We understand that this may be a stressful time in your life. The uncertainty of an unresolved family law or estate situation is itself difficult. Then being provided with long legal documents, a Costs Estimate, a Costs Agreement and a request for moneys to be deposited in a lawyer’s trust account can be very anxiety-inducing. We recognise that legal fees for a family law or estate matter were probably not part of your financial plan.
The purpose of this page is to answer many of your questions about costs to make the issue of costs less stressful.
Do not hesitate to contact a member of our Welcome team on 02 6115 9000 if you have any unanswered questions or to discuss any of our costs documentation free of charge.
Legal Costs – the basics
It is important to find a lawyer you trust who will work with you and guide you through the process. A good working relationship will ensure a smooth process. At FGD our Client Service Team will ensure this happens.
After your initial meeting at FGD we will provide you with a costs disclosure letter including our Costs Agreement and Costs Estimate. These set out the basis on which we will charge you (whether on time-costing or a fixed fee basis) and provide an estimate of the likely legal costs you will have to pay.
How much does it cost to see a lawyer at FGD?
At FGD we don’t have a “one price fits all” approach. Every matter is different and we tailor what we do and our fees to cater for your needs. We offer flexibility with our fees. Please discuss legal costs options with your lawyer. Costs may be based on time-costing for work done on your matter by the different FGD team members at their hourly rates. Alternatively, in many cases we can offer fixed fees for all or some components of our work to give you certainty around fees. It is not always possible to offer fixed fees; it will depend on the nature and extent of the work required.
Once your lawyer finds out how they can help you, they will talk to you about what it will cost.
What if I have a query about fees?
Then please raise it with us! We are always willing to have an open conversation about your fees and any discussions we have about fees; whether in person, over the phone or in writing are at no charge to you.
Tips for keeping your legal costs down
- A high volume of phone and email communication and frequent meetings increase costs. In preparing our Costs Estimate we have made certain assumptions about the level of contact that we will have with you via phone or email as the matter progresses. In some cases, these assumptions are too low as you may prefer more frequent contact and reassurance or unexpected developments may result in the need for more frequent or intense contact.
- We are here to help you and will answer all the questions you have about your matter. We also encourage you to help control your costs.
- Is there a form of communication that best suits the way you comprehend information?
For example, some clients prefer receiving written communication so they can digest the advice and information in their own time. Some clients prefer face to face meetings to “think out loud”. - Whilst we are obliged to provide some advice to you in writing, we can do this and thenarrange a time to discuss it or meet to go through it with you it if this best suits you.
- Before picking up the phone or writing an email, we encourage you to consider the whether the question been answered directly or indirectly in previous written advice.
- If it hasn’t, can you collect your thoughts into several questions which can be answered all in one go? Could this be done in a single email or phone call or in one meeting rather than in a combination of all of those, or a little at a time?
- Keep emails to your lawyer short and to the point: lists and dot points save time and therefore costs.
- Scheduling a telephone appointment with your lawyer to discuss various questions at once is more time and cost efficient than writing long emails and then having your lawyer spend the time reviewing your file and responding. Prepare for this appointment to ensure you do not miss anything. Contacting your lawyer once per week with a list of questions is more cost effective than several calls.
- When documents have to be drafted, provide clear notes on the topic the lawyer has requested you to provide information about. Again, lists and dot points are great.
- At FGD you will work with a lawyer who has a team of less senior lawyers, paralegals and assistants working with them to help support you. The work is managed so that the assistants and paralegals do the groundwork at lower rates to keep costs down. If you need a question answered feel free to approach one of the less senior team members direct in the first instance.
- Is the question legal or non-legal?
- Our legal assistants are highly trained and helpful. Whilst unable to give you legal advice they may well be able to answer your questions as to process and procedure or how a document should be completed rather than speaking to your lawyer about those things. Your lawyer’s assistant can also assist with administrative tasks such as arranging appointments, accounts enquiries, checking on responses from the other side or confirming dates and deadlines. Any costs enquiry is free of charge.
- At FGD we also have a Child and Family Specialist team to assist you and your family through the process and provide you with emotional support, tips on communicating with the other party and your children and strategies for practical co-parenting. Our CFS team also provide assistance to prepare you for any required expert reports or giving evidence. Your lawyer will discuss whether a referral is appropriate for you. You can also ask for a consult with the CFS team at any time.
We are unable to control the level of contact from others. In most cases we are obliged to provide a reply to a written communication or take a phone call. We will do all we can to limit contact with the other party to what is necessary to progress your matter.