How much will my family law matter cost?

January 30, 2017

This is indeed the million dollar question, so to speak….

With the exception of an uncontested divorce, family law matters are not billed on a ‘block fee’ basis. For uncontested divorces, with court and other disbursements, you can expect a total legal cost of $1,500.00, inclusive of taxes. For other matters, I charge an hourly rate of $400.00, plus GST. Obviously, the more complicated your matter, the more you can expect to have to pay in legal costs. Generally, the most cost-effective way to resolve your family law matter is through a settlement, without the time and expense of proceeding to court. In court cases, the costs can become significant, with several court appearances and, possibly, out of court questioning. Preparing for and attending court can be quite time-consuming for a lawyer. Whether for settlement negotiations or court cases, you are charged for all time that I spend on your file, including telephone conferences, e-mails, meetings, letters, drafting documents, preparing for and attending court. All information concerning the retainer and cost is set out in my Retainer Agreement.