The first step toward your estate plan is to read this Retainer Agreement completely.  If you agree with its terms and conditions, please:

1. Print this form out using the print command on your browser, sign the form and mail to  

Philip J. Hoskins

10940 Wilshire Blvd. Suite 1400

Los Angeles, CA 90024

2. Click on the "Agree" link at the bottom of this page.

Retainer Agreement

Estate Package for Couple

This ATTORNEY-FEE AGREEMENT ("Agreement") is entered into by and between___________________ and _____________________ ("Client") and Philip J. Hoskins ("Attorney").

  1. CONDITIONS. Attorney will have no obligation to provide legal services until Client returns a signed copy of this Agreement and pays the fee payment called for under paragraph 4. Client states that they are residents of California.

  2.  SCOPE AND DUTIES.  Client hires Attorney to provide legal services in connection with preparation of Estate Planning Documents Set Attorney shall provide for each person:

    ·         Revocable trust and/or Last Will,

    ·         Health Care Directive,

    ·          General Durable Power of Attorney,

    ·          General Personal property transfer,

    ·         Needed consultations, including unlimited email or telephone access,

    ·         Draft of all requested Estate Planning documents,

    ·         One set of Final Document originals and one copy. 

    Attorney will prepare documents entirely based upon the statements of Client and will make no independent investigation of the facts or circumstances of Client's situation.

  3. Client shall read the Client Workbook provided by Attorney, complete the Estate Planning Questionnaire, be truthful with Attorney, cooperate with Attorney, keep Attorney informed of developments, abide by this Agreement, pay Attorney's fees in advance and keep Attorney advised of Client's address, telephone number and whereabouts.

  4. Attorney will not provide any estate tax planning for clients except at the request of client. Any such services will be billed at the hourly rate set forth herein.

  5. FEES.  Client agrees to pay in advance the sum of $950.00 or $875.00 online only for the services provided herein.

  6. Client agrees to pay for any additional, requested legal services not described above at the rates shown on the attached Rate Schedule.  Additional fees will be payable for the following if requested by Client:

    • Notary services, per document $10.00
    • Asset transfer services to be provided by Attorney for a flat fee of $150.00.  Includes transfer of accounts and deeds for real property and Certificate of Trust.
    • Use of documents other than Attorney's standard forms, including substantial custom drafting work by Attorney at Client’s request.
    • Consultations in addition to those described above,
    Any other work by attorney or his staff not described in paragraph 2 above
  7. COSTS AND EXPENSES. In addition to paying legal fees, Client shall reimburse Attorney for all costs and expenses reasonably incurred by Attorney, including, but not limited to, fees charged by any governmental unit, long distance telephone calls, messenger and other delivery fees, postage, in-office photocopying in excess of two copies of each document called for hereunder, parking, mileage, facsimile transmission fees, computer assisted research charges and other similar items.
  8. DISCHARGE AND WITHDRAWAL. Client may discharge Attorney at any time, although a minimum fee of $350 is non-refundable. Attorney may withdraw with Client's consent or for good cause. Good cause includes:
    1. Client's breach of this Agreement,
    2. Client's refusal to cooperate with Attorney or to follow Attorney's advice on a material matter or any fact or circumstance that would render Attorney's continuing representation unlawful or unethical.
    3. If Attorney withdraws, he shall refund to Client within 10 days any fees not earned, based upon work actually completed and the hourly rate quoted herein.
  9. CONCLUSION OF SERVICES. When Attorney's services conclude, all unpaid charges shall become immediately due and payable. After Attorney's services conclude, Attorney will, upon Client's request, deliver Client's file to Client, along with any Client funds or property in Attorney's possession.
  10. RELEASE OF CLIENT'S PAPERS: At the termination of services under this Agreement, Attorney will release promptly to Client upon request, all of Client's papers and property, including correspondence, legal documents and other items reasonably necessary to Client's representation. Attorney is free to dispose of any such items if not requested by Client after a period of one year of the termination of services.
  11. DISCLAIMER OF GUARANTEE. Nothing in this Agreement and nothing in Attorney's statements to Client will be construed as a promise or guarantee about the outcome of Client's matter. Attorney makes no such promises or guarantees. Attorney’s comments about the outcome of Client's matter are expressions of opinion only.
  12. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Agreement will take effect when Client has performed the conditions stated in paragraph 1, but its effective date will be retroactive to the date Attorney first provided services. The date at the beginning of this Agreement is for reference only. Even if this Agreement does not take effect, Client will be obligated to pay Attorney the reasonable value of any services Attorney may have performed for Client.
  13. QUALITY OF SERVICES AND INSURANCE. Attorney will competently represent the interests of Client as set forth in this Agreement.

  14. 1.      CONFLICT OF INTEREST.          Any communications and information may be fully disclosed by Attorney to both clients, unless a client informs Attorney of his or her desire that a particular communication or item of information be considered confidential and be withheld from the other client.  Clients are informed that California state law requires that an attorney not disclose confidential Communications or secrets of a client.  Each client hereby expressly consents to such disclosure to the other client except for communications or items of information about which he or she informs Attorney that confidentiality from the other client must be maintained.  Nothing in this provision is intended to authorize, under any circumstances, Attorney's disclosure of confidential communications or secrets of either client to any individual or entity other than the other client.  If a client informs Attorney that confidentiality from the other client must be maintained with respect to a particular communication or item of information, Attorney will advise the other client that such a request has been made, without divulging its subject matter, and will withdraw from representing both clients, provided the withdrawal is permitted under the Rules of Professional Conduct of the State Bar of California.

    Clients are informed that the Rules of Professional Conduct of the State Bar of California require, before an attorney may concurrently represent two or more clients interested in the same subject matter, that the attorney inform the clients in writing of the relevant circumstances and of the actual and reasonably foreseeable adverse consequences to the clients.  Clients are further informed that the Rules require that when the clients, interests potentially conflict, the attorney may not represent them without their informed written consent.  Attorney has explained to Clients the possibility of conflict that is raised by such multiple representation.  Specifically, potential conflicts in this case include, but are not limited to, the following: (a) as indicated above, whether a communication or item of information should be withheld from one client at the request of the other; (b) how property should be held (e.g., in one name, in both names as community property, in both names as joint tenancy property); and (c) how property should be disposed of and what persons should serve in fiduciary capacities (e.g., executor, trustee, guardian).  Clients may have different interests, goals, or perspectives regarding these or other matters.  Each client hereby expressly consents to the multiple representation despite the possibility of conflict.  Attorney may withdraw from representing both clients if there is an actual conflict between the interests of the clients, provided the withdrawal is permitted under the Rules of Professional Conduct of the State Bar of California.

    15.  

    E-Mail - E-mail is a convenient, fast method of communication. It is, however, not secure and communications between attorney and client could be seen by others. Nevertheless, Client may wish to utilize this method of communication. If you send anything to us by e-mail, you acknowledge that the same is not secure and you hereby agree that you take any and all risk of inadvertent disclosure.

    Our Rates for Other Services not included in the above package:

    A. Hourly Rates

    Philip J. Hoskins $ 300.00

    B. Minimums

    We charge for our time in minimum units of ten minutes.

    C. Costs

    In-office photocopying .15 per page

    Mileage .30 per mile

    Facsimile transmission .85 per page

    D. What will you be charged for?

    Subject to the terms of this agreement, as is customary for attorneys, the client shall be billed for all consultations with the client or other persons in connection with the matters covered by this agreement, all telephone conversations, correspondence, research, drafting of documents and other time spent by the attorney on these matters.

    I Agree

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