FAQ's: The Law Office of Neal E. Bartlett

Frequently Asked Questions

  1. What is your email address? I have a legal question I would like to consult you about.

    You can email me at info@neblaw.net. Your contact information will never be sold, distributed, or shared with others for marketing purposes.

  2. How much do you charge for an initial consultation?

    I do not charge for an initial consultation. You will be given a quote and retainer agreement prior to being charged for anything.

  3. What payment options do you offer?

    I accept personal checks (via US Mail), money orders, and Visa/Mastercard. I frequently offer discounts to clients who pay via check--be sure to ask me about possible discounts if you will be paying by check!

  4. Can I come to your office to discuss my legal problem?

    In order to keep costs at a minimum, I do not maintain a traditional office. I have found that most out-of-court representations can be conducted by communicating by phone, email, and through the secure website I offer. When necessary, if you live in the Santa Barbara and Ventura County areas, I can also schedule an appointment to come to your home, office, or other location at a convenient time for you.

  5. I don't live in California, can you still help me with my legal problem?

    The short answer is probably not; I am licensed to practice law in California--I do not solicit or generally accept clients who do not also live in California. If your legal issue is related to a California event or transaction, please contact me and I will determine whether or not I will be able to help.

  6. Do you use legal forms? What about legal form companies?

    I do not rely on pre-packaged legal forms to draft documents for clients. Each document is drafted, by me, based on your needs and my discussions with you. Online form (or "self-help") companies that are found on the internet should be viewed with extreme skepticism. If you look carefully at the bottom of the websites, you will frequently find their disclaimer that the "site is not legal advice . . . . [they] are not a law firm . . . . [and] cannot provide legal advice and can only provide self-help services at your specific direction."

    Put more plainly, they aren't licensed to practice law and cannot give you legal advice. I am licensed--and when it comes to protecting your legal rights, that is a very important distinction. They are not required to maintain malpractice insurance; I maintain appropriate malpractice insurance coverage. With that said, in very simple and straight-forward situations, it may be appropriate to use (reputable) self-help legal services; other times, it can lead to very costly mistakes.
This web site is designed to provide general information about the services offered by the Law Office of Neal E. Bartlett ("the law office") and constitutes attorney advertising under the California Rules of Professional Conduct. The information presented at this site should not be construed to be formal legal advice nor does it form the basis of a lawyer/client relationship. No lawyer/client relationship is formed until you and the law office sign (either in writing or electronically) a retainer agreement stating the nature of the legal services that the law office will provide to you and the actual or estimated costs of those services. Any information provided to the law office that does not result in a retainer agreement between you and the law office will be kept confidential but may be subject to disclosure pursuant to court order or the applicable ethical rules.

IRS Circular 230 Disclosure: To ensure compliance with requirements imposed by the IRS, please be advised that any U.S. tax advice contained within this website, or any other communication from the law office, is not intended or written to be used or relied upon, and cannot be used or relied upon, for the purpose of (i) avoiding penalties under the Internal Revenue Code, or (ii) promoting, marketing or recommending to another party any transaction or matter addressed herein.
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