There are a number of costs that may appear on your lawyer's bill. Some lawyers may charge for these costs separately. Other lawyers may lump the expenses together as a separate item on your bill, while others may include some of these costs in their fee. Be sure to find out before you hire your lawyer if these types of costs are included and whether they will be itemized on your bill. Costs in addition to the lawyer's time may include:

• Filing Fees and Court Costs
• Photocopying
• Telephone and Postage Charges
• Paralegal Time
• Messengers
• Computer or Research Related Costs
• Secretarial and Staff Time
• Deposition and Court Reporter Costs
• Facsimiles (faxes)
• Experts, Consultants, and Witness Fees
• Investigators
• Process Servers (delivery of legal documents relating to case)
• Travel Expenses

There may be other charges not listed above. It is a good idea to ask your attorney to discuss the anticipated costs to make sure you understand all the different costs that you will have to pay. If you are concerned about the costs building up, you can also tell your lawyer that any costs over a certain amount will have to be approved by you in advance. You also may be able to negotiate in advance the amount charged for many of these costs.