tallman33

Do you have a lawyer? How do you pay him? Is it per job or just a monthly fee?
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Lalaguayaba

1)Yes.
2) With money. Sorry--most forms of payment available to you if you were paying a U.S. lawyer; credit card, cheque--local, bank draft if from a foreign bank, or wire transfer. They do want to get paid, so they make as easy as possible.
3) Both. Its always nice to have a track record with a local lawyer, so that you can call with routine questions, problems, etc. Mine follows a popular concept, no monthly fee, but a retainer--basically a chunk of change to keep them available. A reputable firm on retainer will even hire ppl to wait in line for you @ the tourist office and file your paperwork for you--that's an excellent service! They will help with translations (your home embassy can also recommend translation services of a legal nature,) negotiations with landlords and property management, and can help you to find ways to better enjoy your time in Panama--legally.

Cheers.

tallman33

How much does it cost to keep a lawyer on retainer?

Lalaguayaba

The retainer amount depends on what the firm does for you, or what you can expect the firm to do for you in the future. It could be anywhere from a few hundred dollars to a few thousand--dependent completely upon what your attorney charges to begin with, how much time they routinely spend on your account, and how much they value your business.

Are they administering a property when you leave the country?
Do they have your P.O.A. to commit to legal documents in your absence?
Using the P.O.A. to disburse funds on your behalf?
Monitoring and managing your visa status?
Administering a corporation for you? Does the Corp. own property or other assets?
Third-party translation services? How many languages? Document drafting?
Payment and managment of personal employees, i.e. cook, maid, gardner, driver, security?

This a random sampling of the circumstances where keeping a lawyer on retainer is advantageous.

Cheers!