David Kerstens attaches great importance to clear information about the cost of his services. After all, clients place their trust in him for the protection of their interests and this trust can only be placed after the client has received clear information about the cost of the service.

Fees and costs are charged for the service.

Fees

The fee includes an allowance for intellectual labor. The fee is usually charged at an hourly rate that is determined based on a number of factors such as the complexity or importance of the case, its urgency, the experience in the matter and the financial capacity of the client. In principle, an hourly rate is charged ranging between EUR 100.00 and EUR 180.00, excluding VAT. This rate can be adjusted during the handling of the file, for example multiplied by a coefficient depending on the evolution of the case (both financially and otherwise), the level of difficulty and the result achieved ("success fee").

Some cases lend themselves to the payment of a fee according to the value of the case, which amounts to a percentage of the value of the case that can be determined in money, or a fee depending on the nature of the case, which is a fixed amount per performance or series of performance. In these cases, deviation from charging on the basis of an hourly rate and the deviating agreement will be confirmed in a separate letter.

Unless agreed otherwise at the first meeting in the office, a proposal for reimbursement will always be made as well as an indication of the total cost to allow the client to weigh up the interests involved in the case. After the discussion this is confirmed in a letter or e-mail.

In some cases, the time David Kerstens spends on the file can increase. David Kerstens is aware of this and will always try to correlate his fees with the deployment of the case, but he cannot guarantee this in advance because this often depends on external factors. An example of this is the lodging of an appeal by the other party. Nevertheless, an affordable fee is always sought. In order to limit the time David Kerstens spends on a file, it is requested to provide documents as much as possible in an orderly manner and chronologically ordered.

Cost

The costs are intended to cover the general operating costs of the office of David Kerstens, such as the rooms, staff costs, literature, continuing education, the software, etc. The office costs are charged on a flat-rate basis by calculating 15% of the fees, unless the total of the costs calculated as follows would be more, in which case this total will be charged:

• • file opening: EUR 25.00
• • letter or fax: EUR 15.00
• • e-mail: EUR 9.00
• • copy or scan: EUR 0.40
• • scan: EUR 0.40
• • kilometers traveled by car: EUR 0.40
• • consultation of the database of companies: EUR 25.00
• • consultation of central register: EUR 15.00
• • consultation of the national register: EUR 10.00

All aforementioned amounts are increased with VAT.

Rolling rights that are advanced by David Kerstens are charged at cost price.

Free legal assistance

For many cases you can rely on a legal assistance insurance. Such insurance is often taken out when entering into other insurance policies such as civil liability, car, family or home insurance. There are also general legal assistance insurance policies that are separate from other policies.

It is advisable to take out general legal expenses insurance because for the insured risks the fees and costs are borne by the insurance company up to a certain amount. In most of those cases the intervention of your lawyer will not cost you anything. Companies do have to pay VAT, which they can then recuperate in the VAT return.

If your income falls within the limits of the free legal second-line assistance, you can call on a lawyer who is registered on the list of volunteers free of charge. You can find more information about this on the website of the Bar of the Province of Antwerp (www.balieantwerpen.be).