Fees & Payment

How Fees Work

1. Free Initial Case Evaluation

Lexvico offers a free initial case evaluation to determine whether the matter falls within Lexvico’s services, whether additional information is needed, whether jurisdiction or licensing issues apply, whether the requested work appears lawful and appropriate, whether a paid consultation may be helpful, and whether Lexvico may be available to accept the matter.

The free evaluation is not a full investigation, legal review, records search, background check, consultation, evidence-preservation service, or guarantee that Lexvico will accept the matter.

2. What Starting Prices Include

Unless otherwise stated, a starting price generally assumes one identified subject, sufficient and accurate identifiers, one clearly defined purpose, a limited number of records, accounts, or jurisdictions, lawful public-record, database, and online research, no fieldwork, no surveillance, no witness interviews, no rush deadline, no international investigation, no extensive formal report, no court testimony, and no significant third-party costs.

3. What May Increase the Cost

The cost may increase when a matter involves multiple subjects, names, aliases, jurisdictions, insufficient identifiers, common names, international research, extensive records, complex social-media analysis, deleted or archived content, multiple telephone numbers or accounts, witness work, field verification, courthouse visits, formal evidence preservation, written reports, surveillance, travel, subcontractors, rush scheduling, evenings, weekends, holidays, ongoing monitoring, expanded requests, or new leads that materially change the scope.

4. Flat-Fee Services

A flat fee may be offered when the scope can be reasonably defined in advance. The written agreement or invoice will identify the service, subject or matter covered, included research, excluded work, expected deliverable, payment due, third-party charges, and circumstances requiring a new quote.

5. Hourly Services

Complex or evolving matters may be billed hourly when the time required cannot be reasonably predicted in advance. Hourly billing may apply to investigative research, records analysis, witness work, field investigation, litigation support, consulting, case-file reconstruction, report preparation, travel time, subcontractor coordination, revisions, and other work identified in the service agreement.

6. Retainers and Deposits

Some matters require an advance retainer or deposit. A retainer may be used to cover authorized investigative time, records research, interviews, report preparation, travel, database charges, subcontractor work, third-party expenses, and other approved costs. Lexvico may pause work when the retainer is depleted and may require replenishment before additional work is performed.

7. Third-Party Costs and Expenses

Clients may be responsible for court and agency fees, certified copies, database charges, records-retrieval fees, process-server fees, licensed subcontractor fees, forensic or laboratory services, transcription, translation, travel and mileage, lodging, parking, tolls, shipping, postage, printing, media, storage devices, and other necessary third-party costs.

8. Estimates Are Not Guarantees

Any estimate is based on the information, records, identifiers, locations, scope, and assumptions known when the estimate is prepared. Actual cost may differ if information is incomplete or inaccurate, the scope expands, additional jurisdictions become involved, records are more extensive than expected, witnesses are difficult to locate, additional leads develop, travel becomes necessary, a rush deadline is requested, or circumstances beyond Lexvico’s control increase the time or expense required.

9. Rush and Priority Requests

Rush work, short deadlines, evening or weekend work, holiday work, and priority scheduling may be subject to an additional fee when available. Acceptance of a rush or priority request is not guaranteed.

10. Payment Terms

Payment terms will be stated in the written agreement or invoice. Depending on the matter, Lexvico may require payment in full before work begins, an advance retainer, a deposit, milestone payments, periodic invoices, automatic retainer replenishment, payment of third-party costs in advance, or payment before delivery of a final report or records package.

11. Cancellations and Refunds

Unless otherwise stated in writing, earned fees are not refundable, work completed before cancellation remains payable, third-party charges are not refundable, database and records fees are not refundable once incurred, travel and subcontractor costs remain payable, unused retainer funds will be handled according to the written agreement, and administrative closeout work may be deducted or billed when authorized.

12. Written Agreement Required

No paid investigation begins until the scope, fee structure, payment terms, important limitations, and anticipated expenses are confirmed in writing. Website prices and starting amounts are general information and do not create a binding quote, fixed-fee agreement, or obligation to accept a matter.

13. Questions About Fees

Questions about fees, payment structures, or estimates may be directed to info@lexvico.com. Telephone and location information should be added after verification.