Refund policy
When you get money back, how much, and how quickly.
Last updated 10 October 2026.
You are always entitled to any unearned fee
If our representation ends for any reason before we finish the work you paid for, we refund the part of the fee we have not earned, calculated using the stages in your fee agreement. If we review your records and find we cannot help you, you get the full fee back.
How "earned" is calculated
Your flat fee is earned in stages as work is completed. If the representation ends partway through, every stage not yet completed is refunded.
| Stage | Share of the fee | Earned when |
|---|---|---|
| Records review and written assessment | 20% | we have obtained and reviewed your court and DOJ records and sent you our written assessment |
| Petition prepared | 25% | your petition and supporting declarations are prepared and sent to you to review |
| Filed and served | 25% | the petition is filed with the court and served on the prosecuting agency |
| Heard and decided | 30% | the matter is heard or decided by the court |
What happens in practice
| Situation | What you get back |
|---|---|
| The records review shows we cannot help | The entire fee, including the review stage |
| You change your mind before the review starts | The entire fee |
| You change your mind after the review but before filing | Everything except the records-review stage |
| The court denies the petition | Nothing automatically — the work was done. If it was denied because we got something wrong, tell us and we will make it right |
| We withdraw for any reason | Every stage not completed |
| You are on a payment plan and stop partway | The plan stops; you owe the earned stages and nothing more |
If the petition is denied
We do not offer a money-back guarantee on a court outcome, and we want to be straight about why. Several firms in this market advertise one, and the published terms carry a list of exclusions — probation violations, vehicle offences, and more — long enough that the guarantee does not apply to a large share of the cases people actually bring. We would rather tell you honestly before you pay that a judge decides this and some petitions are denied, than sell certainty and then produce the carve-outs afterwards.
A denial is often not the end. Discretionary petitions are sometimes denied because the showing was thin, and can be brought again later. If that is your situation we will tell you what would need to change.
How to ask for a refund
Email [email protected] from the address on your account, or raise it from your case page. Refunds go back to the card that paid, usually within five to ten business days once issued.
If you are not satisfied
Tell us first — most of this is fixable. If a fee dispute cannot be resolved, California has a State Bar fee arbitration programme, and your fee agreement explains how to use it.
Legal information on this page was last checked against primary sources in October 2026. California law changes; if you are reading this long after that date, confirm before you rely on it.