Summerville Women’s Mental Health Services: A Mental Health Collective (SWMHS)

Court Policy and Professional Fee Agreement

Entering the legal system can heavily disrupt clinical care. Because court appearances require substantial time away from direct client care, preparation, travel, and waiting, SWMHS applies a specialized fee schedule for any legal or court-related services.

1. Subpoenas and Court Attendance

  • No Court Without Notice or Subpoena: Clinicians will not appear in court, depose, or speak with legal counsel on a client's behalf unless a formal, valid subpoena or a signed authorization/court order is received at least 72 hours in advance. 

  • Financial Responsibility: The party requesting the clinician’s presence (or the client on whose behalf a subpoena is issued) is responsible for all billable legal time. This applies whether the testimony is called or if the case settles/is dismissed at the last minute. 

  • Retainer Requirement: A non-refundable court retainer of $500.00 is due to the practice at least 72 hours before any scheduled appearance or deposition. Time spent will be deducted from this retainer, and additional balances will be billed accordingly.

2. Court and Legal Fee Schedule

Non-clinical, court-related services are billed at an elevated hourly rate because they fall outside standard psychotherapy codes. These charges are not billable to insurance.

  • Court appearance/testimony/waiting time: $800.00 per day (flat fee up to 4 hours) or $200.00 per hour thereafter.

  • Case preparation, document review, consultations, collaborations, and speaking with outside evaluators or attorneys as a collateral contact: $150.00 – $250.00 per hour (billed in 15-minute increments). Deposition testimony: $250.00 per hour (minimum 2 hours billed).

  • Special/rush document preparation (< 72 hours notice): Additional $100.00 rush fee.

  • Travel Time / Mileage: Billed at the standard hourly rate plus standard federal mileage reimbursement rates.

  • Letters/reports/treatment summaries: $100.00 per hour for writing and record compilation, record copying, and note preparation. Standard HIPAA/state limits apply for basic medical record duplication (small per-page fee), but if we must synthesize, redact, or compile clinical notes into a specialized format or summary for forensic use, we bill for our time at our hourly professional/consultation rate. 

  • Retainers and policies: These non-clinical legal activities match the professional fee schedule outlined in our practice's informed consent or a separate legal fee agreement. We require an upfront retainer or guarantee of payment from the requesting party before releasing specialized time or consultative notes.  

3. Payment Terms

  • Invoices for legal or administrative actions are due within 30 days of the invoice date.

  • You authorize SWMHS to charge the credit card on file for any accrued court retainers, preparation hours, or missed administrative fees outlined in this agreement. 

Client Acknowledgment

By signing below, I acknowledge that I have read, understand, and agree to the Court Policy and Professional Fee Schedule detailed above. I understand these fees are my sole responsibility and will not be billed to insurance.

Client Printed Name: ________________________________________

Client Signature: __________________________________ Date: _______________

Clinician Signature: _________________________________ Date: _______________