Fees & Billing
Services & Rates
| Service | Rate |
|---|---|
| Initial Consultation Includes 30 minutes of client consultation and 30 minutes of legal services. The best way to assess your situation and determine whether and how ExpatLegal can help. | $50 flat fee |
| Legal Services — Non-Appearance All legal work that does not require an appearance: document drafting and review, legal and factual research, correspondence, investigative services, case preparation, and similar matters. | $50 per hour |
| Appearance Services In-person consultations, representation at court hearings, administrative proceedings, tribunals, and any other formal appearance on behalf of the client. | $80 per hour |
| Travel Billed when travel is required in service of the client's matter. Airfare is charged at cost when flying is necessary or when it materially reduces cost or time relative to ground transport. Travel time is billed at the travel rate regardless of the nature of the underlying service. | $25 per hour + expenses |
Billing Policies
Minimum Billable Increment
6 minutes (0.1 hr) — time is rounded up to the nearest tenth of an hour.
IVA
All fees are exclusive of IVA (value-added tax). IVA is currently 15% and will be added to invoices as required by Ecuadorian law.
Expenses
Out-of-pocket expenses (filing fees, notarial fees, certified copies, courier, etc.) are billed at cost and itemized separately.
Retainer
Ongoing matters may require a retainer, applied against billed time. Unused retainer funds are returned at the close of the matter.
Payment
Invoices are payable within 14 days of issuance. Accepted methods will be confirmed at engagement.
Pro Bono
ExpatLegal S.A.S. may, at its sole discretion, offer reduced or pro bono services where a particular aspect of a matter is of special interest.
Right of refusal. ExpatLegal S.A.S. reserves the right to decline any client or matter without obligation to provide a reason. Acceptance of a consultation does not constitute acceptance of ongoing representation.
This fee schedule is provided for informational purposes and is subject to change. The rates applicable to your matter will be confirmed in writing at engagement. Nothing on this page constitutes a contract or guarantee of services.