Your uncontested divorce, step by step.

Retainer Agreement — Uncontested Divorce (New York)

Parties. This agreement is between Santoro, Carr PLLC, 5651 Main St Unit 324, Williamsville, NY 14221 (“the Firm,” “we”) and the client who accepts it below (“you”). It concerns one uncontested, no-fault divorce in New York.

1. Scope of representation

The Firm will represent you in an uncontested no-fault divorce under New York Domestic Relations Law (DRL) § 170(7), on the ground that the relationship has been irretrievably broken for at least six months. Representation may be provided for clients located anywhere in New York State, with filing in the proper New York county. The scope is limited to preparing, filing, and processing the uncontested divorce papers based on the information you provide, and guiding the signature and submission steps described in the portal tracker.

2. Fee and court filing fees — $850 total

You agree to pay a total of $850, made up of: (a) a $500 attorney fee for the uncontested-divorce work described above; and (b) $350 in court filing fees, itemised as: Index Number fee $210, Note of Issue / Request for Judicial Intervention (NOI/RJI) $125, and Certificate of Dissolution $5. Court fees are set by the court/state and may change; if a court fee increases or an additional required court fee applies, the Firm will tell you before incurring it where practicable. Consistent with New York matrimonial practice under DRL 236 Part B and 22 NYCRR Part 1400, the Firm will provide a written fee agreement and itemised billing/fees information on request, and will account for filing fees paid to the court. Payment is made securely through Stripe; the Firm does not collect or store your card number on this website.

3. Additional $500 attorney fee may apply

An additional $500 attorney fee may apply depending on circumstances. For example, matters involving children with contested custody/support issues, disagreement between spouses, complex property or retirement division, difficulty locating or serving a spouse, or other complications may no longer be a simple uncontested matter. If that happens, the Firm will explain why, and no contested or expanded work will be done under this agreement: a new or amended written retainer, agreed and signed before that work begins, will be required. The Firm will not charge the additional $500 automatically through this payment link.

4. What is NOT included

This agreement does not include: contested litigation or court appearances beyond routine uncontested processing; motions; trials or hearings; qualified domestic relations orders (QDROs) or other retirement-transfer orders; real-estate transfers, deeds, or refinancing; appeals; enforcement or modification after judgment; tax, immigration, bankruptcy, or estate-planning advice; or extra fees charged by a particular county, a process server, or other third parties, unless the Firm agrees in writing to include a specific item.

5. Your duties as client

You agree to: give truthful, complete, and accurate information; tell the Firm promptly if information changes; respond to requests and sign papers promptly; keep your contact information current; and not ask the Firm to present anything you know to be false to a court. Court papers are signed under penalty of perjury, so accuracy matters.

6. Statement of Client's Rights — summary

New York requires matrimonial clients to receive a Statement of Client's Rights and Responsibilities (22 NYCRR Part 1400). In summary, you have the right, among others: to be represented diligently and kept informed; to receive a written retainer agreement; to receive itemised billing statements at regular intervals (and at least every 60 days where Part 1400 applies) and to be told of fee/expenses changes; to raise fee questions and pursue fee-dispute resolution (paragraph 9); to have your confidences protected; to discharge the Firm, subject to court rules and any retaining/charging lien permitted by law; and to receive a copy of your file, subject to law. This paragraph is a plain-English summary only — the Firm will provide the full Statement of Client's Rights and Responsibilities with your engagement papers.

7. Communication, email and privacy

The Firm may communicate with you by the email and phone you provide, and through the client portal once its secure backend is live. Email and ordinary internet communication carry some risk; do not send highly sensitive documents until the Firm gives you a secure method. Never provide a full Social Security number through this website — last four digits only where asked; the Firm will collect any full number securely off the website. The Firm will handle your confidential information in accordance with its legal and ethical duties.

8. Withdrawal and termination

You may end this representation at any time, in writing where possible. The Firm may withdraw where permitted or required by the New York Rules of Professional Conduct and, if a court action is pending, subject to any required court approval — for example for non-payment, failure to cooperate, or a conflict of interest. If representation ends early, fees and filing fees already earned or paid to the court are not automatically refundable; any unearned amount will be handled in accordance with New York law, the written agreement, and an itemised accounting provided to you.

9. Fee disputes — Part 137 notice

If a fee dispute arises, you have the right to seek resolution through the New York Fee Dispute Resolution Program under 22 NYCRR Part 137, which provides for arbitration (and, in some circumstances, mediation) of attorney-client fee disputes, subject to that Part's rules and exceptions. The Firm will provide information about Part 137 if a fee dispute occurs. Nothing in this agreement waives a right you cannot lawfully waive.

10. No attorney-client relationship until the Firm accepts in writing

Paying, creating an account, ticking the agreement box, or submitting questionnaire answers does not by itself create an attorney-client relationship. That relationship begins only when the Firm has completed a conflict check, accepted your case, and confirmed the engagement in writing (countersigned/confirmed by the Firm). Until then, do not rely on the portal as legal advice for your specific situation, and do not send confidential information beyond what is needed for the conflict check/intake the Firm requests.

11. File retention

The Firm will retain your file in accordance with its retention policy and New York law, and will make your file available to you as required by law. Portal/demo copies in a web browser are not your official file.

12. Electronic acceptance and signature acknowledgment

By ticking “I have read and agree to the Retainer Agreement and Terms & Conditions” and proceeding to pay, you acknowledge that you had the opportunity to read, print, and save this agreement, that you agree to its terms, and that your electronic acceptance is intended as your signature for purposes of this agreement, subject to paragraph 10 (Firm acceptance in writing). If you do not agree, do not tick the box and do not pay; call the office instead.

Draft notice: This agreement text is published for Dave/Santoro, Carr PLLC attorney review and approval before real clients rely on it. See NOTES_FOR_DAVE.md.