Frequently Asked Questions
Helpful answers about working with the Law Office of Laura A. Yiengst, LLC.
The office is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. After-hours appointments can be arranged for existing clients when necessary. The office observes the court closure schedule for holidays and inclement weather.
Please call (302) 264-9780 to schedule a new client consultation. When you call, be prepared to share the names of all parties involved and a brief description of the case. We will also explain parking, any consultation fee, and accepted payment methods. Any retainer fee will be discussed during the consultation itself.
Please bring all paperwork related to your case along with a list of any questions you have. Think ahead of time about the outcome you are hoping to achieve — this helps make the consultation as productive as possible.
Ms. Yiengst is licensed in all Delaware courts, Federal Court, and the U.S. Supreme Court. She routinely handles cases throughout all three Delaware counties. If travel is required to either New Castle or Sussex County, she charges only for one-way travel in hourly cases and a slightly higher amount in flat-fee cases to account for the additional time.
Although she is also licensed in Colorado and Pennsylvania, she is inactive in these states. If your matter requires representation in another state, she will do her best to refer you to an appropriate attorney or agency in that state.
You must schedule an appointment for a consultation prior to representation for a family law or domestic case. In rare cases, when there has been an established relationship or an emergency, you may be directed to drop off paperwork for review so that a retainer can be quoted first. Criminal law clients may also be required to do this. There are established ethical requirements for attorney-client relationships that must be followed to protect the clients. Our office cannot work on your case until there is an established relationship.
A client's retainer is based on the type of case and nature of the services. In most cases, a retainer is taken in advance, and payments are taken out of it each month depending on the hourly rate and amount of time spent on your case. In other cases, a flat fee is charged at the beginning of the case. Regardless of the manner of payment, you will receive monthly bills outlining payments made. Your payment method is discussed at your consultation, and you will receive a fee contract outlining the agreement reached.
In some cases, filing fees and other necessary litigation fees will be paid out of your retainer. However, you are not charged for routine mailing and copying costs. Alternative payment arrangements can be discussed at your consultation.
The office accepts cash, checks, MasterCard, and Visa.
You are encouragded to discuss your case with the office staff. The staff treats all case information as confidential. However, there is no attorney-client privilege with staff, and they cannot offer legal advice. Leaving detailed messages and questions with the staff is often the most efficient way to communicate, especially when Ms. Yiengst is in trial. She and the staff will work together to get back to you promptly.