Fees and What to Expect
No one likes fee surprises, least of all from their attorney. Here is how our fees work, starting with the consultation prices we actually charge.
Consultation Fees
Every matter starts with a consultation with an attorney, in office in St Ann's Bay or online worldwide. These are the current fees, exactly as charged on our booking page.
Not sure yet?
A 15-minute call before you commit
A short virtual call to confirm whether Whyte Law can act, what the work will cost and what happens next. It is not a consultation and we do not advise on your matter during it.
The fee is credited in full against a full consultation booked within 30 days.
- Fee
- J$5,000 or US$35
- Length
- 15 minutes, online
- Held
- Monday to Wednesday
| Consultation | Duration | Fee (J$) | Fee (US$) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scoping Call15 min | 15 min | J$5,000 | US$35 |
| Property Purchase60 min | 60 min | J$22,000 | US$165 |
| Property Law60 min | 60 min | J$22,000 | US$165 |
| Property Sale60 min | 60 min | Free | Free |
| Estate Administration60 min | 60 min | J$22,000 | US$165 |
| Divorce60 min | 60 min | J$22,000 | US$165 |
| Adverse Possession60 min | 60 min | J$25,000 | US$185 |
| General Consultation60 min | 60 min | J$16,000 | US$120 |
| Will60 min | 60 min | J$22,000 | US$165 |
| Registration of Land60 min | 60 min | J$25,000 | US$185 |
A full consultation covers an assessment of your matter, preliminary advice and guidance on next steps. It does not include ongoing representation or document preparation. The scoping call is shorter and different: it settles whether we can act and what it will cost, without advice on the matter itself.
How Our Professional Fees Work
1. Written fee guidance before work begins
After your consultation, you receive a clear breakdown of estimated professional fees and the retainer required for your matter, in writing. Substantive work starts only after the retainer agreement is signed and the deposit is received, so you always know the cost before you commit.
2. Fees scale with the matter, and fixed fees are used where the work allows
Professional fees depend on the nature and complexity of your matter. For well-defined work, we quote fixed fees so the number you agree is the number you pay. Where a matter is open-ended, we explain how the fee is calculated before you engage us.
3. Government fees and disbursements are separate, and itemised
Statutory and third-party charges are not professional fees and are payable to the relevant agency. They are itemised and explained before they are incurred. Common examples:
- •Stamp duty and transfer tax
- •National Land Agency (NLA) registration fees
- •Court filing fees
- •Companies Office of Jamaica fees
- •Tax Administration Jamaica fees
- •Valuation fees (third party)
- •Survey fees (third party)
- •Advertising and gazette fees
The full engagement framework is set out in our Engagement Terms.
Know exactly where you stand
Book a consultation and leave with a clear view of your matter, the likely costs and the next steps.