About the firm
How we bill: flat fees, hourly rates, retainers, and payment plans
Updated January 6, 2026
We want you to know what legal help will cost before you commit to it. Most of our work is billed as a flat fee. Some matters are billed hourly against a retainer. Either way, the price or rate is in writing in your engagement letter before we begin.
Intake calls and consultations
Your first call with our intake coordinator is free and takes about 15 minutes. The intake coordinator isn't a lawyer and can't give advice; the call is for gathering basic information and starting a conflict check.
An initial consultation with an attorney lasts 45 minutes and costs $150, in person or by video. If you hire us within 60 days of the consultation, the $150 is credited toward your fee.
Flat fees
We charge flat fees for most of our work, including:
- Simple wills, Essentials packages, and revocable living trust packages
- Most uncontested probate matters, quoted after we review the estate
- LLC and corporation formation, and company agreements
- Tier 1 and Tier 2 contract reviews, and trademark filings
- Residential closing packages for buyers and sellers
A flat fee covers the work described in your engagement letter, including your reasonable questions about that work while the matter is open. It doesn't include third-party costs (see below) or work outside the agreed scope. If you ask for something outside the scope, we'll quote it in writing before doing it.
Flat fees are normally paid in two parts: 50% when you sign the engagement letter and 50% before your documents are signed or filed. For real-estate closing packages, you can instead authorize the title company to pay our fee from the settlement statement at closing.
Current prices are listed in our estate-planning fee schedule, business fee schedule, and real-estate closing fees.
Hourly rates
Our 2026 hourly rates are:
| Role | Hourly rate |
|---|---|
| Partners | $450 |
| Associates | $295 |
| Paralegals | $150 |
Time is billed in tenths of an hour (six-minute increments). We bill hourly for contract negotiation, for complex matters that can't be scoped in advance, and for work beyond a flat fee's scope. Hourly invoices are sent monthly, itemize the work performed, and are due within 30 days. We don't charge for time spent answering questions about your bill.
Retainers and our trust account
Hourly matters start with a retainer, which is an advance deposit toward future fees:
| Matter type | Retainer |
|---|---|
| Probate billed hourly | $3,500 |
| Contract negotiation | $2,000 |
| Other hourly work | $2,500 |
Retainers are held in our IOLTA trust account, separate from the firm's own funds, until the fees are earned. Each month we send you an itemized invoice and then pay it from the retainer. If the balance drops below $1,000, we'll ask you to replenish it. When the matter ends, any unused balance is refunded to you.
Payment plans
Flat fees of $2,000 or more can be split into up to three monthly payments with no interest. The first payment is due when you sign the engagement letter, and the others are due on the same date in each of the next two months. For example, a revocable living trust package for a couple ($4,500) can be paid in three payments of $1,500.
Hourly matters are billed against a retainer and aren't eligible for payment plans.
Costs paid to others
Some costs go to government offices and other third parties, not to us. These include court filing fees, Texas Secretary of State (SOS) filing fees, U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) fees, county recording fees, newspaper publication of probate notices, and courier charges. We bill these at cost with no markup, and they're listed separately on your invoice.
How to pay
We accept ACH bank transfers, checks payable to Barton Creek Ellery LLP, and credit or debit cards with no surcharge. Each invoice includes a secure payment link.
We never ask for card or bank details by email or through our website assistant, and we never change our payment instructions by email. If you receive a message asking you to pay a different account, call us at (512) 555-0142 before sending anything. Billing questions go to billing@bartoncreekellery.com.
This is general information, not legal advice.