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Legal
Fees
Most
people don't know what or how a lawyer charges and think they
shouldn't ask. There is nothing wrong about asking - it is your
money. This Web Page will tell you exactly how we charge, and
what sort of fees you can expect for some services. We will
let you pay over time, on approved credit. *NB: Our first
interview is free.
There
are no set schedules of how lawyers must charge. The method
of calculating fees may vary according to the seniority and
experience of the lawyer, with different types of legal services,
according to the difficulty of the legal problem. Some common
methods are:
- Hourly:
We keep a record of time spent and charge you an hourly rate
agreed upon in advance; the rate and other important details
will be set out in a Fee Agreement. No one can predict, when
a case begins, how much time will be required. Among other
factors, it is very dependent upon the actions and court applications
the opposing party and his/her lawyer make.
- Contigent
Fee:
We agree to act for you and be paid a percentage of what you
are eventually awarded or settle upon; if you lose, we do
not get paid (but you must in all cases cover disbursements
and costs). This fee is common in personal injury claims.
- Fixed
Fee:
When we can predict how much time is required and what sort
of documentation is required, we can quote a flat fee. This
method is commonly used for non-contentious matters such as
real estate, incorporation, and uncontested divorces.
- Percentage
Fee:
Sometimes fees are calculated as a percentage of the value
of the subject matter, but they don't depend on the outcome
like a contingency fee does; an example is probating an estate.
- Disbursements
and Taxes:
All fees and some disbursements are taxed by the Federal Government
(GST) and the Provincial Government (PST). Disbursements are
for items such as Court Filing Fees, Government Search Fees,
process servers, photocopying, long distance charges, experts'
services (some, but not all, are custody and access reports,
medical-legal reports, appraisals and economists' reports).
The cost of these items changes frequently and what specific
disbursements may be necessary vary with particular circumstances
and as a case develops. We will tell you the current cost
of the things we think will be needed at the time you retain
us, but you should be aware that items thought necessary may
prove not needed, and things not believed to be required may
turn out to be necessary. The same is true for the services
we perform: while we tell you our best estimate of what will
be necessary to accomplish your goals, it may be necessary
to drop certain strategies or actions and add new ones as
the case progresses.
- Time
and credit payments are usually available, on approval of
credit.
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