Fixed-pricing

We believe in being upfront about costs and avoiding surprises wherever possible. If we are preparing or advising you on documents which do not require any settlement negotiation, we usually offer a fixed-price. This gives you peace of mind about your fees. Your fixed price is based on the complexity of your matter, the information and instructions you provide, and the amount of work we expect will be required to complete the process. In most cases, the fixed fee we quote at the beginning will not change. A fixed fee may change if:

• important information was not provided to us when the quote was prepared; or
• there is a significant change in circumstances that increases the work required.

For fixed-price work, we usually require a deposit at the start and the remainder at the end.

Hourly rate

In some cases, the work needed could vary (like the “how long in a piece of string” scenario). This could apply to thinks like parenting negotiations, property settlement negotiations and Court cases. For this work, we apply an hourly rate, so the fees are proportionate to the amount of time spent assisting you. Time is logged in 6-minute intervals, because it’s a clean 10% of an hour. Before we start work, we provide an estimate of what your costs are likely to total, based on similar cases we have completed. If the actual time starts creeping above the estimate, we will let you know as early as possible and we will provide you with a new estimate.

For hourly-rate work, we usually require a deposit at the start and we send an itemised invoice every one to two months.

Alternative Payment Arrangements

If you prefer to pay your legal fees at the end of your matter, have unexpected fees to meet or are otherwise concerned about your ability to pay our fees, there may be options to assist you. We understand that when you are navigating a separation or relationship property matter, the financial strain can sometimes stand in the way of getting the legal support you need. That’s why we have partnered with JustFund – a dedicated provider of flexible funding solutions for family law legal fees. Through this partnership, eligible clients can access a flexible line of credit to cover legal fees and expenses related to separation or relationship property proceedings. You don’t have to repay the loan until you reach a settlement, which we hope reduces the stress associated with paying costs upfront. Contact us for more information, or visit JustFund.com.au