Lawyer Referrals & Lawyer Fees
Some matters must be handled by a lawyer. We refer you to an experienced Ontario lawyer at no cost to you: you pay only the lawyer’s own fee. 2008 lawyer services across 25 areas. Fees shown are typical Ontario ranges; the lawyer quotes the actual fee. HST extra.
- We recommend a lawyer with the expertise for your matter, and at least one other you could choose instead.
- You are under no obligation to accept the referral, and you can end the lawyer’s retainer at any time.
- You pay the lawyer’s fee only. If the lawyer pays us a referral fee, it comes out of their fee, only after they are paid, and never increases what you pay.
- Any referral fee is set out in the Law Society’s Referral Agreement, which you sign, and you receive the Law Society’s “What Clients Need to Know”.
This website provides general information about legal service packages available in Ontario. It does not provide legal advice. Submitting a request does not create a lawyer-client relationship. Legal services are subject to conflict checks, lawyer approval, scope confirmation, signed retainer agreement, and payment arrangements. Do not submit confidential or urgent information through this website unless and until a lawyer confirms that they can act for you. This website is for Ontario legal services only.
Administering a testamentary trust for a vulnerable beneficiary
Ongoing legal support for trustees of a Henson or other testamentary trust.
Administering an insolvent estate
Handling an estate whose debts exceed its assets, including creditor priorities.
Administering the estate of a status First Nations person
Administering an estate where Indian Act rules apply to property or the will.
Advance care directive with detailed treatment wishes
A written record of your wishes about treatment, life support and end-of-life care.
Advice for a beneficiary on rights in an estate
A consultation for a beneficiary on what they are owed and how to get information.
Advice for a person named as an attorney
Advice for someone named as an attorney on duties, record-keeping, conflicts and personal liability.
Agreement to make a will or mutual wills
A contract that two people will not change their wills or will leave property in a set way.
Alter ego or joint partner trust
A living trust for people 65 and older to avoid probate.
Amending an estate certificate for newly found assets
Updating the estate certificate and filings when assets are found after probate.
Amending or restating a trust deed
Updating the terms of an existing trust within the powers in the deed.
Ancillary estate certificate based on a foreign grant of probate
Using a probate or similar order from another country to deal with assets in Ontario.
Annual trust administration
Trustee resolutions, distributions and records for an existing family or testamentary trust.
Appeal of an estate decision to the Court of Appeal
An appeal of a Superior Court decision in an estate or trust matter.
Application to interpret an unclear will
A court application asking a judge to decide what an unclear will means.
Application to remove an estate trustee
A court application to remove an estate trustee for misconduct, delay or conflict.
Application to vary or terminate a trust
A court application to change or end a trust, including for beneficiaries who cannot consent.
Appointing or replacing a trustee
Documents and notices to appoint, remove or replace a trustee of a trust.
Appointment of an estate trustee during litigation
A motion to have a neutral person manage the estate while a dispute is decided.
Attorney compensation and record-keeping agreement
An agreement on pay, expenses and records between a person and their attorney for property.
Bare trust agreement
A written agreement that one person holds legal title to property for another.
Beneficiary demand for an accounting
Demanding and, if needed, forcing an estate trustee to account for the estate.
Beneficiary designation review (RRSP, RRIF, TFSA, insurance)
A review of who is named on registered plans and policies and how they fit with the will.
Breach of trust claim against a trustee
A claim against a trustee of a trust who misused funds or broke the terms of the trust.
Buy-out agreement between siblings who inherit a property
A written agreement for one beneficiary to buy out the others' interests in inherited property.
How a referral works, step by step
You ask us
Tell us in a few words what the matter is about, through the contact page or by phone at 647-200-3526. Give us the names of the other people involved so we can check for a conflict of interest, and hold back documents and details for now.
We check whether a lawyer is needed
We look at whether your matter, or any part of it, is one a licensed paralegal is not permitted to handle. If it is something we can help with ourselves, we tell you, and the choice of who to hire is yours.
We recommend a lawyer, and at least one more
We name a lawyer we believe has relevant experience for this kind of matter, and at least one other lawyer you could choose instead. If it isn’t reasonably possible to name a second, we tell you why.
We tell you why, and about any relationship
You hear why each lawyer was recommended, and whether NEO has any relationship with them, such as a personal, family or business connection.
You choose
Pick one of the lawyers we named, find your own, or use the Law Society Referral Service. You don’t have to accept a referral. If you go ahead, we pass your name and a short summary to the lawyer only with your permission, or you can contact them yourself.
If a referral fee applies, you sign the Referral Agreement
The Law Society’s standard Referral Agreement, signed by you, NEO and the lawyer, sets out the referral fee, how it is worked out and when it is payable. With it you get the Law Society’s information sheet for clients, and a reasonable chance to read both before you sign.
The lawyer checks, quotes and agrees terms with you
The lawyer runs their own conflict check and decides whether they can act. If they can, they tell you the scope of the work and their fee, and you agree the terms with them, normally in a written retainer agreement. The lawyer is then responsible to you for that work.
You pay the lawyer directly
The lawyer’s fee is paid to the lawyer, not to NEO. If a referral fee is payable, the lawyer pays it to us out of their fee, only after you have paid them, and it is shown on the lawyer’s account to you. It does not increase what you pay.
Your rights when we refer you
Why we refer some matters
NEO is a licensed paralegal firm, not a law firm. The Law Society of Ontario licenses paralegals to provide only certain legal services. When a matter, or part of one, is something a licensed paralegal is not permitted to handle, we tell you so and, if you would like, recommend Ontario lawyers who can. If we can’t act for you because of a conflict of interest, we may still point you to a lawyer, but no referral fee is paid on that referral.
Told in writing, before you agree
If a referral fee will be paid, the Referral Agreement states the amount or how it is worked out and when it becomes payable. You also get the Law Society’s information sheet for clients, with a reasonable chance to read both before you sign.
Free to say no
You are under no obligation to accept a referral, and you don’t have to give a reason.
No increase to your fee
Any referral fee comes out of the lawyer’s fee and does not increase what you pay. The lawyer pays it, and only after you have paid the lawyer.
Free to choose another lawyer
You can hire a lawyer we did not name, one you find yourself, or one through the Law Society Referral Service.
Told why, and about any relationship
We explain why we recommended each lawyer and tell you about any relationship between NEO and that lawyer.
A recommendation based on your matter
We recommend lawyers we believe have the expertise for your matter; you decide whether to hire them, and the lawyer decides whether they can act.
- The lawyer’s fee to you
- $3,000 + HST
- The most the lawyer could pay NEO as a referral fee15% of that fee, paid by the lawyer out of it, after you have paid them
- $450
- What the lawyer keeps, at least
- $2,550
- Added to your fee because of the referral
- Nothing
Your fee is $3,000 + HST; the most the lawyer could pay us is $450, out of that $3,000, after you have paid them.
Example only: a made-up fee to show the arithmetic, not any lawyer’s price or quote. A referral fee can be less than the most allowed, or there may be none. The amount in your case, if any, is written in your Referral Agreement.
The Law Society’s own documents, including the standard Referral Agreement and its information sheet for clients, are on its referral fees page. You can also read our Referral Fees Policy.
A referral fee can be at most 15% of the first $50,000 of the lawyer’s fees plus 5% of fees above $50,000, and never more than $25,000. For example, on $100,000 of legal fees the most is $10,000 ($7,500 + $2,500). It is paid by the lawyer, never by you, and is noted on the lawyer’s account to you. Read our Referral Fees Policy.
The Law Society Referral Service gives free referrals: findlegalhelp.ca, or 1-855-947-5255 (Monday to Friday, 9 am to 5 pm) if you are in crisis.
Questions about lawyer referrals
Why would NEO refer me to a lawyer?
NEO is a licensed paralegal firm, not a law firm. The Law Society of Ontario licenses paralegals to provide only certain legal services. If your matter, or part of it, is one a licensed paralegal is not permitted to handle, we tell you as soon as we know and can recommend Ontario lawyers who can help.
Does a referral cost me anything?
We don’t charge you for a referral. You pay only the lawyer you hire, under that lawyer’s own retainer. If the lawyer pays NEO a referral fee, it comes out of the lawyer’s fee and does not increase what you pay.
Who pays the referral fee, and how large can it be?
The lawyer pays it, never you, and only after you have paid the lawyer. The Law Society sets the limit: up to 15% of the first $50,000 of the lawyer’s fees + 5% above (max $25,000). For example, on $10,000 of the lawyer’s fees the most is $1,500, and on $100,000 it is $10,000; it can never be more than $25,000. The fee in your case, if there is one, is written in your Referral Agreement. See our Referral Fees Policy.
Can I choose my own lawyer instead?
Yes. You don’t have to accept a referral. You can hire any lawyer we name, a lawyer you find yourself, or one through the Law Society Referral Service, which is free to use.
Why do you name more than one lawyer?
So the choice is really yours. When a referral fee may be paid, the Law Society’s rules also require us to recommend at least two lawyers where that is reasonably possible. If only one suitable lawyer can be named, we tell you why and, if a referral fee applies, the reason is written into the Referral Agreement.
Do you have a relationship with the lawyers you recommend?
If NEO has any relationship with a lawyer we recommend, whether personal, family or business, we tell you before you decide and, if a referral fee applies, it is also set out in the Referral Agreement. An arrangement for that lawyer to pay us a referral fee is disclosed to you the same way.
What do the fee ranges on this page mean?
They are typical ranges for what Ontario lawyers charge for that kind of work, to help you plan. They are not a quote and not the price of any particular lawyer; the lawyer you choose sets the actual fee after reviewing your matter. “From” shows a starting point, “/hr” is an hourly rate, “Lawyer quotes” means the fee depends too much on the details to give a range, and “Contingency” means the lawyer is paid a share of any money recovered.
Is HST included in the fees shown?
No. The fees on this page are before HST, which the lawyer charges on their fee. Disbursements, such as court or government filing fees, searches and couriers, are usually extra as well. The lawyer’s retainer should say what is and isn’t included.
What will I be asked to sign?
If a referral fee applies, the Law Society’s standard Referral Agreement, signed by you, NEO and the lawyer. With it you receive the Law Society’s information sheet for clients, and a reasonable chance to read both before you sign. If you hire the lawyer, you agree the work, the fee and how you pay with the lawyer, normally in the lawyer’s own written retainer agreement; NEO is not a party to it.
Is what I tell you kept confidential before I hire anyone?
We treat what you tell us as confidential and pass your details to a lawyer only with your permission. Until we, or the lawyer, confirm that we can help, please share only what is needed to check for conflicts: your name, the names of the other people involved and the type of matter. Hold back documents and the details of what happened until then.
How long does a referral take?
It depends on the matter and on when lawyers are available, so we can’t promise a timeline. If you have a hearing date, a limitation period or any other deadline, tell us in your first message. If it is very close, don’t wait on a referral: contact a lawyer directly or the Law Society Referral Service right away.
What if the lawyer can’t take my matter?
Each lawyer decides whether they can act, and may decline because of a conflict of interest, their workload or the type of work. If that happens, let us know: we can suggest another lawyer, or you can use the Law Society Referral Service. No referral fee is payable unless you hire a lawyer and pay them.
What if I can’t afford a lawyer?
If your income is low, Legal Aid Ontario may be able to help with some kinds of legal problems; its website explains who qualifies. You can ask any lawyer we name whether they accept legal aid certificates. Community legal clinics funded by Legal Aid Ontario also help people who qualify with some matters, at no charge.
How do I make a complaint?
You can write to us first at info@neolegalservices.com, but you don’t have to. The Law Society of Ontario regulates both lawyers and paralegals and accepts complaints about either, including about how a referral or a referral fee was handled. Concerns about the lawyer’s own work are usually best raised with the lawyer first. The Law Society can’t change a bill; its page on complaints about legal fees explains the options when you disagree with one.
General information only, not legal advice. NEO Legal Services Professional Corporation is a licensed paralegal firm regulated by the Law Society of Ontario.
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