Like most law firms practicing in family law we do not charge the scale fees specified in the Family Law Rules. We require our clients to enter into Retainer Agreements with us under which we are paid an agreed hourly rate for our services. The hourly rates vary according to which member of the firm is acting on your behalf at any time. It is most important for us to come to an agreement with our clients at the very beginning in relation to cost issues. Costs in respect of all litigation can be extremely high. We encourage discussion as to costs right from the commencement of the matter because
it is important that when advising a client as to the outcome of his or her proceedings they are able to work out whether the dispute is commercial or whether the cost of pursuing the potential outcome outweigh the benefits to the client. It is most important that cost issues are sorted out at the first meeting.

We are able to assist parties in getting finance through various litigation funders if they are not able to pay their legal costs from their own funds
or their own financial resources.

Client Agreements

We are required by the Queensland Law Society and the Legal Services Commissioner to enter into written agreements with our clients in respect of costs and this will be discussed with you at your first meeting with the firm.

Outlays

In addition to costs we incur outlays in most matters. They can vary from photocopy fees and telephone charges through to search fees and in some cases barrister’s costs. We require our clients to pay outlays before they are incurred.

Accounts

We render accounts at regular intervals during the course of a matter, but usually no more frequently than monthly. This practice enables our clients
to know on a regular basis where they stand in terms of costs as the matter progresses. The firm policy is for accounts to be paid within 14 days.

GST

GST must be added to all quotes. Hourly rates are quoted on a “plus GST basis”. For clients who are not Australian residents GST may not apply.

Whilst we are a relationship based law practice assisting our clients
in their relationships and matters arising from their relationships we
are also a business and our relationship with our clients is also
a commercial arrangement which must be understood from the
outset of any retainer.