Most people going through a divorce or a separation are concerned about legal costs. In many cases, their concern is justified, because divorce or family law litigation can be very expensive, and the stress of additional expense is just about the last thing you need under the circumstances.
Competent BC Family Law advice can, however, actually reduce your overall legal costs by helping you avoid making decisions which complicate the case.
In BC, family lawyers will not take a case on a “contingency” basis where they receive a percentage of the amount recovered for the client. Most BC family law lawyers bill their clients on a monthly or periodic basis based on an hourly rate for the time spent on their case. Many clients ask for an estimate of the total fees which will be charged to them for their case. Unfortunately, in most cases it is extremely difficult if not impossible to give a reliable estimate; however, throughout the course of your case, you will be kept informed about costs.
When accepting a case, most family lawyers will ask for a deposit to be applied towards the anticipated costs of the case. This deposit is referred to as a ‘retainer.’
In some cases a fixed fee may be appropriate, particularly when the case is simple and the extent of the work to be provided by the lawyer is foreseeable, such as an uncontested divorce.
Clients are billed on a monthly basis and receive a detailed statement itemizing the work done during the previous month. The hourly rate can vary depending on the complexity of the case and other considerations.
