ALL ONLINE SERVICES ARE SUBJECT TO FOLLOWING
POLICIES ON PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
Perkins Law Firm, APC and Perkins Estate Planning, LLC are two separate entities that have distinct functions. Perkins Law Firm APC is a group of lawyers who addressed legal issues for clients.
Perkins Estate Planning LLC is a Document Preparation Service. Although it is not a law firm its purpose is to provide affordable document preparation services for consumers in the areas of estate planning, probate, entity formation and trust administration.
If our staff identifies that you have a legal issue that must be addressed by the Perkins Law Firm, APC, your case will be transferred to an Attorney employed by Perkins Law Firm, APC and a separate signed retainer agreement will be required to continue services. Our staff is highly trained to distinguish between legal needs and document preparation services. Our goal and objective is to provide high quality personal services at affordable rates.
Engagements are subject to the following terms and conditions:
• Client agrees to be truthful with Attorney, Employees, Affiliates and Associates.
• Client agrees to cooperate, to keep Attorney informed of any information or developments which may come to Client’s attention that may be related to the Scope of Services being provided.
• Client agrees to abide by this Agreement, to pay bills on time and to keep Attorney advised of Client’s address, telephone number and whereabouts.
• Client will assist Attorney in providing necessary information and documents and will appear, when necessary, at legal proceedings.
Any legal issue will require a separate signed fee agreement which will explain client deposits, hourly billable rates and the Attorney client trust account.
Flat Rate Fee for document preparation services:
All document preparation services will require a flat rate fee paid at the end of the client consultation which will be deposited into Perkins Estate Planning LLC General Business account and not an attorney-client trust account. If you wish to have an attorney-client trust account to be established a separate fee agreement including information about hourly billable rates and attorney-client trust fund procedures is required.
Additional Charges.
Perkins estate planning LLC will invoice the client for out-of-pocket costs incurred by the Firm directly related to such client matter. These fees typically include long distance telephone charges, facsimile, photocopying, mail, messenger delivery services, filing and recording fees, corporate service agency fees, out of area travel and similar expenditures related to your case matters. All such expenditures will be itemized on a statement within a reasonable time of the Firm’s receipt of the amount from the third-party provider. On occasion (in particular, where a substantial third-party expense may be necessary), the Firm may request that you pay the out-of-pocket expenses directly, or in advance.
Conflicts; Communications.
If a conflict arises, it may become necessary to terminate the engagement. The Firm occasionally discusses details of your situation with third parties, such as your CPAs, financial planners, brokers, and other professionals. In such instances, our fees would be in addition to any fees charged to you by such third parties. You authorize the Firm to communicate with you via unsecure email.This Firm does not accept or offer referral fees.
File Retention.
Client agrees not to hold Firm or any of its Employees, Associates or Affiliates liable for custodial care of the client documents.
Disputes.
Any controversy, claim or dispute (“Dispute”) arising before, during, or after the establishment of an attorney-client relationship or arising out of, in connection with, or relating to the Firm’s services, including the determination of the scope or applicability of this arbitration provision, shall be first mediated in Orange County, California. “Disputes” shall include, without limitation, those involving fees, costs, billing, claims of professional negligence, malpractice, contract claims, fraud or negligence claims, and breach of ethical or fiduciary duties. The mediation shall be administered by JAMS in Orange County, pursuant to its rules. The mediator shall recommend an allocation of all of the costs of the dispute (and the mediation, if applicable), including the fees of the mediator and the reasonable attorneys’ fees of the prevailing party, against the party who does not prevail. The results of the mediation shall remain confidential. This provision is not intended to abrogate your right to require a non-binding fee arbitration pursuant to California Business & Professions Code Sections 6200-06. You have the right to request such a non-binding fee arbitration at any time, even after other arbitration or litigation has commenced. If you demand the arbitration of a fee dispute pursuant to these provisions, either party may seek to consolidate that arbitration with any other arbitration pending between the parties.
Termination of Agreement:
It is agreed that either you or the Firm have the right to terminate this agreement at any time upon notification in writing or e-mail to the other. When services are conclude, all unpaid charges will immediately become due and payable.
Entire Agreement:
This Agreement contains the entire Agreement of the parties with respect to this legal matter.
Dual Representation:
People often have conflicting interests concerning their property. This balancing could end up favoring one of you to the detriment of the other. We must try to balance all factors and cannot, therefore, act as an advocate for either of you.
You are each, of course, welcome to have your own counsel for any part or all of the matters in which we would call be acting; in addition, either of you may, at any time, forbid us from being involved in any way on behalf of the other.
Miscellaneous.
This agreement, and the terms of our representation, shall be governed under California law, irrespective of where services are performed, where a trust drafted by our office is situated, or where a business entity formed by our office was formed or operates, and irrespective of where you are located. In the event of litigation, the parties agree the sole venue shall be the applicable Orange County, California courts. The Firm may assign this contract, and the rights herein shall automatically inure to the benefit of the Firm’s assignee. No provision of this Agreement is intended, nor will be interpreted, to provide or to create any third-party beneficiary rights or any other rights of any kind in any beneficiary, heir, vendor, customer, affiliate, shareholder, employee, partner of yours. Our Firm shall not have a duty to advise you of Federal, State or property law changes, even if these changes would result in material changes to your planning.
PRIVACY POLICY
This privacy policy notice describes how we treat the information that we receive about you.
Information We May Collect About You
We collect nonpublic information about you only in connection with providing you with the services that you request. The types of nonpublic personal information that we collect vary according to the services that we perform for you, and may include information that we receive from you (such as your name, address, income, assets, social security information and other financial or household information). Information about your relationship and past history with us and others (such as the types of legal services we provide to you, your invoice balances and payment history); and information that we receive, with your authorization, from third parties such as accountants, financial advisors, insurance agents, banking institutions and others.
How We Handle Your Information
We do not disclose any public or nonpublic personal information about you that you have provided to us to anyone outside of our firm, except as authorized by you or required by law. For example, with your request or consent, we may disclose personal information to a third-party contractor, such as an appraiser or financial planner or accountant, who is assisting us in providing services to you. In addition, we will release information to the extent required by law or regulation. We do not sell client information to anyone or disclose client information to marketing companies.
Waivers of Confidentiality
If concerns develop regarding your capacity or multiple party representation, we will continue to represent you and to protect your interests to the extent consistent with our standards of practice and ethical responsibilities. Unless you direct us otherwise in writing or electronically, you are authorizing us in such representation (1) to communicate with your family, your physicians, and your other advisers and to disclose to them such pertinent confidential information as we may determine to be reasonably appropriate under the circumstances, and (2) to represent one or more members of your family or other advisers acting in a fiduciary or like capacity for you or your property (excluding, however any proceeding involving determination of your capacity).
We provide quality, personal services at affordable rates. Thank you for letting us be of serves to you and your family.