Short Lived Break/Semi-Retirement

Thanks to the Corona virus and the uncertainty in the rental market, the Firm is moving to full-time hours again on April 1 to answer your landlord tenant questions, negotiate back rent payments, and represent small landlords and all tenants in eviction matters in Magistrate Court.

For now, the hours are 11-3.

Starting April 1, the hours will be

Mon - 1:00 - 4:00

Tues - Thurs - 10:00 - 4:00 

Fri 10:00 -3:00

Weekends - Closed

Posted Rates for Landlords in Georgia

The fees below are subject to change without notice.  Also, the Firm offers lower hour rates for established clients.

Initial Consultation (first office visit only) - Residential - $170/hour

Initial Consultation (first office visit only) - Commercial - $350/hour

Review leases - $350/hour

Draft a pay or quit notice (each notice) - $200 + postage

Draft dispossessory affidavit for failure to pay rent - $200 + filing fees and service

Draft dispossessory affidavit on hold over - $175/hour + filing fees and service

Draft dispossessory affidavit on tenant at sufferance - $300/hour + filing fees and service

Preparation for case - $350 for one hour and $300/hour for each hour thereafter

Copies, parking, transportation are charge to the courthouse and meeting

Trial date residential -  $600 first two hours and $275/hour for each hour thereafter

Trial date commercial - $350/hour

Obtain writ - $175 plus court and sheriff/marshal fee (transportation fee may apply)

Appear on day of eviction - $280/hour

Landlord is responsible for all expenses in the case.
Phone calls, e-mails, texts - $300/hr.
Any activity not listed above $350/hr.

APPEALS (STATE OR SUPERIOR)

$350/hr. with a $3,500 retainer
Plus expenses

REMOVALS TO FEDERAL COURT

$300/hr with a $3,000 initial retainer
Plus expenses

The Firm does not handle cases that are in bankruptcy.

APPEALS (APPELLATE OR SUPREME)
$350/hour plus copies and postage

Saturday Hours for January - March

For the first three months in 2019, the Firm will have Saturday hours from Noon to 4:00pm in its Marietta and Norcross offices.  The meetings are by appointment only.

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year

As we close our the year, I thank all those who have called the firm this year. 

I received over 2,000 calls from potential clients.  Many of those were helped with a simple 5-10 minute phone consultation.

Over 400 of those who called paid for a longer phone or office consultation.  During that consultation, I gave enough information to allow many to handle the matter themselves.

This year, I represented about 200 people in various matters, including divorces, landlord-tenant, consumer, and employment cases.

Next year, if you need legal assistance you should do the following:
(1) research the names of potential attorneys;
(2) call several offices to get their legal opinions;
(3) don't rely on one opinion to determine how to proceed;
(4) visit 1-3 attorneys in their offices;
(5) determine if you can handle it yourself;
(6) select the attorney who fits your comfort level, budget, and experience requirements;
(7) be realistic in your expectations; and

(8) think about calling this Firm for your legal needs.

Types of Landlord-Tenant Cases the Firm Will Accept (Effective Oct. 1, 2018)

Monday, October 1st, marks the 16th anniversary of the Firm.  Experience and client referrals have brought an increased demand for services.  In the last three months, the Firm has seen an explosion in demand.  Because I want to remain small without sacrificing client satisfaction, certain services will be discontinued.

The Firm will Continue to Accept the Following Cases:

                1.   Dispossessory actions (small landlords and all tenants, hourly rate and flat fee)

                2.   Lease review and negotiations (commercial and residential)

                3.   Civil actions with a value of $20,000 or more for failure to repair, negligence,  breach of contract, nuisance, breach of the warranty of habitability, etc.(flat and hourly rate arrangements)

                4.   Repair and stay negotiations (hourly rate only)

                5.   Breach of lease claims (wrongful termination)(hourly rate only)

                6.   Civil actions (wrongful eviction, conversion)

                7.   Return of Security Deposit (defense of small landlords and prosection by tenants whose landlords have more than 10 rental units) 

                8.   Appeals to State or Superior Court (hourly rate only)

                9.   Appeals to Court of Appeals or Supreme Court (hourly rate only)

                10. Litigation for damages to rental property (pursue and defend).

                11. Fair Housing violations claims and defenses (all tenants and all landlords)(hourly rate only)

The Firm will no Longer Accept the Following Cases:

                1.   Claims by tenants against small landlords for failure to return a security deposit

                2.   Negotiations to terminate leases because of a failure to repair, nuisance, or insects.

                3.   Roommate disputes

                4.   Family-related landlord-tenant disputes unless a written lease exists

                5.   Health problems caused by mold 

                6.   Defense of tenants in dispossessory actions for failure to pay rent. 

The Firm is Accepting Landlord-Tenant Cases in the Following Counties

FULTON

DEKALB

GWINNETT

COBB

ROCKDALE
NEWTON

For the Following Counties, Clients are Charged 

Mileage From the Closest Office and Travel Time to Court at $150/hour

Clayton

Paulding

Bartow

Henry

Fayette

Coweta

Spalding

Hall

For the Following Counties, Clients are Charged

Mileage From Closest Office, Lodging and Travel Time to Court at $150/hour

Chatham County (Savannah)

Richmond County (Augusta)

Bibb County (Macon)

New Attorney Fees Coming for all Landlord-Tenant Matters Effective May 15, 2016

Effective May 15, 2016, the Firm will change most of its fees and pricing structures for landlord-tenant matters.

Phone Consultations - 10 minute free screening
Initial Consultations - $75/hr. - $250/hr.
Follow Up Consultations - $300/hr.

Prepare and File Dispossessory Affidavits (Residential Electronic Filing) - $400.00 plus filing fees and service
Prepare and File Dispossessory Affidavits (Residential Paper Filing) -- $500.00 plus filing fees
Prepare and File Dispossessory Answer (Residential Electronic Filing) - $400.00
Prepare and File Dispossessory Answer (Residential Paper Filing) - $500.00
Prepare and File Dispossessory Counterclaim (Residential) - $250.00 plus 35% of recovery

Prepare and File Commercial Dispossessory Affidavit or Answer/Counterclaim - $330/hr. plus filing fees and service

Interview Clients and Witnesses - $300/hr.
Other Communications (phone, fax, text) - $250/hr.

Travel time - $150/hr.

Prepare for Hearing - $300/hr.
Draft Settlement Agreement, Amend Documents, Draft Writs, or Draft Other Court Document - $300/hr.

Subpoenas - $150/hr. plus filing fees and service

All other filings not listed (Residential and Commercial)- $300/hr.

Client is responsible for all expenses (copies, mileage, witness fees, service, parking, subpoenas)

Estimated payments for the case are due upon return of the contract.