Posted Rates for Tenants in Georgia

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

Effective September 30, 2019, the Firm will no longer represent residential tenants.

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

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

Review leases - $250/hour

Draft a demand for repairs  $450 + postage
Increased effective 4/1 to $600.00

Draft answer and counterclaim for tenant to file - $150/hr.
Effective 4/1 -
Dispossessory answer - $250.00
Magistrate statement of claim answer - $350.00
Draft counterclaim - $350.00

Represent tenant with counterclaim - 25% of what is recovered in Magistrate Court
35% of what is recovered in State/Superior Court without jury
45% of what is recovered in State/Superior with jury

Preparation for case in magistrate court - $200 for one hour and $250/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

Tenant is responsible for all expenses in the case.
Phone calls, e-mails, texts - $250/hr.
Any activity not listed above $300/hr.

APPEALS (STATE OR SUPERIOR)

$250/hr. with a $2,500 initial 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)
$300/hour plus copies and posta

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.