James Hughes
VA-accredited attorney in Fairfield, Connecticut
- Accreditation type: Accredited attorney
- VA registration number: 18691
- Accredited since: December 10, 2010 (15 years)
- Location: Fairfield, CT
What James Hughes may charge
Free help and fee rules. Accredited VSO assistance is free. Attorneys and claims agents may not charge for preparing or filing an initial VA benefits claim. They may generally charge for review after the claimant receives notice of VA’s initial decision, subject to the applicable rules and a written fee agreement.
The 20% limit applies to fees paid directly by VA from past-due benefits. It is not a universal cap on other arrangements, which must be reasonable. Ask how fees and expenses work, what happens if the claim is unsuccessful, and where the agreement must be filed.
U.S. federal benefits representation; sources checked October 7, 2026: VA fee guidance and 38 CFR 14.636. Court representation and individual fee disputes require separate review.
Before you sign with anyone
- Confirm the accreditation yourself on the VA’s official accreditation search. This page mirrors that list; the VA’s copy is the authority.
- Ask what happens to the fee if you lose, and get the fee agreement in writing.
- Ask who will actually handle the claim — the person you spoke to, or someone else.
- Ask what evidence they intend to develop. A representative who never asks about your service history or your treatment records is not building a claim.
- Talk to a free VSO first. Connecticut has 26 accredited VSO representatives, and they can file the same initial claim at no cost.
Other accredited representatives in Connecticut
- Aaron Salter — New Haven
- Alden Pinkham — West Haven
- Alison Walker — West Haven
- Alison Weir — West Haven
- Anne Littlefield — Hartford
- Ashley Anderson — New Haven
- Brendan Murphy — West Haven
- Catherine Richardson — Granby
- Charles Ray — Hartford
- Chelsea Donaldson — West Haven
- Chelsea McCallum — Hartford
- Christopher Parent — Norwalk
See every accredited representative in Connecticut
Listing drawn from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs accreditation list. Inclusion here is not a recommendation, a ranking, or an endorsement, and we are not affiliated with the VA. We do not sell veterans as leads. Something wrong on this page? Tell us and we’ll correct it.