| Simple notarizing of a single document, including certification of a copy of a document | $60 (plus taxes*) | This charge does not include services for completing the document, or for offering any advice relating to it; |
| Acting for a vendor (seller) in the sale of a home, where there is no mortgage to discharge | $300 (plus taxes* and disbursements) | If the sale price is higher than $600,000, then the fees are one twentieth of one per cent (.0005) of the sale price; for example, a $1,000,000 sale price would result in fees of $500 . |
| Acting for a vendor (seller) in the sale of a home, where there is a mortgage to discharge | $500 (plus taxes* and disbursements) | Disbursements will usually include the filing fees for registering the discharge of the mortgage. If the sale price is greater than $500,000, then the fees are one tentth of one per cent (.001) of that amount; for example, fees to handle a $700,000 sale (with a discharge of mortgage) would be $700. |
| Acting for a buyer in the purchase of a home, where there is no mortgage to be registered | $500 (plus taxes* and disbursements) | Disbursements and other costs and charges can add quite a bit, onto the total cost of purchasing a home. Most property transfers in British Columbia are subject to Property Transfer Tax of at least 1% of the total value of the property. If the purchase price is higher than $500,000, then the fees are one tenth of one per cent (.001) of the sale price; for example, a $1,000,000 purchase price would result in fees of $1,000. |
| Representing the lender or borrower (or both, if appropriate) in a residential mortgage | $500 (plus taxes* and disbursements) | The complexity of mortgage work (and the legal fees and other costs associated with that work) can vary from lender to lender, and from home to home. Along with different fees based on that complexity, fees also increase on the basis of the amount of the mortgage; simple mortgages over $500,000 will result in fees of one tenth of one per cent (.001) of the amount of the mortgage; for example, a mortgage of $750,000 would result in fees of $750. |
| Acting for the buyer and the lender in a purchase of a home, to do all work relating to a home purchase and a mortgage | $800 (plus taxes* and disbursements) | As with legal work for only a purchase or only a mortgage, fees for dealing with a purchase and a mortgage will increase on the basis of the total amount of the purchase price and the mortgage. Generally, those fees will be less than the total of the fees for the individual services noted above. |
| Representing one person in advising about a will, including the drafting of the will, arranging for the will to be properly signed, and ensuring that a notice is filed at the British Columbia registry of wills | $200 (plus taxes* and disbursements) | The total account, including taxes and disbursements, is usually about $250 |
| Representing a couple in advising about two similar wills, including the drafting of the wills, arranging for the wills to be properly signed, and ensuring that notices are filed at the British Columbia registry of wills | $250 (plus taxes* and disbursements) | The total account, including taxes and disbursements, is usually about $325 |
| Preparation of an enduring general power of attorney | $100 (plus taxes*) | There is no charge for preparing an enduring power of attorney, if the work is done as part of general services in preparing a will |
| Preparation of a representation agreement, including advising, and ensuring that it is properly executed by the principal parties to that agreement | $250 (plus taxes* and disbursements) | |
| All things necessary to incorporate a British Columbia limited company | $1200 (including taxes* and disbursements) | Close to half of that amount represents money paid to the Provincial Government for searches and filing fees |
| Witnessing of a land title document (e.g., mortgage, transfer), when prepared by another lawyer | $100 (plus taxes) | This fee does not include registration of the document, and it does not include extra work relating to the receipt or delivery of documents or money, nor does it include advice with regard to the validity, enforceability or effect of the document |
| Independent legal advice in connection with a transfer, promissory note, mortgage or similar document | Minimum fees of $150 (plus taxes) | Longer (or more complex) documents will result in higher fees |
*: Taxes are sales tax and G.S.T. on legal fees, plus any G.S.T. on disbursements paid on your behalf
In each of the above cases, the stated fees represent the work for simple cases; although most matters do fit into the "simple" category, there are exceptions, so you should not assume that your work will always be classed as "simple": your fees could be higher than the fees noted above, and you should verify the total fees before proceeding with your work.