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Jarratt Law Firm

20253 Redwood Road
Suite B
Castro Valley, CA 94546
Map

Phone: (510) 247-1015 | Fax: (510) 474-1605
http://www.jarrattlaw.com

Types of Cases
Firm Focus & History
Practice & Philosophy
Office Information
Fees

Legal Topic

Divorce

Legal Topic

Family Law

Number of Attorneys

State Licensed In

California

Firm Focus

We practice all areas of family law, including dissolutions, separations, custody, support, domestic violence restraining orders, pre and post nuptial agreements, and adoptions.

Firm History

The Jarratt Law Firm was established in November of 2006 by Amanda M. Jarratt.

Activities and Awards

Amanda gives back to her community by providing Pro Bono services to Bay Area Legal Aid and Alameda County Bar Association’s Volunteer Legal Service Corporation.

Example Cases

Our cases run the gamut of family law matters from simple uncontested divorces to trials expanding multiple days with several witnesses and complicated legal and factual issues being tried. I have worked with couples trying to adopt. I have also drafted prenuptial agreements for multiple clients. We are here for you no matter what your family law issue is.

What is your firm's point of view regarding clients educating themselves on legal issues?

We strongly support clients educating themselves on their legal issues if it provides the client with peace of mind or assists the client in undergoing the process. Divorce, custody, and support issues are very stressful and the legal system is overwhelming when one is not use to navigating it. Reading about one's rights can help clients to regain a sense of order and control over their lives.

Are your attorneys willing to review documents prepared by clients?

Yes, we are here to meet the needs of our clients. Those needs vary based upon the complexity of the case, the comfort level of the client with tackling self-representation, and the budget that the client has for legal assistance. We do our best to cater the services so that more individuals have access to attorney.

Are your attorneys willing to coach clients who want to represent themselves?

Are your attorneys willing to help a client with one discrete part of a case, without taking on the whole case?

What are your policies about dividing work among the firm's partners, associates, and paralegals to make the process most cost-effective for the client?

First and foremost, the client decides if she or he is comfortable having work delegated to a paralegal. If the client approves, then we do our best to assign tasks that are within a paralegal's skill level to our paralegal. Of course, all work is overseen by Amanda Jarratt and only Amanda can give a client legal advice or represent a client in court.

How frequently does your firm use mediation, arbitration, or collaborative law to resolve cases?

We use these methods when they are desired by and approved by our clients. We are here to advise our clients, inform our clients, and to represent them vigorously to achieve their goals. To meet these goals, we believe that we must also provide our clients with control over their legal matter. Therefore, it is our clients who determine, after discussing the pros and cons, if mediation, arbitration, or collaborative law would be helpful in resolving their family law matter.

Does your firm provide pro bono legal services or otherwise participate in your community?

Yes.

What distinguishes your law firm from others?

I believe in educating my clients about the law and the cost of the legal choices that a client has so that each client can make decisions about her or his case that are consistent with the client's desired outcome and within the client's financial means. Operating under this practice philosophy means we often bill less per client than our competitors, but I believe mine is a better business model because satisfied clients refer their friends while dissatisfied clients warn them to stay away.

Office Manager/Assistant

Yes, Kathlena Armitage.

Fax

(510) 474-1605

Office Hours

Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. We close the office from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. for lunch. Saturdays and evenings by appointment.

Emergency After Hours

Yes

Fixed-Price Services and Fees

We charge a flat fee for uncontested divorces of $2,000.00. The client is responsible for paying all costs associated with their case. The flat fee covers the attorney’s fee only.

Hourly Rates

Attorney $270.00 per hour; Paralegal $135.00.

Free Initial Consultation?

We offer a free phone consult for up to 30 minutes or an in person consult of one hour for $270.00.

Typical Retainer

Yes, we use an evergreen retainer, which means the initial retainer is used to pay the last bill. Retainers range between $1,500.00 and $3,000.00 depending upon the complexity of the case.

Understanding Fees

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