Consulting and appointments
How Consulting works: the free consultation, the hourly advisory session, case review and case execution, and video call appointments.
21 questions answered by licensed lawyers and accountants.
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What if I just need a quick little consult, one quick question, not a whole procedure? Will you charge me a fortune, or can I just come in and ask?
You can just come in and ask, without buying anything and with no strings attached. In fact, this FAQ section was built for exactly that: hundreds of answered questions so you can find your answer without paying and without anyone pressuring you. We'd rather you leave knowing what to do, even if you end up handling it yourself, than stay in doubt for fear of being charged. And when you decide to go ahead with a procedure, we tell you the price up front, no surprises. Book an appointment at no cost and let's get the conversation started.
What's the difference between Procedures and Consulting?
Procedures is for when you already know what you need: a registration, a permit, a compliance certificate. You request it and we get it done. Consulting is for when you have a case and need a professional who understands it: a dismissal, a tangled inheritance, a tax audit, a system for your business or your institution. If you're not sure which one is yours, don't worry: start with your free consultation and we'll point you in the right direction.
Is the free consultation really free? What's the catch?
There's no fine print. The free consultation is the front door: about 15 minutes with a professional who listens, guides you and tells you where your case is headed. You can request it as many times as you want. Many questions are settled right there, and you never have to pay a thing. If your case needs more, we tell you clearly what the next step is and what it costs, before you decide.
Who will I talk to in the free consultation, a secretary or a bot?
A professional, a real person. At Abogado Comercial there's no secretary screening you: all of our client-facing staff are professionals. Depending on your case, someone from the legal, accounting, technology or education area will listen to you. Start with your free consultation and see for yourself.
What is the advisory session, and how much does it cost?
The advisory session is the second step, for when free guidance isn't enough. A professional on duty (a lawyer, an accountant, or a technology or education advisor) hears your specific case and gives you their professional read on the spot. It costs $50 an hour, and you can split the hour into 4 blocks of 15 minutes to use whenever you need them. Start with your free consultation and we'll tell you whether you need it.
If I buy an advisory hour, do I have to use it all at once? Does it expire?
You don't have to use it all at once. The hour splits into 4 blocks of 15 minutes and you manage them: one block today for a labor question, another next month for a SENIAT (Venezuela's tax and customs authority) matter. It has no expiration date. The idea is that you have a go-to lawyer, accountant and advisor, and that whenever you're in a bind, your first call is to us.
Does the advisory hour work for any topic, or do I have to buy one per area?
It works for all four areas: legal, accounting, technology and education. You don't buy one hour per area. With the same hour you can ask the lawyer one thing and the accountant another, as things come up. There are also packages of 1, 5 and 10 hours, plus corporate plans. The consultation is free: tell us what you need and we'll recommend the option that suits you.
If I later hire you for the full case, do you deduct what I paid for the advisory session?
No, they're separate services. The advisory session is paid for and used up in the advisory session: that time already gave you a professional read on your situation. If your case later moves on to case review or case execution, that's quoted separately. We tell you clearly from the start so there are no misunderstandings. Ask for your free consultation and we'll see which step is right for you.
What is the case review?
It's for when your situation is big and needs in-depth analysis: this is where your case is born, with its own case file. You choose the professional's profile based on their experience, at rates of $50, $100 or $250 an hour, and we make that clear before we start. The professional studies your case, takes notes and gives you a quote for what needs to be done. Often the solution comes up right there. Start with your free consultation.
In the case review, if I only used half an hour, do you charge me for the full hour?
Yes. In the case review, billing is by the full hour, because the professional blocks off that hour on their calendar just for you. That's why it pays to come with your documents and your questions ready, so you get the most out of it. And if you need more time, you can buy more hours. The free consultation helps you come prepared.
What happens in case execution? Can I choose my lawyer?
In case execution, we carry out what was quoted in the case review. That's where we put the team together: one or more professionals, depending on what your case needs. A case doesn't come with a single label, and sometimes it needs a lawyer, an accountant and someone from technology at the same time. You don't have to find or coordinate anyone. We guarantee the service and our support all the way to the end; the outcome also depends on third parties.
Are you going to push me into paying for the most expensive service?
No. Our rule is the opposite: at every step, we try to keep you from needing the next one. If your question gets answered in the free consultation, it ends there. If a 15-minute advisory session is enough, we won't build a case out of it. We only propose a case review or case execution when it's truly needed, and we tell you the cost before you decide.
I don't know if my situation is legal, accounting or tech. Who should I talk to?
You don't need to know. You come in through the free consultation, tell us what's going on in your own words, and we tell you which area it belongs to. Often it's two or three at once, and that's what Consulting is for: the lawyer, the accountant and the technology advisor work at the same table. Start with your free consultation.
How does a video call appointment work?
You choose the area (legal, accounting, technology or education) and the day and time that suit you. We confirm your appointment by WhatsApp with the video call link. At the agreed time, you join from your phone or computer and talk face to face with the professional, wherever you are. Book your appointment with the Appointment button on the page.
Do I need to install any software for the video call?
You don't need anything complicated. We send you a link and you join from your phone or computer. If it's your first time, we'll help you connect. What matters is a good connection and, if you can, your documents at hand to show them. Ask for your appointment and we'll walk you through it.
Why do you ask for my name, email and phone number to book?
Because we don't take anonymous consultations: we need to know who we're guiding and how to call you back. With those three details we open your request and keep a record of your case from day one. We don't ask for more than we need, and your data is handled confidentially. Start with your free consultation.
I live outside Venezuela. Can I still use Consulting?
Yes. The free consultation, the advisory session and video call appointments work from any country. Many of our clients live abroad and manage their company, an inheritance or a property in Venezuela from there. If the case needs someone present in person at an agency, our team handles it here. Request your free consultation and we'll look into it.
The police (or the prosecutor's office) summoned me and it's urgent. Can you see me right away?
In criminal matters, the first hours count more than anything, and it's not wise to give a statement without a lawyer. Write to us right away on WhatsApp or request your free consultation, and we'll guide you on what to do first. If needed, a 15-minute advisory session with the lawyer on duty is the first call you should make. Don't sit and wait to see what happens.
Can you guarantee I'll win my case?
No one serious can guarantee that, and neither can we. What we do guarantee is the service: a team that studies your case in depth, tells you straight how strong your position is before you take a step, and stays with you to the end. The outcome also depends on judges, agencies and the other side. Start with your free consultation and we'll give you an honest read.
Will you help me with anything I ask?
With anything legal, yes. We handle every area of law, plus accounting, technology and education, and if something is tangled, there's always a way through. The only thing we flatly say no to is anything unlawful: we don't forge, we don't cover things up and we don't help anyone get around the law. For everything else, start with your free consultation and we'll give you your options.
Do you have plans for companies that need a lawyer and an accountant all the time?
Yes. Besides single advisory hours, there are 1-hour, 5-hour and 10-hour packages and corporate plans, so your company has a go-to lawyer, accountant and advisor without putting anyone on payroll. And if what you need is for us to handle everything all month, that's what the Procedures plans are for. In the free consultation we'll recommend what suits you.