Me again!
OK, I cashed in my RRSP's to hire a lawyer. I am just over the threshold amount for Legal Aid, which I figured would happen. Basically they said unless I am living on social assistance of some kind it's very difficult to be accepted.
So, I contacted a lawyer recommended to me by my MVA lawyer. He wants $2500 retainer (which I now have) as well as $375/hour. OUCH! He gave me the name of another lawyer as well who charges less than he does for an hourly rate.
What should I expext, hourwise, for my case? And does the hourly rate start getting taken out of my retainer first, or do I have to start paying that on TOP of the retainer I have already given?
Can we ask for my legal fees to be reimbursed should this go to court?
I would "like", ideally, for my lawyer (whichever one I choose) to point out to the other side that if it does go to court, he could be forced to pay XXX amount of dollars per month until she is 18 or done school. I am wanting to settle for a lump sum amount instead. If he agrees to the lump sum amount then I won't ask for costs, I'll just take them out of my settlement. If it DOES go to court can I ask for costs, especially since that I offered to settle this issue outside of court several times and was refused?
I'm having a hard time deciding what to do here. I also don't know if I should contact this other lawyer with the cheaper/hourly rates.
Any input you can provide would be fantastic. I have had no contact with the ex since I moved out. My daughter has been really quiet since we moved and I can't get her to talk about her feelings which is really distressing to me - this is such a happy go lucky kid most of the time.
OK, I cashed in my RRSP's to hire a lawyer. I am just over the threshold amount for Legal Aid, which I figured would happen. Basically they said unless I am living on social assistance of some kind it's very difficult to be accepted.
So, I contacted a lawyer recommended to me by my MVA lawyer. He wants $2500 retainer (which I now have) as well as $375/hour. OUCH! He gave me the name of another lawyer as well who charges less than he does for an hourly rate.
What should I expext, hourwise, for my case? And does the hourly rate start getting taken out of my retainer first, or do I have to start paying that on TOP of the retainer I have already given?
Can we ask for my legal fees to be reimbursed should this go to court?
I would "like", ideally, for my lawyer (whichever one I choose) to point out to the other side that if it does go to court, he could be forced to pay XXX amount of dollars per month until she is 18 or done school. I am wanting to settle for a lump sum amount instead. If he agrees to the lump sum amount then I won't ask for costs, I'll just take them out of my settlement. If it DOES go to court can I ask for costs, especially since that I offered to settle this issue outside of court several times and was refused?
I'm having a hard time deciding what to do here. I also don't know if I should contact this other lawyer with the cheaper/hourly rates.
Any input you can provide would be fantastic. I have had no contact with the ex since I moved out. My daughter has been really quiet since we moved and I can't get her to talk about her feelings which is really distressing to me - this is such a happy go lucky kid most of the time.
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