Common questions

6.1 Questions people actually ask

What does a first meeting cost?

The first ten minutes on the phone are free, and often that is all it takes for us to tell you whether you need a lawyer at all. A full first meeting is billed at the lawyer's hourly rate or folded into a flat fee, and you always hear the number before we start.

How do your fees work?

Some work is a flat fee, one number for the whole job, agreed in writing before it starts: conveyances, wills, incorporations. Other work is billed hourly, in six-minute increments and itemized every month. Which one applies to you is settled at the first meeting, and the whole schedule is published on our fees page.

What is a retainer?

A retainer is a deposit, not a price. It sits in a trust account and stays your money until we earn it, drawn down only against an itemized statement. If the work costs less than the deposit, the balance comes back to you.

How long will my matter take?

Honestly, it depends: a conveyance can close in weeks, an estate or a contested dispute can run much longer, and some of the clock belongs to courts and land titles offices, not to us. What we promise is that you always know the current status, without having to chase us for it.

Do I need a lawyer for this, or would a notary do?

For a straightforward conveyance or a simple will, a notary may be all you need, and we will say so rather than take work that is not ours to take. When there is a dispute, an estate to administer, or advice on your rights, that is a lawyer's job. Tell us the situation on the phone and we will point you the right way.

Is what I tell you confidential?

Yes. What you tell a lawyer here is protected by solicitor-client privilege and stays between us, with the narrow exceptions the law itself requires. That protection begins at the first conversation, before you have paid anything.

What if I want to switch lawyers, or leave your firm?

You can change lawyers at any time, and your file is yours. If you leave us we hand your documents on promptly and bill only for work actually done. If you are coming to us from another firm, we help arrange the transfer without drama.

Do you act outside Bellwood?

Yes. Most of our clients are in the valley, but we act across British Columbia where it makes sense, by phone, by email, and in person when that serves you better. If your matter would be better handled by someone closer to it, we will tell you that too.

How should I prepare for a first meeting?

Bring photo identification, the papers the matter turns on, and your questions written down so none of them get lost in the room. If you are missing something, come anyway: we would rather see you than have you wait until the file is tidy.