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In depth
A fixed fee (also called a flat fee or flat rate) is a pricing model where the total cost of legal services is agreed in advance, in contrast to hourly billing where the client pays for each hour of work. Ancestra uses fixed fees for all CBD cases.
Fixed fees benefit the client because: (1) the total cost is known in advance (no surprises), (2) there is no incentive for the lawyer to drag out the case (no hourly billing), and (3) the fee includes everything — document retrieval, translations, apostilles, filing, and counsel representation.
Ancestra's fixed fees vary by country and case complexity. Examples: Italian jure sanguinis consular filing $6,000-$18,000; Italian 1948 judicial case $8,000-$25,000; Polish citizenship confirmation $4,500-$12,000; German Article 116 $8,000-$22,000.
Related terms
A retainer is a formal agreement between a client and a lawyer establishing the scope of legal services and the fee arrangement, required before Ancestra begins work on a CBD case.
An engagement letter is a written agreement specifying the terms of legal services, synonymous with retainer in CBD practice.
A conflict check is the process of verifying that a lawyer can represent a client without a conflict of interest, performed before Ancestra accepts a new CBD case.
Due diligence is the investigation and verification of facts before accepting a CBD case, including verifying the client's ancestry and the availability of documentary evidence.
An eligibility assessment is the written evaluation of whether a person qualifies for CBD, produced by Ancestra after the initial consultation and due diligence.
An intake form is the structured questionnaire that Ancestra uses to collect information from prospective CBD clients, the first step in the case process.