FAQ

Do you require money to be paid upfront?

Whilst we may ask you to provide payment upfront to be held in trust, we will only ever ask for amounts that we reasonably foresee for the next steps in your matter.

I am worried that Lawyers will issue huge invoices. Is this going to happen?

To help you manage your accounts and make them more predictable, we can issue periodic invoices for matters that are likely to run for a long time so as to avoid receiving a large invoice at the end of the matter.

Will you charge me every time I contact you?

Communication is critical in running your legal matter. We want to hear from you if new information comes to light and keep you informed of the progress of your matter. If a telephone call relates to purely updating you on your matter, then we won’t charge for the call. If the call is lengthy and involves discussing your case in detail, providing advice or obtaining detailed instructions, then we may charge for the call.

Do you provide flexible payment options?

Absolutely. We are happy to work with you and provide flexible payment options for our fees, including instalment arrangements.

Can you take appointments outside of regular business hours?

Our regular hours are from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm, which provides some time outside of regular business hours. If you need an appointment outside of these hours, please contact us, and we will do our best to accommodate your needs, including appointments on weekends if required.

If you cannot make it to our office, we can also offer appointments via telephone, Zoom or home visit. Please note that additional charges may apply for home visits and weekend appointments.

How much is this going to cost me?

We understand that cost can be a concern when dealing with legal matters. During your first consultation, we shall discuss the nature of your enquiry to help provide an estimate of costs. In some cases, such as wills or conveyancing, we can even offer fixed rates.

However, in most other cases, our solicitors charge on a time basis. If you wish to proceed with your matter and we believe the fees may exceed $1,500, we will issue you a retainer letter that sets out all of the charge rates, includes the scope of work and provides an estimate of the fees.

Throughout your matter, we will also send periodic invoices so that you are kept up to date on the fees charged.

How much information should I share with my lawyer?

If you would like the best possible outcome for your situation, you should tell your lawyer everything remotely relevant to your matter. Even items that you think could be detrimental to your case. It’s reasonable to expect that all relevant information will eventually come to light one way or another, so there is no point in trying to conceal details from your lawyer.

If you are open and honest, we can deal with any detrimental issues on the front foot and seek instructions from you, rather than being caught off guard when a solicitor for another party brings it up with no prior warning.

Any matters you discuss with your lawyer are private, and in South Australia, this is protected by “Legal Professional Privilege (LPP)”

There is a common saying in the legal fraternity: “never lie to your lawyer”.

What is JustFund?

Flexible funding to help pay legal bills and expenses for Family Law & Estate Matters.

We have partnered with JustFund to provide a practical and compassionate solution for clients who need support navigating legal costs and expenses related to separation and estate administration matters – including mediation fees, court costs, accounting services, preparing a home for sale and more.

Through this partnership, eligible clients can access a flexible line of credit to help manage legal fees and expenses – without any repayments required until after settlement is reached. Unlike traditional lenders, JustFund does not assess income or credit when supporting clients in Family Law and Estate Administration Matters.

This kind of flexible funding can be life-changing, especially for clients who are financially dependent on a partner, experiencing family violence, managing an estate after a loved one’s passing, or navigating complex legal issues without the immediate means to proceed.

By introducing flexible funding as a payment option from the start, our aim is to ensure that no one is denied quality legal representation or has to settle for less than is fair because of their financial position.