Understand a Settlement Breakdown Before Comparing Amounts

The gross amount is the starting number in the worksheet. It is not automatically the amount paid to the claimant. List each proposed deduction separately so that the calculation can be checked.

A proposed offer, a signed agreement and a final distribution are different stages. Label which one your numbers describe.

The same percentage can produce different amounts depending on whether costs are subtracted before the fee is calculated. Use the signed agreement rather than assuming one standard method.

Our tool lets you compare both methods. That comparison is arithmetic, not an interpretation of a fee contract.

Suppose a hypothetical settlement is $100,000, the entered fee is 30%, case costs are $5,000 and repayments are $10,000. If the fee is calculated before costs, the fee is $30,000 and the remaining amount is $55,000.

If that hypothetical agreement calculates the fee after those case costs, the fee base is $95,000, the fee is $28,500 and the remaining amount is $56,500. These made-up inputs illustrate the method; they do not describe typical fees or outcomes.

A blank optional field is treated as zero by the worksheet. That makes the calculation possible but does not establish that there are no liens, repayments, taxes or other deductions. Record uncertainty next to the scenario.

Check the final disbursement statement and ask for an explanation of amounts you do not understand. Questions about an enforceable repayment obligation or a fee dispute need appropriate professional advice.