Billing FAQ's
Prompt payment in full for services rendered and costs advanced on your behalf is vital to our ability to efficiently provide legal services to all clients. During the period of time J&L represents you, you will be sent an itemized invoice (approximately monthly) showing the dates on which legal services were provided, a brief description of the work performed, the initials of the individual who performed such work, and a list of all disbursements made on your behalf. These invoices are due upon receipt and require your prompt review and attention.
We encourage you to review your bill as soon as you receive it and talk to your attorney should you have any questions. If you have any billing concerns associated with an invoice, you must raise these concerns within 30 days of receiving the same or the invoice will be deemed accurate.
When should I expect to receive my bill?
We generally send invoices out by the 10th of the month for the previous month’s work. If you have not received your invoice by the 11th of any month, you may reach out to our Billing Department at billing@joneslobello.com and request a copy.
Please note that we do everything we can to bill third-party costs you in a timely fashion, however some third-party costs could take up to 90 days to show up on your invoice, depending on the vendor.
How will I receive my bill?
You can choose whether to have your bill emailed, mailed or both. If the bill is mailed, an additional mailing fee will apply. Payments are due upon receipt (interest charges will accrue after 30 days).
How am I going to be billed?
Your fee arrangement should have been discussed in detail during your consultation. Please refer to your engagement letter if you have any questions regarding how your attorney will be billing you for your matter. At Jones & LoBello, we offer two options (depending on the nature of your legal matter):
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- Hourly Billing – Hourly billing is the most common fee structure. In an hourly billing situation, our attorney’s will bill at tenths of an hour (each 1/10 is a 6-minute interval). For example, a 5-minute phone call (or email) to your attorney will be billed at 1/10 (.10) of an hour. You are billed for all costs and they will appear on your invoice separately.
- Flat Fee Billing – Flat fees are a single, one-time charge and are considered non-refundable. These fee arrangements typically apply to estate planning matters (such as deed or will preparation), business entity formation matters, registered agent services, or an appearance at a hearing pursuant to an unbundled legal services arrangement. Costs are typically included, although not always.
Regardless of the fee arrangement you agreed to, you are paying for your attorney’s time and will be billed accordingly, so it should be clear to you and detailed out in your engagement letter. If you have any questions, be sure to talk to your attorney.
What do we bill for?
Our invoices to you will include two broad categories of charges, fees and costs.
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- Fees are the amounts we charge for our legal services. Your Engagement Letter details the specific billing rates.
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- Costs are amounts that we pass on to you for our out-of-pocket expenses. We have two types of costs: (1) administrative out-of-pocket costs (i.e., fax, photocopy, postage, etc.); and (2) additional out of pocket costs which will be billed to you during the course of your legal matter, such as legal research fees, filing fees, expert fees, and certification fees. Your Engagement Letter further outlines the definition of costs.
Why do you need an Advanced Deposit (Retainer)?
Your advanced deposit is like a down payment toward future legal fees. It is paid at the beginning of your matter, most often when your attorney is billing on an hourly basis, but not always. Normally, your advanced deposit is held in trust to be applied any outstanding invoices the end of your matter. If you paid all invoices in full, it would be fully refunded to you.
How will you use my Advanced Deposit (Retainer)?
You should ask if your attorney is going to hold your advanced deposit in trust until the conclusion of your matter or if they will begin applying your advanced deposit to your first invoice. Ask your attorney if they expect you to replenish your advanced deposit to maintain a certain amount, also known as an evergreen retainer.
As each matter is unique, there is no one size fits all policy. The way your advanced deposit, or retainer, is used depends on the agreement you and your attorney made and should be detailed out for you in your engagement letter. Be sure you understand how your attorney intends to use your advanced deposit so you can avoid any confusion when you receive your first bill.
Where do I pay my invoice?
Bill payments can made online using our Clio payment link when receiving the invoice via email. Advance deposit or retainer payments can be made online by requesting a payment link from your attorney team.
Payments may also be mailed to us at 9950 W. Flamingo Road, #100, Las Vegas, NV 89147 Attention: Billing
Do you offer any payment arrangements?
Your success is important to us and we understand that oftentimes a payment arrangement is necessary due to financial limitations. Your ability to pay should be discussed with your attorney before and during your matter to ensure you can afford the legal services being provided. If you decide you need a payment arrangement, please reach out to our billing team at billing@joneslobello.com. Keep in mind that our payment arrangements are dependent on your matter status, outstanding balance, and timeframe of repayment. All payment arrangements must be approved by the Managing Partner prior to implementation.