Legal Fees

At IQBAL LAW, we believe you should understand what your legal matter is likely to cost before you commit to anything. Our billing is clear and straightforward, so there are no surprises along the way.

Not every client needs a lawyer for every step. That is why we also offer limited scope retainers, sometimes called unbundled legal services. You hire us for specific tasks within your matter, such as legal advice, document preparation or a court appearance, and handle the remainder yourself. Contact us to find out whether this approach suits your situation.

Fees at a glance

Disbursements (out-of-pocket costs such as court filing fees, process servers and couriers) are charged in addition to our fees.

If you want to understand where you stand before deciding whether to hire a family lawyer, this is the place to start. We will go over the background you share, explain how the law applies to your circumstances, outline the options open to you and map out the next steps.

There is no obligation to retain us after the meeting. If you decide you would like our help, we would be glad to continue working with you. The consultation is offered at a reduced rate.

Our hourly rate covers legal work such as drafting and negotiating agreements, preparing court documents, and handling estate administration. Time is recorded in six-minute units (one-tenth of an hour). The way fees are calculated is explained in our Retainer Terms, which we review with you at our first meeting.

Disbursements are not included in the hourly rate. These are out-of-pocket costs we pay on your behalf, such as court filing fees, process servers and couriers.

Some firms advertise a fixed price for domestic contracts. In our experience, the work involved differs greatly from one couple to the next, and paying for the time your file actually requires is often the fairer and more economical option. Every situation is different, so contact us and we will give you a realistic estimate based on your circumstances.

This category includes separation agreements, cohabitation agreements, marriage contracts, and surrogacy and other confidential agreements related to assisted reproduction.

This flat fee applies only where the agreement has already been prepared and finalized by a lawyer. If it has not, our regular rates for drafting and negotiation apply.

The fee includes a lawyer's review of the agreement and a meeting with you in which we explain its terms and your legal rights and obligations. If a signing appointment is needed, that is included as well. Courier charges for sending the agreement between lawyers or to you are also covered.

The flat fee is available only when full financial disclosure from both parties accompanies the agreement. It does not include negotiating changes to the agreement.

• $750 plus HST: a straightforward will for one person, together with a continuing power of attorney for property and a power of attorney for personal care.
• $1,000 plus HST: a straightforward package for a couple, consisting of one will for each person and a power of attorney for property and a power of attorney for personal care for each.

We consider a will to be straightforward when it names one estate trustee and one alternate, and leaves the estate to a single beneficiary or class of beneficiaries, with an alternate. Additional drafting, such as family trusts or business interests, is charged separately.

Some people want a will that goes further: several specific gifts, charitable donations, or particular arrangements for trustees or beneficiaries. A more detailed will gives your executors clearer direction and better reflects your wishes, but it falls outside the flat fee. We will discuss this at our first meeting, so you know the expected cost from the start.

For an uncontested divorce, our flat fee is $1,500 plus HST. Disbursements are separate, including court filing fees and process server costs, which together typically come to about $900.

A contested divorce is billed at our hourly rate. For more on both, see our divorce lawyer in Mississauga page and our guide to how much a divorce costs in Ontario.

A retainer is two things at once: an agreement setting out the services we will provide, and an advance payment held in our trust account. The funds remain in trust and are applied to our fees and disbursements as the work is done.

The retainer required depends on the kind of service you need, the history of your matter and the work we expect to do. We will settle the amount with you at our first meeting. The following figures are a general guide:

• Matters outside of court, such as separation agreements, marriage contracts and surrogacy agreements: $3,000 initial retainer.
• Ontario Court of Justice or Superior Court of Justice family matters (decision-making responsibility, parenting time, support and property): $7,500 initial retainer. Of this, $2,500 is applied to the first invoice. The remaining $5,000 stays in trust until your case ends and is applied to the final invoice, with any unused balance returned to you.
• Acting as agent (limited scope) counsel rather than lawyer of record: $3,500 initial retainer.
• Representation at mediation or mediation-arbitration: $3,000 initial retainer.
• Limited scope retainers: the amount depends on the task and will be set with you at your initial consultation.

Worried about paying? See our family law payment plans. Mediation fees are on our mediation cost page.