staff. Meeting a law firm for the first time can be a distressing experience, and we will do our best to make you comfortable. You will always be greeted with a smiling face, and offered a wide selection of refreshments upon arrival. We encourage you to try one of our fresh gourmet coffees, which many tell us is the best in town. Our staff reserves plenty of time to meet with new clients to discuss potential cases. Having documents at our disposal is beneficial, so we always suggest that new clients bring pertinent paperwork and any questionnaire they may have been provided prior to the appointment.

For those matters that require an initial consultation fee, such as Medicaid Planning, Asset Protection Planning, and Divorce, the consultation fee is collected at the front desk before you are shown back to the conference room. Payment can be made with your preference of cash, check, or credit card.

That depends on the type of case. Some matters, such as Personal Injury litigation, are usually handled on a contingency fee basis, and no money will be required. Other cases, such as Estate Planning and Medicaid Planning, are charged at a flat fee, with half of the payment collected prior to beginning work. Other types of cases, such as general litigation, may be billed hourly and require a preliminary retainer. In every instance, the full details of the fee and cost agreement you have with our firm will be explained to you in detail before we begin working on your case.