We prefer payment by electronic funds transfer or by cheque, bank draft or money order, but also accept payment by credit card where an account has been issued. We cannot accept cash or cryptocurrencies, nor can we accept retainer and deposit payments by credit card.

Arbitration & mediation

The parties are both responsible for paying our fees and expenses. Lawyers call this “joint and several liability.” Where the parties are represented by lawyers, the arbitration and mediation agreements used by John-Paul Boyd Arbitration Chambers make the parties’ lawyers responsible for paying our fees and expenses in the first instance, who then charge the cost to their clients as a disbursement. Where one or both parties are not represented by lawyers, the parties are responsible for our fees and expenses, and we will ask that a retainer be paid in advance.

In the case of mediation, all fees and disbursements are payable when the mediation has ended, whether or not an agreement has been reached on all or some of the issues brought to mediation.

In the case of arbitration, all fees and disbursements are usually payable when the final award has been prepared, and must be paid before the final award will be released.

Parenting coordination

The parents are jointly and severally liable for payment of the fees of, and any expenses incurred by, John-Paul Boyd Arbitration Chambers. We will ask that a retainer as well as a deposit be paid in advance. The deposit works just like a retainer but is held in reserve against the possibility that a parent may try to avoid a decision on an issue by allowing our retainer to be exhausted and then refusing to replenish it.

Periodic accounts will be rendered, usually everyone one or two months, and will be delivered by email. Our accounts are payable when they are sent and will be paid from the parents’ retainers.

retainers

To “retain” someone means to hire their services, usually the services of a lawyer or another professional, who is then said to be “on retainer.” “Retainer” also refers to the terms of a lawyer’s service, as well as a payment to a lawyer that is made before the lawyer starts to work. In this last sense, retainers work as a kind of security for payment of the lawyer’s fees.

Where we require the payment of a retainer or a deposit, the money is kept in our trust account. That money belongs to the person paying it, but will be drawn from to pay our accounts after they are sent. Any money remaining in our trust account when we are finished working for you will be returned to you.

The amount of the retainer John-Paul asks for will be based on his hourly rate and his expectations about how long it will take to finish working for you.

Independent legal advice

You are responsible for paying our fees, whether you plan on paying our fees directly or expect someone else to pay them for you. Accounts will usually be rendered after the legal advice has been provided. Our accounts will be delivered by email and are due when they are sent.

expert services

You are responsible for payment of the fees of, and expenses incurred by, John-Paul Boyd Arbitration Chambers. Accounts will be rendered when or shortly after the services have been provided. A retainer may or may not be required depending on the nature of the services sought. Accounts will be delivered by email and are due when they are sent.

Children’s legal services

Depending on the nature of the service, responsibility for the fees of, and expenses incurred by, John-Paul Boyd Arbitration Chambers may shared by both parties or be borne by one person alone.

Accounts will be rendered when or shortly after the service has been provided or, in the case of views of the child reports and children’s affidavits, when the report or affidavit has been prepared. A retainer will generally be required. Our accounts will be delivered by email and are due when they are sent.

overdue accounts

Interest is charged at a modest compounding rate of one percent per month, or 12.68 percent per year, on all accounts not paid within 30 days of the date on which they are due.