What is a Retainer?

A Retainer is the money a client provides the attorney at the beginning of the case.  This money is held in trust by the attorney.  The attorney tracks all the time he or she spends working on the client’s case and then bills the client.  The money held in trust as a retainer is used to pay that bill.  If there is any money left over, it goes back to the client.  If more money is owed, the bill goes to the client to pay the rest.