What to check on an attorney's fee quote
Fixed fee or time-based billing, disbursements, and scope — what to check on a legal fee quote before you instruct.
Is this a fixed fee or time-based billing?
Legal fee structures vary a lot, and it isn't always obvious from a quote which one you're looking at. "Professional fees: R15,000" could mean a fixed fee for the whole matter, or an estimate based on an hourly rate that could run over if the matter takes longer than expected. Ask directly which it is before you instruct.
- Is the quoted amount a fixed fee, or an estimate based on an hourly rate?
- If hourly, what is the rate, and roughly how many hours is the estimate based on?
- What happens to the fee if the matter takes longer than estimated?
Disbursements and scope
Disbursements — court fees, deeds office costs, correspondence with third parties, sometimes counsel's fees — are often billed separately from professional fees and aren't always estimated upfront. Ask for a rough disbursement estimate alongside the professional fee, and get clear on what's included in the current quote versus what would be billed separately if the matter's scope grows.
- Is there an estimate for disbursements, separate from professional fees?
- What's included in this quote, and what would be billed as the matter progresses?
- Is VAT shown as included in the total, or added on top?
This is general information to help you read a quote, not legal or financial advice — it doesn't assess your specific situation and makes no guarantee about any outcome.
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