INDEPENDENT EVIDENCE-BASED EXPERIENCED

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One flat consultation fee. Everything beyond it is quoted from real scope.

What a Forensic Case Consultation Costs, Before You Call

Most forensic consulting firms make you call before they'll give you a number. NorthStar publishes its forensic case consultation cost right here.

Flat Fee Breakdown

  • 1-Hour Initial Review
  • No Hidden Retainer
  • No obligation to buy anything further

Death investigation case review fees beyond that hour initial review are quoted only after NorthStar understands the actual scope of your case, not before.

The consultation is designed to tell you whether a full review would help and what it would involve. Nothing more is required unless the case calls for it.

Start with the hour. It may be all you need.

Three Ways to Work With NorthStar

The Forensic Case Consultation is $300 for sixty minutes, booked and paid for directly on this page. It's the entry point for nearly every engagement.

If a conflict prevents NorthStar from helping, your payment will be refunded in full.

If the consultation surfaces something that needs a closer look, the next step is a Case Review & Written Analysis. That fee is quoted after the consultation, once NorthStar has actually reviewed the records involved, not before.

For agencies and organizations, Training, Speaking & Expert Witness work is scoped and quoted the same way, starting with a free scoping call to talk through what you need.

Inside the 60-Minute Consultation

Every consultation covers the same ground:

  • Discussing your concerns and the questions you want answered.
  • Understanding what you want reviewed and why.
  • Reviewing what case information and documentation you currently have available.
  • Explaining the forensic, death-investigation, medical examiner, or investigative issues at play.
  • Identifying which areas, if any, warrant further review.
  • Recommending the appropriate NorthStar service, if one is actually needed.

If the hour answers your question, you buy nothing else.

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Four things move the number.

Why a Full Review Isn't a Flat Fee

A written case review is priced from the actual scope of your case, not a menu rate.

Four factors drive that number:

  1. The volume of records and reports involved

  2. Autopsy and toxicology materials are part of the file

  3. How much timeline reconstruction the case requires

  4. Does the engagement need to end in a written opinion or courtroom testimony.

NorthStar quotes this work only after the consultation, once those four factors are known. No engagement promises a particular outcome, and a review can turn up findings that don't support the position you hoped it would. That is part of what makes it independent.

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Billing Questions We'd Rather Answer Up Front

Is there a retainer?

No. The consultation is pay-as-you-book at $300. Larger engagements are quoted and invoiced from actual scope, not held against an upfront retainer.

What's the rate for testimony?

Testimony and deposition services are billed separately from case-review services. Rates vary by consultant, experience, and the requirements of the matter. We’ll provide the applicable rate and terms before testimony or deposition services are scheduled.

Do you charge for travel?

Travel expenses may apply when an engagement requires in-person services. Any applicable travel time, mileage, lodging, or other travel-related expenses will be discussed and agreed upon with the client before travel is scheduled.

What if I don't have all the records yet?

That’s okay. Start with what you have. We can review the available information, identify what is missing or may be relevant to the review, and let you know whether additional records would be helpful before moving forward.

How do you get paid?

We believe in being transparent about fees. Before work begins, you’ll receive a clear agreement outlining the services, fees, and payment terms for your engagement.

Who pays when an attorney retains NorthStar for a family?

When an attorney retains NorthStar on behalf of a family, the attorney or firm and NorthStar will establish the billing and payment arrangements in advance. Depending on the engagement, fees may be handled by the law firm or another agreed-upon party, as outlined in the engagement agreement.

Bring Us What You Have. We'll Tell You What It Says.

Book a 60-minute consultation Or call 612-305-8189.