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Frequently Asked Questions

Our answers to the most common questions that we keep getting asked about. Can't find what you are looking for? Send us a quick message or email us at legal@almerino.co.

How much does an initial legal consultation cost?

For the initial consultation, we generally charge a flat fee ranging from ₱2,500 to ₱5,000 depending on the complexity of the legal matter or question. However, please note that this fee will also be credited as part of the initial fee if ever you decide to proceed with engaging our firm for your referred case or legal matter. Our lawyers may also waive the initial consultation fee in the exercise of their sound discretion.

We follow the IBP Cebu City Chapter’s Standard Minimum Attorney’s Fees for notarization services which starts at ₱500.00 all the way up to 3% of the value of the contract or instrument being notarized.

However, we may waive or discount certain fees for justifiable reasons such as when we provide pro bono services or due to a personal relationship with the client.

(Side note: You might ask why do notarization fees cost a lot when it seems like it’s nothing but a simple certification of a document. This is due to the burden and obligation that is being taken by the notary public who not only takes on the risk of being summoned in a court proceeding in the event a notarized document becomes subject of a court dispute but also the real risk of disbarment in the event any irregularities are found vis-à-vis the notarization of any document.)

Like notarization fees, the fees we charge for the review and drafting of the contract is generally based it on its contract value. The higher the contract value, the higher the care and attention that we need to provide to its review and drafting. We generally charge a discounted fixed fee for contracts whose value do not exceed ₱200,000 and, for those that exceed that amount, a percentage range of around 3% for simple contracts all the way up to 10% for more complex agreements and contingent transactions.

The timeline depends on which agency and type of business entity you're registering.

For sole proprietorships, DTI business name registration can be done in less than a week.

For corporations and partnerships that need to register with the SEC, the process typically takes around a month or so. If you want to have customized corporate documents such as a specialized Articles of Incorporation (AOI), then your timeline can be extended up to several months.

For a BIR registration, i.e., to obtain your Certificate of Registration (COR), official receipts, and register your books of accounts, this generally takes around 30 days depending on your Revenue District Office.

Additional permits such as barangay clearance, mayor's permit, and specialized licenses will have separate processing times, so we recommend planning for at least 1-2 months to comply with other documentary prerequisites ahead of time.

Keep in mind these timelines assume complete documentary requirements and may vary based on the complexity of your business structure.