Fees
What it costs, said up front
In Madrid, the question a client asks most before choosing a lawyer is what it will cost. Here it is answered as far as it can be: the first meeting has a fixed price, and the matter itself depends on what the matter is.
First meeting
€60
45 minutes · in person, by video or by phone
- Whatever you bring is reviewed and the matter is put in order
- The possible routes are explained, including those that stay out of court
- A written quote is given if you decide to instruct
If you instruct the firm, the €60 comes off the first invoice. If you don't, there is no obligation whatsoever: you pay for the meeting and that is that.
Book
Three ways of charging, one per matter
There is no closed price list per matter because there cannot be: two divorces do not cost the same. What can be said in advance is which model will be used and what each stage includes.
Fixed fee
A closed price for a defined piece of work: a settlement agreement, a citizenship application, a letter before action. Paid when instructed, and it does not go up.
In stages
The matter is split into stages with their own price — review, conciliation, claim, hearing — and the next one only starts if you decide it should. It is the model for matters that can close before reaching court.
Payment on account
A sum paid when the defence is taken on, credited against the final invoice. Used in matters of uncertain length, and the figure is agreed in writing before anything starts.
Model per area
| Area | How it is charged | On top of fees |
|---|---|---|
| Family | Fixed fee in stages for uncontested matters: the agreement first, the court ratification after. In contested matters, a payment on account when the petition is filed and the rest in stages. | Court fees, court agents and expert reports are not included. They are set out in writing before anything starts. |
| Inheritance | Fixed fee for the full process where the heirs agree. If the matter ends up in court, a payment on account and fees in stages. | Notary, land registry and taxes are not included: they are costs of the estate, not the firm's fees. |
| Employment | Fixed fee in stages: review and conciliation first, claim and hearing after. Each stage has its price, stated before it starts. | Experts and any court fees the procedure may carry are not included. |
| Immigration | Fixed fee per application, stated before starting. Renewals and citizenship are quoted separately, because they are different files. | Administrative fees, sworn translations and legalisations are not included. |
| Criminal | A payment on account when the defence is taken on, and fees in stages. For a minor offence hearing the fee is usually fixed, and it is stated up front. | Experts and any civil liability that may arise are not included. |
| Housing and civil | Fixed fee for the review and the letter before action. If a claim is needed, a separate quote, given before anything is filed. | Court agents, court fees and experts are not included. |
Illustrative figures from a demonstration. A real firm would publish its own here.
What are not fees
These costs are not charged by the firm: a third party charges them and they are paid separately. They always appear in the quote, so nobody meets them later.
- Court fees, where the procedure carries them
- Court agents, where they are mandatory
- Experts, valuations and technical reports
- Notary, land registry, sworn translations and legalisations
If you can't afford it
Free legal aid exists for those below certain income thresholds. It is applied for at the bar association or at court, not at this firm, and it does not depend on instructing us. If it looks like you qualify, the first meeting explains how to apply.
What you will not find here
No success rates, no case results, no «get your money back». The rules governing legal advertising prohibit promising outcomes that do not depend solely on the professional — and rightly so: nobody can guarantee what a court decides. What can be guaranteed is the price, the response time and knowing at any moment where the matter stands.
About this site
Lindero doesn't exist: this site is a demonstration
Fernando Gómez de la Mata built it to show what a small law firm's website would look like. The brand, the people, the details and the reviews are invented; the design, the diary and the content are not.
If you need a lawyer, this site cannot help you
Lindero does not exist: there are no lawyers behind it, no file is opened, and nothing published here is legal advice or a substitute for a consultation. Look for a real firm in your area. If you cannot afford one, your bar association's legal orientation service assists free of charge and processes legal aid; if you are in danger, call 112. Messaging the WhatsApp on this page gets you no appointment, no review of your papers and no opinion on your case.
If you run a firm and want a site like this
This is exactly what gets delivered: your own site with your areas, your fees explained and a diary that works — no per-client commission and no dependence on a directory. Message me and I'll tell you what it costs and how long it takes, with no obligation.
Message on WhatsAppWhatsApp opens with the message written. You decide whether to send it.
Fernando Gómez de la Mata's WhatsApp is the only contact that works on this site. The phone and email in the footer are examples.