Frequently Asked Questions

  • Please pick up the phone and call us. You can speak to one of our friendly staff or lawyers who can point you in the right direction or book you in for an initial consultation and go from there.

    If you don't know what to do, where to turn, or what your rights and entitlements are, we are here to listen to you. We will help you take the first step. That’s what we do.

  • Our objective is to give you the best value for money to achieve the best outcome, so we charge by a combination of hourly rates and a scale of charges. The hourly rates for each of our lawyers will depend on their level of experience. If you decide to use our firm, you will be sent a detailed Costs Agreement and Disclosure Statement that will give you greater clarity on how we charge, after we have assessed the scope of our instructions.

    Due to the unique nature of each client's circumstances, it is generally not possible for us to definitively estimate your total costs in representing or assisting you through to the conclusion of your matter, but we will keep you appraised of your legal costs and provide an estimate of fees at various stages as your matter progresses.

    JH Legal appreciates that not all clients can pay our invoices in full when rendered. We are happy to discuss your particular circumstances with you and consider payment plans, payment from settlement, or a deferral of professional fees, on a case-by-case basis.

  • The costs and emotional toll of going through a family law separation are at the forefront of our minds when giving advice on ways to move forward. While we are conscious that our clients wish to resolve their family law matters both expeditiously and cost-effectively, we cannot guarantee the length of time it will take to achieve the desired outcome.

    There are many variables that can impact the duration of the process, including response times, participation in pre-action procedures (i.e. attending Mediation), Court dates and compliance with disclosure obligations etc. We pride ourselves on achieving a prompt turnover in work, and being responsive and accessible at all stages along the way.

  • If you are experiencing family violence or are fearful for your safety, you must first find a safe place for yourself and/or any other affected family members. Please contact the Police immediately.

    We have included links to domestic violence and support service providers here on our website. You can access them immediately by clicking here.

    Please contact us as soon as possible after you have made arrangements to secure your safety so we can assist you with the next steps. You can be assured that your safety and security are of paramount importance to us.

  • Absolutely. JH Legal can organise consultations either by Zoom or Microsoft Teams, whichever is the most convenient for you.

  • We charge $500.00 plus GST for a basic Will and $250.00 plus GST for a Power of Attorney and/or a Medical Treatment Decision Maker document. Amendments to existing documents that may be more complex, or any advice required, will be charged at our hourly rates.

    If your circumstances are such that you require a testamentary trust to be established, we will refer you to a specialist Wills and Estates lawyer.

  • We have an extensive network of specialists who we would be happy to refer you to. Please call us and we will refer you to another practitioner (in many other areas of law), or law firm. Alternatively, you can contact the Law Institute of Victoria referral service on (03) 9607 9550.