The Forensic Psychiatry Division of BeyondBridge provides independent forensic psychiatric evaluations and expert consultation on a time-based professional fee schedule. Fees reflect the professional time, expertise, and scholarly analysis required for each engagement and are independent of the outcome of any legal proceeding.
Professional Fees
Professional services are billed according to the time devoted to each matter. Professional time may include record review, conferences with retaining counsel, forensic interviews, collateral review, report preparation, travel when applicable, deposition preparation, testimony, and related consultation.
Current professional fees are:
- $700 per hour for forensic consultation, record review, interviews, report preparation, and related professional services
- $900 per hour for deposition testimony (two-hour minimum)
- $900 per hour for hearing or trial testimony (half-day minimum)
Travel time, when required, is billed at the applicable hourly rate.
Retainer
A retainer is required before professional services begin. The amount of the retainer is determined by the anticipated complexity, scope, and record volume of the engagement.
Work begins only after receipt of a signed engagement agreement and the required retainer. Any unused retainer balance is refunded upon completion of the engagement unless otherwise specified in the engagement agreement.
Engagement Process
Every referral undergoes a preliminary review before acceptance. This review is conducted to determine:
- Whether the referral falls within Dr. Almanzar’s areas of expertise
- Whether sufficient records and information are available to address the referral question
- Whether adequate time exists to complete the evaluation consistent with professional standards
- Whether any actual or potential conflicts of interest are present
Submission of an inquiry does not constitute acceptance of an engagement.
Billing Policies
Billing begins upon initiation of professional services following acceptance of an engagement and may include consultation regarding the referral, conflict review, or review of records.
Invoices reflect the actual professional time devoted to the matter and may include:
- Record review
- Forensic interviews
- Consultation with retaining counsel
- Collateral review
- Report preparation and revisions
- Deposition preparation
- Deposition, arbitration, mediation, hearing, or trial testimony
- Travel time, when applicable
Payment terms are outlined in the engagement agreement.
Professional Independence
The Forensic Psychiatry Division of BeyondBridge provides independent forensic psychiatric evaluations and expert consultation. Opinions are based solely on the available evidence, accepted psychiatric principles, and independent medical judgment.
Professional fees compensate only for the professional time, expertise, and work required to perform the evaluation and provide consultation or testimony. Compensation is never contingent upon the outcome of a legal matter or the opinions ultimately reached.
Conflicts of Interest
To preserve objectivity and professional independence, every referral is evaluated for actual or potential conflicts of interest before acceptance.
As a matter of policy, individuals evaluated through the Forensic Psychiatry Division are not accepted as clinical psychiatric patients. Likewise, current or former clinical patients are generally not accepted for forensic evaluation in order to preserve impartiality and avoid dual-role conflicts.
The Forensic Psychiatry Division reserves the right to decline or withdraw from an engagement if a conflict of interest or other circumstance could reasonably impair objectivity, independence, or professional judgment.
Case Acceptance
The Forensic Psychiatry Division of BeyondBridge maintains a selective forensic consultation practice and accepts only a limited number of forensic referrals each year.
Each engagement is accepted based upon its clinical and legal merits, available time for thorough evaluation, and alignment with Dr. Almanzar’s expertise.
The Forensic Psychiatry Division reserves the right to decline any referral because of conflicts of interest, scheduling limitations, insufficient available information, or when the requested services fall outside the scope of Dr. Almanzar’s expertise or professional judgment.
Maintaining a limited forensic consultation practice allows every accepted engagement to receive the time, attention, scholarly analysis, and independent professional judgment necessary to produce objective, high-quality forensic psychiatric opinions.