The number is meaningless without the model. $199 per half-hour and a $2,500 flat quote can both be the honest price — for different jobs.
Our rule: unpredictable work is billed by the half-hour at $199 after the free first 15 minutes; defined work is quoted flat in writing, with disbursements itemized.
| Topic | Hourly | Flat fee |
|---|---|---|
| What you pay for | Time — meetings, drafting, court, emails | A defined outcome: the agreement, the divorce, the closing, the certificate |
| Fits | Negotiation and litigation whose length you cannot control | Uncontested divorces, wills, ILA, standard closings, many immigration applications |
| Risk of surprise | Low if you get interim bills and a budget | Low if the scope is written; high if the scope is fuzzy |
| Our published numbers | First 15 minutes free, then $199 per half-hour (CAD), confirmed first | Quoted after we see the facts — never a website guess |
Choose Hourly when
- The other side is unpredictable
- A motion or trial is possible
- You want to start with advice only and decide later
Choose Flat fee when
- The task can be described in one sentence
- You want the number before you start
- The file is a closing, a will, ILA or an uncontested divorce