Knowledge Base

Our current hourly rates can be accessed here.

Absolutely not. Our Accounts Receivable Specialist is dedicated to this task, and will gladly answer any questions you may have. To contact our Accounts Receivable Specialist, please call: 416-661-2777 ext. 221 or e-mail at: geeta@shulman.ca

We bill all of our matters on the first of each month, irrespective of how much work has been done on your file. That way you are always aware of the work that has been done in the past month. You may also receive a mid-month bill, in situations where a lot of work has been done since the last bill.

Before our bill is issued, it goes through a number of checks, to make sure that it is accurate and fair. Despite the checks we are human, and mistakes can happen. We encourage you to review the bill and ask us any questions that you may have. If there is an error, we will gladly adjust your account.

Absolutely not. We do not believe it is appropriate for law firms to charge their clients for administrative personal or office supplies.

We have many convenient ways for our clients to pay your bill and/or retainer. In office: we accept Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Debit, and Cheques. We can also accept Cash, however, there are limitations on how much we can accept. If you intend to pay by cash, please call ahead to make sure we can accept the payment. Online: you can use our secure payment link to pay by all major credit cards.

We are here to help, so if you are unable to pay the requested bill or retainer by the due date - simply talk to us. In many cases we can accommodate a reasonable payment date or schedule or authorize a special payment arrangement. Please speak to our Accounts Receivable Specialist as soon as you think you may not be able to pay the bill.

Before an account is authorized for billing, it is reviewed for errors by our Accounts Receivable Specialist, and then reviewed again by the lawyer to adjust for any potential errors, double billings, or inefficiencies. If errors or double billings are found, that work gets reduced and is reflected on your bill. If the lawyer feels that the account needs to be adjusted to reflect the value given to the client, you may also see a courtesy discount applied to the account as well.

When you pay us a retainer we deposit the funds into a Trust Account maintained by the Firm. We can only withdraw any money from this account after delivering you a detailed bill and accounting for the funds. We only get paid for the work that has actually been done and a bill has been delivered. Any unused funds would be returned to you.

Our monthly bill has a trust statement, which details any transactions and balance of your trust account. If there has been significant work done in between the billings, you may receive a call from our Accounts Receivable Specialist alerting you to the retainer running low and asking to replenish the trust balance.

The time is charged by tenth of an hour intervals, 1.0 being a full hour, and 0.1 being tenth of an hour or up to 6 minutes. Here are some examples:

0.10 hours = a task that took anywhere between 0 and 6 minutes
0.20 hours = a task that took anywhere between 7 and 12 minutes
0.30 hours = a task that took anywhere between 13 and 18 minutes
0.50 hours = a task that took anywhere between 25 and 30 minutes
1.00 hours = a task that took anywhere between 55 minutes to an hour

They are out of pocket expenses which we incur on your behalf. These may include: fees charged to us by the courts, fees for serving and filing documents, or courier fees. Disbursements are charged on top of our fees, and are detailed with full particulars in our accounts.

The right of a non-custodial parent to visit and spend time with his or her child. Access also includes the right to ask questions about the child and be given information about health, welfare and education etc.

A legal proceeding in a civil case.

Generally signifies a solution designed for a specific problem or task, and not intended to be applied to other purposes.

Attacking a party’s character rather than answering his or her argument.

Both parties are in agreement.

To continue forever.

Postponement of a court hearing to another date.

When a court hearing is postponed without setting a date for the next meeting.

A written statement or declaration of facts that are affirmed to be true.

An affidavit certifying that a document has been served on a party.

Resolving conflict without having to go to court.

The person who commences a divorce application.

A process where a neutral third party, selected by the disputing parties, makes a decision on the issue in dispute.

In good faith; implies sincere good intention regardless of outcome.

Decisions made by judges in previous cases that are used as precedent for a current case.

The final document issued by the court at the end of a divorce proceeding. Either party may apply for this certificate 31 days after the divorce has been granted.

Often used to mean something that is true in practice, but has not been officially instituted or endorsed.

At a future date.

Often used to mean start all over.

A hearing in which a payor is required to come to court to explain why payment has not been made as required by a support order.

Illegally obtained evidence. This evidence may be found to be inadmissible.

Federal statute that governs divorce in Canada, as well as custody, access, and support in divorce cases.

Final order made by a court in a divorce case. On taking effect, a divorce order legally ends a marriage.

A payment from one married spouse to the other to ensure that both parties receive an equal share of the net family property they accumulated during their marriage.

A document in a court case in which a party sets out a concise argument, using specific facts and laws to support it.

A person who has a legal obligation to act in good faith for the benefit of another person, for example a trustee.

When a judge finds that the amount of income a parent discloses is not accurate, the judge may attribute additional income to that person for purposes of calculating child support.

A legal proceeding conducted without the presence of one party.

Used to refer to a person or entity assuming the normal parental responsibilities for a minor without formally adopting the child. This includes schools and other institutions that act in the place of parents on a daily basis.

Legal proceedings before a court.

A property that was occupied by a family as their home at the time of separation.

The value of all property that a married spouse owns on a specified date, known as the valuation date, less (a) the spouse’s debts on the valuation date, (b) the value of property other than a matrimonial home owned by the spouse at the date of marriage, less any debts owing at that time, and (c) any excluded property.

A written document that is sent by one party to the other outlining the terms for which that party is willing to settle all or part of the case.

A plan developed by parents which sets out their arrangements for the care of their children after separation. The plan can be informal, or can be included in a separation agreement or court order.

Dividing money or property equally according to the number of beneficiaries.

Based on what is known or seen when something is first presented; the presentation of sufficient evidence by a party to support a legal claim.

A court order that requires a party to pay money into court to ensure that money will be available for costs ordered by the court, if the party is not successful in pursuing his or her claims.

Proves breakdown of a marriage; spouses are living separate and apart and one or both of them have the intention of ending the marriage.

Agreement by two people, who lived together and have separated, on their respective rights and obligations.

A document that compels a person to attend proceedings as a witness in order to give testimony.

An order that allows the Family Responsibility Office to collect support payments.

An order that is effective only for a limited time.

A promise; something will be granted providing the promise is upheld.

A situation where paying the required amount of child support would cause excessive financial difficulty for the paying party.

The date at which a married spouse's property is valued for the purpose of calculating net family property.

A change to a court order or other legal document, made on the authority of a court.

Someone who persistently, and without reasonable grounds, brings proceedings in any court, or conducts a proceeding in a troubling manner. Once declared a vexatious litigant by a court, that person cannot start or continue any civil legal proceeding without the court’s agreement.

Discontinuing or abandoning a case or part of a case.

A formal court order which directs a person to do or refrain from doing something. This includes ordering the seizure and delivery of personal property, and recovery or delivery of the possession of land.