Family Law

1

California.

The Law Offices of R. Kent Brewer was established as a sole proprietorship in April of 1986. The practice is restricted to the family law issues of termination of marriage (divorce), child and spousal support, custody and visitation, the valuation and division of assets, the modification of orders or judgments, pre-marital contracts, limited scope representation, pre-marital consulting and post-separation consulting. The goal is the resolution of disputes through settlement, achieving efficient and reasonable settlement terms.

1972 to 1975 - A partner in Lucke & Brewer, Walnut Creek, CA.
1975 to 1982 - A partner in Hyde, Lucke & Brewer, Walnut Creek, CA.
1982 to 1986 - A partner in Hyde & Brewer, and then Hyde, Brewer & Forsblad, Walnut Creek, CA.

I have sat as a Judge Pro Tem in the Family Law Courts of Contra Costa County since 1988.

I was granted an AV-Rating in 1988 and in every year thereafter (the highest rating for legal ability and general recommendation given to an attorney) by the national attorney rating service Martindale-Hubbell.

The identities of my clients are confidential and client names are not provided. I have, however, represented clients in family law matters for over 37 years, with cases ranging in complexity from solutions reached with a single consultation to results achieved through my oral argument in convincing the California Supreme Court in In re Marriage of Vomacka (1984) 36 Cal.3d 459, 204 Cal.Rptr. 568, 683 P.2d 248, to revise the standards required for a waiver of spousal support.

My philosophy and goal for my clients is that the long term effect of their decisions must be kept in mind and in focus. Family law issues can be complex, emotional, and expensive. Every effort should be made to consider practical and economically reasonable solutions, but that if the matter must be decided by a court every effort at a thorough presentation will be pursued.
For further information please see my web site at www.rkbrewer.com.

Connie Spessard.

(925) 943-6894

Monday through Thursday
9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Friday
9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

No

I do not have any fixed price fees. Services are charged monthly and by the hour in one tenth of an hour increments, plus any out of pocket costs. My statements for services set forth full detail of the services provided.

My hourly rate for the initial consultation is $325 per hour.  For cases taken my hourly rate ranges from $325 per hour to $375 per hour, depending upon the nature and complexities of the case.

I offer a one-half hour free consultation for new clients, which occurs after a brief preliminary screening by my secretary to assure that there are no conflicts of interest.  This consultation in person is intended to review the needs and goals of the client, and to assure that the client and I can work together successfully to resolve the matters in question.  All time spent in the initial consultation past any applicable free consultation is billed at $325 per hour, with the payment for the initial consultation due at the conclusion of the consultation.

The retainer is a deposit to be applied to incurred fees and costs, and varies depending upon the issue in the case.  My standard retainer for a "non-minor child" divorce case is $5,000, and for a divorce case "with children" is $7,500.  Consulting and limited scope representation matters are taken with retainers ranging from $1,500 to $3,500, depending upon the complexity of the issues.  Fees and costs in excess of the retainer are billed to clients monthly.  Any unused retainer is refunded to the client.  A written retainer agreement is used in all matters where the services exceed the initial consultation.