Refund & Fee Earning Policy
Leavitt Eldredge Law Firm
Last Updated: March 10, 2026
How Our Fees Are Earned
When you retain Leavitt Eldredge Law Firm for a legal service, your payment is earned in stages tied to specific, measurable milestones:
Stage 1 — Earned on Receipt (25% of Quoted Price)
Twenty-five percent of the Quoted Price is earned the moment we receive your payment. This portion compensates the firm for reserving attorney availability on your behalf (to the exclusion of other prospective clients), conducting your initial consultation, completing your intake, and performing the administrative setup necessary to begin your matter.
Stage 2 — Earned once work has begun (30% of Quoted Price)
Thirty percent of the Quoted Price is earned when work has begun on the initial draft of your Selected Service(s).
Stage 3 — Earned on Receipt of the Draft (30% of Quoted Price)
Thirty percent of the Quoted Price is earned upon the completion of the initial draft of the deliverable(s) associated with your Selected Service(s). “Completion” means the draft has been prepared in a form suitable for your review or, where applicable, for filing with the relevant government agency.
Stage 4 — Earned on Filing or Sending (15% of Quoted Price)
The final fifteen percent of the Quoted Price is earned the moment the firm files the deliverable(s) with the relevant government agency (e.g., the USPTO) or sends the deliverable(s) to the intended recipient, as applicable to your Selected Service(s).
Interest on Lawyer Trust Accounts (IOLTA)
All payments on the Quoted Price are deposited into the firm’s IOLTA trust account upon receipt. As each milestone above is reached, the corresponding earned portion is transferred from the trust account to the firm’s operating account. Unearned funds remain in trust at all times.
Refund Eligibility
Your eligibility for a refund depends on how much of the work has been completed at the time you request termination of the engagement:
Before Any Work Begins (Only Stage 1 Earned)
You are eligible for a refund of up to 75% of the Quoted Price. The 25% earned on receipt is nonrefundable.
After the Draft Is Completed (Stages 1 and 2 Earned)
You are eligible for a refund of up to 15% of the Quoted Price (the unfiled portion). The 85% earned through Stages 1 and 2 is nonrefundable.
After Filing or Sending (All Stages Earned)
No refund is available. The full Quoted Price has been earned.
Alternatives to Refunds
We want you to be satisfied with our work. Before requesting a refund, please consider these alternatives:
Revisions at No Additional Cost
If you are dissatisfied with the quality or substance of our work product, we will revise it at no additional charge until it meets your expectations. Our goal is to get it right.
Payment Plans
If you are experiencing financial difficulty, we are committed to working with you on a flexible payment arrangement. Please contact the firm at [email protected] to discuss options.
Requesting a Refund
To request a refund, you must submit a written request to the firm at [email protected] stating the reason for your request. You may submit your request by email or by mail to the address listed on our website. Please allow 7–14 business days for our team to review your case file, determine the applicable milestone, and either process the refund or provide a written explanation of why a refund is not available.
Fee Dispute Resolution
If you disagree with the firm’s determination regarding your refund eligibility or the amount of any refund, you have the right to submit a fee dispute to the Tarrant County Bar Association Fee Dispute Committee. Both you and the firm have agreed, as a material term of the engagement, to use the Fee Dispute Committee as the mandatory first step for resolving any dispute regarding fees charged or refunds owed. Please refer to the firm’s Fee Dispute & Arbitration Policy for the complete process, including contact information for the Fee Dispute Committee.
You are encouraged to use the Fee Dispute Committee process as an alternative to filing a grievance, initiating litigation, or disputing a charge with your credit card company. The Committee provides a neutral, confidential, and cost-effective forum specifically designed to resolve attorney-client fee disagreements.
Credit Card Chargebacks
By retaining the firm and agreeing to this Refund Policy (as incorporated into your Client Intake and Attorney Engagement Agreement), you agree that you will not initiate a credit card chargeback or payment dispute with your bank or credit card company for any fees paid to the firm unless and until:
(a) you have first submitted the dispute to the Tarrant County Bar Association Fee Dispute Committee in accordance with the firm’s Fee Dispute & Arbitration Policy; and
(b) the Fee Dispute Committee has issued a determination that the disputed fee (or a portion thereof) should be refunded to you.
Liquidated Damages for Unauthorized Chargebacks
If you initiate a credit card chargeback or payment dispute without first obtaining a determination from the Fee Dispute Committee as described above, you agree that this constitutes a material breach of your engagement agreement and that the firm shall be entitled to recover liquidated damages in the amount of two hundred percent (200%) of the disputed charge (i.e., the amount of the chargeback plus an additional amount equal to 100% of the chargeback). The parties agree that this amount represents a reasonable estimate of the damages the firm would incur from an unauthorized chargeback, including but not limited to: administrative costs of responding to the chargeback, merchant processing fees and penalties, disruption to the firm’s operations, the cost of collections, and the loss of the benefit of the agreed-upon fee dispute resolution process. This provision does not limit the firm’s right to pursue other remedies available at law or in equity.
Governing Law, Performance & Forum
This Policy is governed by and shall be construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Texas. All fees for legal services and costs are payable in Tarrant County, Texas. Any contractual obligation undertaken by the firm or the Client under this Policy or the related engagement agreement shall be performable in Tarrant County, Texas. Any litigation arising from or related to this Policy shall be venued exclusively in the state or federal courts located in Tarrant County, Texas, and each party consents to the personal jurisdiction of such courts.