The Bottom Line

A frequent impediment to obtaining important legal documents is often the fear of legal fees. The following tips may reduce your anxiety about legal fees:

1. Ask about fees before retaining the services of a lawyer.
2. Provide the lawyer with as much information as possible. For example, if you provide all of your financial and family information upfront, it will reduce the length of an initial estate planning meeting, which should result in reduced legal fees.
3. Remember that lawyers typically bill for all time they spend in addressing a particular matter. If you have three questions for your lawyer, consider one phone call or e-mail, instead of three separate phone calls or e-mails.
4. Be diligent in your review of invoices. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to ask about them.
5. Ask you lawyer about about flexible payment schedules. Many lawyers are amenable to accepting payment over a certain period of time.