What does retainer mean in legal terms?

Definition. A fee that the client pays upfront to an attorney before the attorney has begun work for the client.

What is the purpose of the retainer?

After braces, it is essential to use a retainer to keep the position of the teeth. Often without a retainer, the teeth will slowly drift back to their initial position. The post braces retainers can be either fixed or removable, and both have their pros and cons.

What is the retainer process?

To get fitted with a retainer, your dentist or orthodontist will take impressions of your teeth, do an oral exam, take intra-oral pictures of your mouth and may need to take x-rays. He or she will create a retainer based on the information gathered.

What is a retainer request?

Most attorneys (and many other professional service providers), when contracting at an hourly rate, will require an up-front payment known as a retainer. The retainer is placed in the attorney’s trust account and then used to pay for legal fees earned by the attorney and expenses related to the client’s matter.

Is a legal retainer refundable?

No. Under Rule 1.5(d) of the Rules of Professional Conduct that govern California lawyers, non-refundable retainers are now permitted in a very limited circumstance—the rare “true retainer” situation. This “true retainer” ensures the lawyer’s immediate availability for that month.

How do retainer agreements work?

A retainer agreement is a contract wherein a client pays another professional in advance for work to be specified at a later point in time. In exchange, that professional agrees to make himself available to that client for a certain number of hours within a predetermined timeframe.

Is a retainer fee refundable?

Key Takeaways: A retainer fee is a payment made to a professional, often a lawyer, by a client for future services. Retainer fees do not guarantee an outcome or final product. Portions of retainer fees can be refunded if services end up costing less than originally planned.

Can retainer fee be returned?

A retainer fee is a payment made to a professional, often a lawyer, by a client for future services. Retainer fees do not guarantee an outcome or final product. Portions of retainer fees can be refunded if services end up costing less than originally planned.