The Fine Print
What if I just need a little bit of advice?
What do I need to bring with me?
What do you need to start on my file?
When do I need to pay my bills?
Yes. Our lawyers are generally assisting other clients or working on other matters. Out of the consideration that you should also expect of our lawyers, please contact our receptionist for a meeting time.
What if I just need a little bit of advice?
No issue is ever "small". The best thing to do is schedule an appointment to meet with one of our lawyers so you can receive their full attention. It is also advisable to meet in person rather than seeking advice over the phone.
Several of our solicitor services (i.e. residential conveyance, wills, and powers of attorney) are done for a flat fee. However, the majority of our services are billed on an hourly basis. Our hourly fees depend on the lawyer. We will discuss our fees with you during our first meeting so you have an idea of what our services will cost. You will also be charged for any disbursements (i.e. photocopying, long distance charges, and out-of-pocket expenses). Taxes apply to all charges.
What do I need to bring with me?
Please bring a piece of government-issued photo ID to your meeting. We are required to retain a copy of this ID for our records. Please also bring any and all relevant documentation to your meeting.
What do you need to start on my file?
A retainer agreement primarily sets out the services you are hiring us to do, the cost of those services, and how to terminate our relationship. We will also ask you for a retainer, which is a sum of money which will cover some initial expenses and fees on your file. The amount of this retainer will be discussed with you during your meeting.
We will not perform any work on your file unless a retainer agreement is signed and we have collected a retainer from you.
We bill our files on a regular basis to avoid you receiving a large bill which could financially strain you. Most lawyers will bill monthly. Some tasks, such as wills, are billed when you sign the documents and before you leave our firm.
When do I need to pay my bills?
Your payment is due upon receipt of your invoice. Our bills generally accrue interest at a rate of 1% per month. In addition, our firm policy is that any unpaid bills over 150 days old are reported to collections. It is generally better to discuss a lack of funds up front with your lawyer before getting into such a situation. To help you avoid this, we generally do not continue work on your file unless you are currently up to date with your bills and we have received sufficient additional funds as a retainer to continue work on your file. We accept Visa, MC, Debit & cheques, and Online.
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