The score behind the badge.

Where the work has no outcomes: a property closing that went well produces no verdict and no settlement, so this pillar reads the transaction instead and keeps its fifteen points. B1 Fee terms published pays 6 for a figure the firm prints for its own fee, 4 for a flat fee stated without one and 2 for anything else it says about charging, because the title insurance premium in Florida is fixed by rule under section 627.782 and identical everywhere, which leaves the firm's own settlement fee as the only number worth comparing. B2 The transaction explained pays 1 for each stage of the deal the firm names, to 5: the title search, the commitment, the survey, the lien search, the estoppel, the settlement statement. B3 Escrow disclosed pays 4 where the firm publishes how client funds are held and where, and 2.5 where it names the account without saying where it sits. Every firm doing this work holds client money and every one of them could say so, which is what makes a silence here the firm's choice rather than a limit of ours.

Where the outcome is somebody’s children: in a family law practice this pillar asks for no results at all, and a firm that publishes none is not marked down. Custody proceedings concern children, matrimonial files are routinely sealed, and a firm advertising the custody arrangement it obtained is advertising a stranger’s private life. It asks about the price instead, and a rule makes that possible: Rule 1.5(d)(5)(i) of the Rules of Professional Conduct forbids a contingent fee in a domestic relations matter, so the hourly rate and the retainer are the only prices there are. B1 Fee terms published pays 6 for an hourly rate, 4.5 for a retainer figure without one, 4 for a flat fee and 2 for anything else it says about charging. B2 The case explained pays 1 for each stage of a matrimonial case the firm names, to 4: the ground, the summons, the net worth statement, the preliminary conference, the attorney for the child, equitable distribution, the stipulation, trial. The fifth point is for naming at least two of mediation, collaborative divorce, litigation and an uncontested filing, which are different services at different prices. B3 Billing and the retainer disclosed pays 4 where the firm publishes how it bills and cites the rules that govern it, 3 for the billing alone and 1.5 for the rules alone. Section 1400.3 of the court rules already requires every one of these firms to put the rate of each person who may bill you, the amount of the retainer and itemized billing “at least every 60 days” into a signed agreement before the work starts, and section 1400.2 forbids a non-refundable retainer. The client is guaranteed all of it in the room where they sign, after choosing. Nothing requires publishing any of it beforehand, which is the moment somebody is comparing three firms.

What counts as verified: court dockets and judgments (PACER via CourtListener, state e-courts), published decisions, jury-verdict reporters, or redacted settlement documentation attested by the attorney under our protocol. Self-reported totals score 0.

Authenticity filter: reviews are screened for velocity spikes, reviewer-account age, template language and geographic mismatch before scoring. A verified fake-review finding revokes certification for 12 months.