What is a retainer agreement in my family law case?

When an individual hires a lawyer on a family law case, they will be asked to sign a retainer agreement. A retainer agreement sets out the parameters and terms of the relationship between the client and the firm.

A retainer agreement is obligated to include specific terms outlined by the Law Society of Upper Canada.

The contents of a retainer agreement include, but are not limited to outlining the specific expectations and goals, the nature of the services that the firm will provide, as well as any limitations on the scope of the case.

In addition, the retainer agreement also encompasses the agreement of the client to pay the firm for the services that they are providing. It outlines the way in which a client will be charged for the matter, whether it is on an hourly basis or fixed-fee. It may also state how often the client in a family law case will receive a statement of account.

The individual will also be asked to pay a “retainer fee,” which is a specific outlined amount of money paid up front to the law firm. The “retainer fee” acts as a deposit on account of future fees and services. The retainer fee is not a predictor of what a legal case will ultimately cost.