A cost estimate for hiring a divorce lawyer in Ottawa

One of the primary reasons why a lot of couples think twice about hiring a divorce lawyer is the cost. Hiring a lawyer is really expensive. Lawyers usually charge a flat rate, mostly on an hourly basis. Here is a rough estimate of how much you will need to pay for the services of a divorce lawyer in Ottawa.

Getting a divorce and going through its complicated process can be really taxing and confusing. While you can always choose to represent yourself before the court, do all the paperwork, and get through the entire process alone, it is still best to seek guidance from a reliable divorce lawyer in Ottawa.
divorce lawyers ottawa
With all the critical things that you need to deal with (talk about paperwork, pressure here and there, emotional stresses, financial issues, etc), you can't avoid committing mistakes most especially if you know only a few things about Ottawa family law. Working with a lawyer helps you ensure that you are on the right track and that you can get the results that you are aiming for.

Cost of hiring an Ottawa divorce lawyer

One of the primary reasons why a lot of couples think twice about hiring a divorce lawyer is the cost. Hiring a lawyer is really expensive. However, if you think of the long-term advantages, you can say that hiring a lawyer is a good investment.

You may want to know the approximate cost of hiring divorce lawyers in Ottawa. So, here's a rough estimate of how much budget is required for a divorce lawyer. Lawyers usually charge a flat rate, mostly on an hourly basis. The average rate is around $250.00 per hour plus HST.

• For the initial consultation, lawyers usually charge $175.00 plus HST.
• Uncontested divorce costs more or less $950.00 plus HST and disbursements.
• Unbundled services usually include preparing for a court session, reviewing the financial statements, and drafting of the court pleadings. Each of these services has its own rate. Here a breakdown:

> Preparing for court session: $450.00 plus HST
> Reviewing financial statements: $750.00 plus HST
> Drafting court pleadings: hourly rate of $250.00 plus HST

• The rate for separation agreements ranges from $3000.00 to 4500.00.
• For the litigation, you will need to pay the following:

> Preparing an Application or Answer: $1750.00 to 2500.00
> Case Conference or Settlement Conference: $1250.00 to 1750.00
> Substantive Motions: $4,000.00 to 5500.00

Lawyers charge
There are times when settlement requires more than just one interim motion. In such case, you may need to opt for expensive court trial proceedings. According to the Canadian Lawyer Fees Survey conducted last 2014, a 5-day family trial costs around $26,000.00 to $59,000.00.

Lawyers usually require their clients to have a payment plan or a monetary retainer in trust. Without such requirement, the lawyer may not start any work pertaining to your files or case. Also, expect your lawyer to provide you with a rough estimate of the length of time he or she can consume when working on the needed files. This gives you an idea how much you will be paying for the said work so that you can decide beforehand whether or not it's worthy to hire a lawyer or not.

The above-stated rates are merely a rough estimate of how much you will need to pay for the services of a divorce lawyer in Ottawa. Rates can vary accordingly. There are many factors that affect the cost of a lawyer. One is the level of animosity or disagreement that currently exists between the parties and the lawyers. 

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