What is the cost of starting a civil lawsuit?
The cost of starting a civil lawsuit depends on several factors, including which court you file in, the nature of your claim, and whether you hire a lawyer.
Court Filing Fees
Most courts charge a fee when filing documents, whether you are the one initiating the claim or responding to it.
British Columbia
- In provincial court, the filing fee depends on the amount of the claim. If the claim is $3,000 or less, the fee is $100. If the claim is over $3,000, the fee is $156.
- In Supreme Court, the filing fee for a notice of civil claim is $200.
Alberta
- In the court of justice, the filing fee depends on the amount of the claim. For claims up to and including $7,500, the fee is $100. For claims between $7,500 and $100,000, the fee is $200.
- At the court of king’s bench, it is $300 to file a statement of claim.
Legal Fees
If you hire a lawyer to represent you – meaning they take instructions from you and manage your entire file (also known as full representation) - you’ll also need to pay their hourly rate, which typically ranges from $200 to $600+, depending on the lawyer’s experience and location.
There are also more affordable options. At Crossroads Law, we offer legal coaching services, where you represent yourself but work with one of our experienced lawyers in the background. We can assist with drafting legal documents, providing advice, and helping you prepare for court. This option allows you to stay in control of your file and get help only when you need it. Because you’re not paying for a lawyer to handle every step, it can significantly reduce your overall legal costs.
Other Costs
In addition to court and legal fees, there may be other expenses such as:
- Process servers.
- Expert reports.
- Court applications.
- Mediation.
Because there is no set timeline for resolving a civil lawsuit, it’s difficult to accurately predict the total costs. The longer a lawsuit continues, the more legal fees will accumulate. Costs may range from a few hundred dollars to tens of thousands of dollars, depending on the complexity of the case, whether you hire a lawyer, and whether the matter settles or goes to trial.
This FAQ was prepared by Vancouver Civil and Estate Litigation Lawyer, Jiya Dassan, and Calgary Articling Student Neema Khalili.
