Client Services Agreement

(the fine print v.2021-06-16)

You will need to read and agree to the agreement below in The Divorce Wizard.

By clicking “Confirm Agreement” below, I understand and agree as follows:

I understand that all fee payments I make are for specific, "limited scope" legal services and not comprehensive legal services. I have completely and truthfully answered all questions relating to my case. If I have any questions regarding my eligibility to obtain a simple, uncontested, no-fault Pennsylvania divorce or any other specific limited scope legal services, I will email or call Cairns Law Offices (“CLO”) with my questions before I make payment for legal limited scope legal services.(email: jdc@mypadivorcelawyer.com or call 888-863-9115).

I understand that the information I have provided establishes a professional relationship, but an attorney-client relationship is not established until I actually make payment. Once I actually make a payment, I am indicating that I want CLO to represent me in order to provide the limited scope legal services I have chosen. If I have chosen divorce services and have not chosen to have a Settlement Agreement prepared by CLO, then I am hereby verifying that I do not require those limited scope legal services, that I may lose rights concerning alimony, division of property, lawyer’s fees or expenses, and that my rights concerning child support and/or custody are not being waived or changed. My rights have been adequately explained to me and/or I otherwise understand them. I hereby verify that I understand and agree with each specific service that I have chosen.

CLO will only correspond with me during the divorce proceedings. CLO will not give legal advice to my spouse. The email address I have entered for myself is, in fact, my email address, and CLO will use it to correspond with me only. I understand that CLO will not correspond with anyone else unless and until I have signed an Informed Consent in the presence of a notary and then mailed it to CLO (additional fees will apply). I understand that I am solely responsible for responding to any communications from my spouse, my spouse's attorney, or other representatives. CLO does not negotiate terms of any settlement agreements and I must negotiate any such terms directly with my spouse or my spouse's attorney. I understand that CLO recommends that I hire an attorney to negotiate any terms of a settlement agreement but that CLO will not negotiate said terms in any way, and that CLO will not review the terms of third-party settlement agreements (settlement agreements that are not prepared by CLO).

CLO cannot and does not guarantee how long it will take the court to process my case or that the court will grant a divorce. The time to complete my divorce can vary and CLO's time estimates are based on my prompt attention to CLO's instructions.

CLO guarantees that the fees charged are flat fees and that they won’t increase as long as my spouse and I consent to all of the proceedings, fully cooperate with CLO, and follow all instructions in a timely manner.

CLO will serve my spouse via first-class, certified, or restricted mail if I have chosen that service. This means that my spouse may be required to personally sign for the mail, or pick up the mail at the post office. I may wish to remind my spouse that the certified or restricted mail is being mailed to him/her. CLO does not send my spouse reminders. Additional charges will apply if I wish to have CLO re-serve my spouse. If my spouse is incarcerated, the facility may have specific mailing procedures and rules. I will contact the facility to verify the rules and procedures to be sure my spouse can receive mail from Cairns Law Offices. I understand that CLO will not contact the facility for any reason and that CLO not responsible for undeliverable mail.

CLO will file my divorce case in any Pennsylvania county that CLO deems to be appropriate and that the county of filing will not necessarily be the county where I or my spouse resides. I understand and agree that this is necessary in order to keep my legal fees and costs as low as possible and that my divorce will be as valid as if brought in any other county. If my spouse or his/her attorney objects to the divorce in any way, CLO has the right to withdraw as my legal counsel and may discontinue the divorce case.

If I need to contact CLO I will contact them via email (or regular mail, with a self-addressed postage-paid envelope enclosed) at no additional charge to me. Phone calls are acceptable but I may be charged separately and in addition to fees already paid for the limited scope legal services I have chosen. I understand and agree that this helps to keep my fees low. I understand that the attorney who will perform legal limited scope legal services is located in Erie, Pa which is located in Erie County, Pa.

I will forward any and all paperwork to my spouse that may be required, and send all paperwork back to CLO that may be necessary or required to complete the limited scope legal services that I have chosen CLO to perform. If I choose name change services for my spouse then I am waiving any objections to CLO performing name change services for my spouse.

If my spouse or I do not respond or are slow to respond to communications and/or instructions regarding my case, or if either of us provides incorrect information to CLO, then time delays and additional work may be necessary which may cost me more money. I understand that I am required to have access to a printer to print documents (usually less than 5 pages in total).

If I do not complete all of the steps necessary to complete my divorce in a timely manner, CLO will send reminder emails to me. If I do not respond, then my case will be closed, and any documents that I have sent to CLO will be scanned and attached to my client file, and then purged, including divorce documents signed by me or my spouse. If I then wish to continue my case, then all divorce documents would need to be signed again by me and my spouse, and additional fees may apply. I understand that my client file is the property of CLO and that any documents that I have mailed to CLO will be considered a part of my client file.

I will check for receipt of email at least as often as I check for receipt of my regular ground mail. I will make sure that emails from Cairns Law Offices and jdc@MyPaDivorceLawyer.com are not sent to my spam box or trash box by making sure my email settings are set accordingly. I will inform CLO if my email address changes.

I understand that if I or anyone else who makes a payment on my behalf then disputes a payment, then there will be a $150 administration due fee in order to continue your case.

If you are in danger of abuse from your spouse, you must let us know immediately so we can note your file and help to keep you safe.

If I or my spouse or my spouse's attorney contests, objects, files a counterclaim, or fails to cooperate or be available in any way with regard to any of the limited scope legal services I have chosen, or if either my spouse or I will not or cannot sign any the divorce paperwork as instructed, CLO shall be considered discharged from my case, CLO has the right to withdraw as my legal counsel and may discontinue the case. I hereby consent in advance to the discontinuance of my case and/or allowing CLO to withdraw as my attorney and will, in fact, consider CLO discharged. I will then have to hire another attorney to obtain my divorce. I agree to follow all instructions carefully and understand that my failure to do so may cause more work not anticipated by CLO at the advertised rates and that additional charges may be charged as a result.

RETAINER AGREEMENT: I UNDERSTAND AND AGREE THAT ALL FEE PAYMENT(S) I MAKE FOR ANY AND ALL LIMITED SCOPE LEGAL SERVICES ARE CONSIDERED THE MINIMUM FEE PAYMENT(S) NECESSARY TO PERFORM SAID LIMITED SCOPE LEGAL SERVICES, AND I AGREE THAT ALL SAID MINIMUM FEE PAYMENT(S) ARE REASONABLE AND NOT EXCESSIVE; I WILL NOT BE ENTITLED TO A REFUND OF ANY FEE PAYMENT(S) I MAKE, EVEN IF SAID LIMITED SCOPE LEGAL SERVICES ARE NOT RENDERED; IN ADDITION, I EXPECT AND PERMIT ALL FEE PAYMENT(S) TO BE CONSIDERED AN ENGAGEMENT FEE WHICH ASSURES CLO’s AVAILABILITY TO PERFORM SAID LIMITED SCOPE LEGAL SERVICES AND THAT SAID FEE PAYMENT(S) ARE NON-REFUNDABLE REGARDLESS OF WHETHER CLO PERFORMS SAID LIMITED SCOPE LEGAL SERVICES. I UNDERSTAND AND AGREE THAT CLO SHALL FIRST DEPOSIT MY FEE PAYMENT(S) INTO AN ESCROW ACCOUNT, AND THEN CLO SHALL DEPOSIT SAID FEE PAYMENT(S) INTO CLO’s OPERATING ACCOUNT. I UNDERSTAND AND AGREE THAT ALL FEE PAYMENT(S) SHALL BE CONSIDERED AND BECOME THE SOLE PROPERTY OF CLO UPON RECEIPT, AND THEREFORE I WILL CAREFULLY REVIEW ALL CHARGES FOR ANY AND ALL LIMITED SCOPE LEGAL SERVICES PRIOR TO MAKING ANY FEE PAYMENT(S) FOR SAID LIMITED SCOPE LEGAL SERVICES.