Digital Forensics Expert Witness Hourly Rates | The Waldrep Company Skip to main content
Fee Schedule

Transparent Rates for Every Engagement

No surprises. No hidden fees. A detailed fee agreement is provided before any work begins. Initial consultations are always free.

Free initial case consultation  |  Written fee agreement provided upfront  |  All billing itemized
Expert Witness Services

Expert Witness Fee Schedule

Rates reflect 19+ years of active casework in federal and state courts.

Mobile Device Forensics — Accident Cases
Forensic Extraction: $1,500 / device  ·  Analysis: from $450/hr  ·  Deposition: $550/hr  ·  Trial: $650/hr
Flat-rate extraction per device (iOS & Android) followed by hourly analysis and reporting. Used for distracted driving investigations, accident reconstruction, and insurance litigation. Learn more →
Case Review
Initial Case Review & Strategy
from $425 / hour
  • Review of existing digital evidence and police reports
  • Assessment of forensic methodology used by opposing examiner
  • Written case strategy memo
  • Identification of evidence gaps and vulnerabilities
  • Consultation with retaining counsel

Minimum 2-hour engagement. Retainer required at intake.

Report & Analysis
Forensic Examination & Expert Report
from $450 / hour
  • Full forensic imaging and chain-of-custody documentation
  • Complete artifact extraction and analysis
  • Court-ready expert report (Rule 26 / Daubert compliant)
  • Supporting exhibits and visual timelines
  • Report review with retaining counsel
  • Standard engagements begin within 3–5 business days

Report fees depend on device count and data volume. Fixed-fee options available for straightforward matters.

Testimony
Deposition & Trial Testimony
from $550 / hour
  • Deposition testimony (4-hour minimum billing block)
  • Trial testimony billed from $650/hour
  • Pre-testimony prep session with counsel
  • Travel billed at half-rate; expenses reimbursed at cost
  • Available nationwide — Gulf Coast to federal courts
  • Expedited scheduling available for urgent matters

Cancellations within 48 hours of scheduled testimony are billed at 50% of reserved time.

Report Review
Opposing Report Review
$2,750 fixed fee
  • Independent review of the opposing expert's report and methodology
  • Written summary memo identifying gaps, overreach, and vulnerabilities
  • Assessment of whether the underlying acquisition was forensically sound
  • Recommended lines of cross-examination for retaining counsel
  • Typical turnaround 5–7 business days
  • Hourly option available at $450/hr where scope is undefined

Most matters do not need a full examination. They need a straight answer about whether the other side's work holds up.

Complete Fee Schedule

All Services at a Glance

Market context: senior digital forensics examiners with courtroom experience and advanced tool certifications generally bill $500 to $750 per hour in 2026. Our rates sit at the entry of that band, backed by State Department ATA Cyber Mentor standing and MCFE certification.

Service Details Rate
Initial Case Consultation
Phone or video, up to 30 minutes
 Discuss case facts, assess fit, outline scope Free
Case Review & Analysis
Evidence review, opposing report critique
 Hourly; 2-hour minimum $425/hr
Mobile Device Acquisition
Forensic acquisition, smartphones & tablets (iOS/Android)
 Flat rate per device; volume pricing available $1,500/device
Computer or Media Acquisition
Workstations, laptops, external media
 Flat rate per device $1,500/device
Cloud or Account Collection
Email, storage, social, messaging
 Per account, scope defined in engagement From $1,200
Forensic Examination
Mobile, computer, cloud, or network
 Hourly; fixed-fee available for defined scope $450/hr
Expert Report (Rule 26)
Court-ready written report with exhibits
 Included in exam rate; complex cases quoted separately $450/hr
Opposing Report Review
Scoped review with written summary memo
 Fixed fee; typical turnaround 5–7 business days $2,750 flat
Rebuttal Report
Response to opposing expert's report
 Hourly; typically 3–8 hours depending on complexity $450/hr
Declaration / Affidavit
Short-form sworn statement for motions
 Flat fee for standard declarations From $1,200
Deposition Testimony
Sworn testimony under cross-examination
 4-hour minimum billing block $550/hr
Trial Testimony
In-court testimony, direct & cross
 Full-day reserved; half-day minimum billed $650/hr
Associate Examiner Services
Acquisition and processing under expert supervision
 Disclosed and independently verified $295/hr
Expedited Engagement
Start within 24 hours of retainer receipt
 35% surcharge on applicable hourly rates +35%
Travel (domestic)
Outside Gulf Coast region
 Travel time at half-rate; expenses reimbursed at cost $225/hr travel
Consulting Services

Consulting & Retainer Rates

From single-day advisory engagements to annual retainer agreements for law firms and corporations requiring on-demand forensic expertise.

Ad Hoc Consulting
Advisory & Incident Response
from $3,200 / day
  • On-site or remote engagement
  • Digital forensics advisory for legal or corporate clients
  • Incident response investigation and triage
  • Policy and procedure review
  • Half-day rate available at $1,800 (remote only)

Minimum one full day for on-site engagements.

Government / International
Government & Agency Consulting
By Scope
  • Program development for law enforcement agencies
  • Digital forensics capacity building
  • SOP and policy development
  • Multi-week and multi-country engagements
  • GSA / government procurement compatible
  • References: U.S. State Dept. ATA Program

Government and international contracts priced by project scope. Sole-source and competitive bid experience.

Retainer
Counsel
$2,000 / month
  • 3 advisory hours included monthly
  • Priority scheduling ahead of non-retainer clients
  • Preferred hourly rates on all billed work
  • 24-hour response commitment
Retainer
Litigation
$3,500 / month
  • Everything in Counsel
  • 6 advisory hours included monthly
  • Guaranteed 4-hour incident response
  • One standard declaration per quarter included
Retainer
Enterprise
$6,000 / month
  • Everything in Litigation
  • 12 advisory hours included monthly
  • Named incident response contact
  • Annual evidence readiness review

Advisory hours do not roll over. Examination, acquisition, and testimony billed separately at preferred rates. Annual prepayment discounted against monthly billing. Custom structures and SLA terms available.

Self-Paced Online Courses

The same court-aligned methodology used in active casework — now in four self-paced credentials. 12-month access, certificate of completion, agency and government PO billing accepted.

Computer Forensics
Computer Forensics Fundamentals
$497
15 modules · 36 lessons · Windows, macOS, Linux, memory, registry, cloud
Mobile Forensics
Mobile Device Forensics Fundamentals
$497
14 modules · iOS + Android · Cellebrite, AXIOM, GrayKey workflows
Drone Forensics — LE
Drone Forensics for Law Enforcement
$997
8 modules · 68 lessons · 16 templates · SWGDE + CFR aligned
Court-Ready Credential
Certified OSINT Investigator (COI-CRP)
$2,497
10 modules · 80 lessons · 100-Q exam · SOCMINT, geolocation, dark web, crypto, AI
Browse all online courses →

25% off 5 or more seats · Government POs & net-30 accepted

In-Person Training Programs

On-Site & Group Course Pricing

Commercial 5-day forensics courses from comparable providers range from $2,500–$3,500/seat. Our pricing reflects practitioner-level instruction, not academic curriculum.

5-Day Intensive
UAS / Drone Forensics
$2,800 per seat
Duration5 days (40 hours)
FormatIn-person (on-site delivery available)
Group rate (6+)$2,200/seat
Agency/dept. contractCustom pricing
Certificate awardedYes
31 Courses
Full Live Course Catalog
$795 to $3,295 per seat
Duration1 to 5 days (8–40 hours)
FormatIn-person, on-site at your facility
Group rate (6+)Available on every course
DisciplinesMobile, computer, video, crypto, OSINT, courtroom
Per-course pricingView full catalog →
Custom
Custom Agency Training
By Scope
Duration1–10 days, custom
FormatOn-site at your facility
AudienceLE, military, corporate, government
CurriculumBuilt to your agency's needs
Past clientsU.S. State Dept. ATA partner agencies

On-site delivery terms: 6-seat minimum, cohorts capped at 12 seats. Travel and expenses are billed at cost and quoted in advance in writing, so they appear on your purchase order as a fixed line rather than an open meter. The host agency provides the training space; instruction and course materials are included in the per-seat price. Equipment and lab requirements are scoped per course. Government POs and net-30 billing accepted.

Our Commitment

What's Always Included

Regardless of engagement type, every client receives the same standard of transparency, documentation, and personal service.

Written Fee Agreement
A clear, itemized fee agreement is provided before any billable work begins. No surprises on the invoice.
Free Initial Consultation
A 15–30 minute phone consultation to assess your case and determine fit — at no charge, no obligation.
Full Confidentiality
All case details, evidence, and client communications are treated as confidential from first contact.
Direct Access to Eric Waldrep
Every engagement is directed by Eric Waldrep, who serves as the retained expert of record and signs every report and opinion. Where acquisition or technical processing is performed by a court-experienced associate examiner, that role is disclosed in writing and independently verified before it is relied upon. You deal directly with the expert of record, start to finish.
Itemized Billing
All invoices are fully itemized by task and time. Retainer balances reported on every invoice.
Fast Turnaround
Standard engagements begin within 3–5 business days. Expedited 24-hour start available for urgent matters.
Common Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Straight answers on rates, retainers, and the first call.

Expert witness rates at The Waldrep Company start at $425/hour for case review and document analysis. Forensic examination and expert reports are billed at $450/hour. Deposition appearances are $550/hour, and trial testimony is $650/hour. A fixed-fee option is available for review of an opposing expert's report at $2,750. A detailed fee agreement is provided at engagement initiation, and initial case consultations are free.
Yes. Most engagements require an initial retainer deposit, typically representing 4–8 hours of work depending on case complexity. The retainer is applied against billed time and is fully transparent. Retainer clients receive priority scheduling, and the Litigation and Enterprise retainer tiers include a guaranteed 4-hour incident response.
The initial phone consultation is complimentary and typically 15–30 minutes. We discuss the nature of the digital evidence, the legal context, and whether our services are a fit. No fee is charged for the initial call.
Every engagement is directed by Eric Waldrep, who serves as the retained expert of record. The opinion and the report are his, and he signs them. Where forensic acquisition or technical processing is performed by a court-experienced associate examiner, that role is disclosed in writing, the work is performed to a documented standard, and it is independently verified before it is relied upon in any report or opinion. An associate examiner may testify to the work they performed. The conclusions and the expert opinion remain Eric Waldrep's.
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