
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
HOW CAN I REDUCE MY LEGAL FEES AND OTHER COSTS?
The following are tips to help you reduce your legal fees and other costs associated with separation:
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Gather your standard financial documents
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Communicate with our staff for non-legal requirements, to book appointments, to send and receive documents, to change administrative information and settings, to make payments on your account
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Provide us with an email address and accept to end and receive electronic documents
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Do what you can yourself instead of paying a lawyer to do it, and we will help and guide you
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Wherever possible, be a peacemaker, not contaminator or a conflict-maker
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Inform yourself properly
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Play fair, be open and honest, open-minded, be willing to compromise
IN A FAMILY MATTER, WHAT DOCUMENTS DO I NEED TO GATHER?
It helps when you have a prepared list in which you have identified each asset and liability, and provide a value. We will ask you to provide recent or relevant statements and valuations for bank accounts, debts, loans, mortgages, RRSPs, pensions, investments, real and personal property.
If yours is a case in which child support or spousal support must be assessed, it is necessary to provide three years of complete income tax returns with all schedules and attachments, notices of assessment for the same years and a recent paystub showing year-to-date income.
If you do not have these income documents, you can obtain a copy from Revenue Canada.
HOW MUCH WILL THIS COST ME?
Every case must be assessed based on its circumstances and the needs of the client. The New Brunswick Law Society regulates our profession and our Code of Conduct does not allow us to advertise our fees and rates. We are happy to discuss and assess your legal issue. In the process, we will provide you detailed information about each lawyer's hourly rate, as well as our office billing practices and the anticipated costs based on the services required.
DO I HAVE TO APPEAR IN COURT IF I HAVE A LAWYER TO REPRESENT ME?
You do not have to appear in criminal court until trial if you have a lawyer to represent you and you have signed a special designation allowing the lawyer to appear on your behalf.
If you are appearing in family court, your presence in court is usually required for most hearings