There is no fixed price list for legal work in India. This guide explains how advocates usually charge, what makes fees go up or down, the government charges you pay separately, and how to get free legal aid if you are eligible.
Mara Vakil editorial team · Updated 16 October 2026
There is no fixed fee scale for advocates in India. Fees depend on the city, court, complexity and the advocate's experience, and are charged per hearing, stage-wise, per document or as a retainer. Court fees, stamp duty and other costs are separate, and free legal aid is available to eligible people.
Advocates in India set their own fees. There is no official scale for most private work, and fees vary widely with the city, the court, the advocate's experience, the complexity of the matter and how much time it needs. Any figure you see quoted online is only a rough indication. The only reliable number is the written quote from the advocate you engage.
Per hearing or appearance: common in litigation, especially in district courts. Stage-wise or lump sum: a fixed amount for a defined piece of work, such as filing a petition or handling a matter up to a particular stage. Per document: for drafting notices, agreements, wills and similar documents. Retainer: a monthly or annual amount for ongoing advice, often used by businesses. Consultation fee: for advice without being engaged for the full matter.
Bar Council of India rules do not allow an advocate to stipulate a fee that depends on the result of the case or to take a share of what you recover. A fee agreement should therefore be for work, not a percentage of the outcome.
The forum matters: High Court and Supreme Court work usually costs more than district court work. Urgency matters: anticipatory bail or an urgent injunction needs immediate time. Complexity matters: matters with many documents, witnesses or parties take longer. Seniority matters: a senior advocate engaged for arguments charges separately from the advocate who handles the case day to day.
Court fees are payable to the government under the Court Fees Act, 1870 as amended by each state, or the state's own court fees law. In many money and property suits the court fee is a percentage of the claim, while petitions in family and criminal matters usually carry small fixed fees. Stamp duty and registration fees for documents are separate government charges fixed by each state.
Other costs can include typing and printing, certified copies of orders, process fees for serving notices, notary charges, travel and, in some cases, fees for experts or local commissioners. Ask your advocate which of these are included in the quote.
Legal services by an advocate to an individual who is not a business entity are exempt from GST. Services to a business entity whose turnover is above the GST threshold are taxable at 18 percent, and the business usually pays the tax under the reverse charge mechanism. Smaller businesses below the threshold are exempt. Your CA can confirm the position for your business.
Before you engage an advocate, ask for a written note of the fee, what work it covers, when payments are due and what expenses are extra. Pay through traceable methods and keep receipts. If the scope of work changes, agree the revised fee in writing as well.
Under the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987, free legal aid is available to women and children, members of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, persons in custody, persons with disabilities, industrial workmen, victims of disasters and trafficking, and people whose income is below the limit set by the state, among others. Contact the District Legal Services Authority at your district court, or call the national helpline 15100.
Lok Adalats, organised by the Legal Services Authorities, settle many disputes without court fees, and if a court fee has been paid it can be refunded when a pending case is settled there.
You never pay Mara Vakil to describe your matter or book a first consultation. Any fee for legal work is agreed directly between you and the advocate.
Before a profile goes live, our team checks the advocate's enrolment number with the State Bar Council records shown on the profile.
Your mobile number is shared only with the advocate who accepts your request, so you are not flooded with calls.
As Bar Council rules require, we do not show ratings, "best lawyer" lists, success rates or paid placements. You choose based on the facts on each profile.
When people ask what a case will cost, they usually mean the advocate's fee. In practice the total has several parts, some paid to the advocate, some to the government, and some to others. Understanding each part makes it much easier to compare quotes and to avoid surprises halfway through.
| Cost | Paid to | When | Usually included in the advocate's quote? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Professional fee | Advocate | As agreed: per hearing, per stage, lump sum or retainer | Yes, this is the quote |
| Senior counsel's fee | Senior advocate, through your advocate | For specific hearings | Usually no |
| Court fee | Government, through court fee stamps or e-payment | On filing, and on appeals | Usually no |
| Stamp duty and registration | State government | When documents are executed or registered | No |
| Process fee | Court | For issuing summons and notices | Sometimes |
| Certified copies | Court copying section | When orders are needed for appeals or records | Sometimes |
| Notary, oath commissioner, typing and printing | Service providers | As documents are prepared | Sometimes |
| Expert, translator, local commissioner | Third parties | When the case needs them | No |
| Travel and stay | Advocate or self | For courts in other cities | Usually no |
| GST | Government, through reverse charge by businesses | On services to business entities above the threshold | Not applicable to individuals |
The sections below explain each of these, how to agree fees safely, how courts sometimes make the losing side pay, and how to keep the total down without cutting corners.
Each way of charging has advantages and risks for the client. Knowing them helps you choose the one that fits your matter, and sometimes to combine two.
| Structure | Works well for | Advantages | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Per appearance | Long-running litigation in district courts | You pay only when work is done; easy to understand | Many short adjournments add up; ask whether a date where nothing happens is charged in full |
| Stage-wise | Cases with clear stages, such as filing, evidence and arguments | Predictable; ties payment to progress | Define each stage precisely, and what happens if the case ends early |
| Lump sum for the whole matter | Defined tasks like a mutual divorce, a bail application or a legal notice | Total is known in advance | Be clear what is excluded, such as appeals or connected cases |
| Per document | Notices, agreements, wills, affidavits | Simple and quick | Ask whether revisions and a consultation are included |
| Hourly | Corporate and advisory work, mostly in larger firms | Pays for actual time | Ask for estimates and regular time statements |
| Retainer | Businesses needing regular advice | Access without negotiating each time | Define what the retainer covers and what is billed extra |
| Consultation only | Getting a view before deciding | Low commitment | A short consultation cannot replace a full review of documents |
The Bar Council of India's rules on professional conduct do not allow an advocate to fix a fee that depends on winning, or to take a share of the money or property recovered in the case. An agreement that you will pay "thirty per cent of whatever we recover" is not permitted. Bonuses tied to the outcome raise the same concern. Fees must be for the work done.
Many engagements mix structures: a lump sum for drafting and filing, then a per-appearance fee for hearings, or a fixed fee up to a stage with a separate fee for any appeal. A combination can match cost to work better than any single method. Whatever the mix, write down which part applies to what, so there is no doubt later.
Advocates commonly ask for part of the fee in advance, especially for drafting and filing. This is normal. What matters is that the advance relates to defined work, that you get a receipt, and that the balance and its timing are written down.
In High Courts and the Supreme Court, an important hearing may be argued by a senior advocate, briefed by your regular advocate or advocate-on-record. The senior advocate's fee is separate and usually charged per appearance or conference. Ask in advance whether a senior will be needed, for which hearings, and the likely fee, so the total is not a surprise.
We do not publish rupee figures for advocates' fees, because they vary too much between cities, courts and advocates to be useful, and because quoting them would risk misleading readers. The factors that push a bill up or down, though, are much the same everywhere. Use this table to ask the right questions.
| Matter | Main cost drivers | Extra expenses to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Bail application | Court level, seriousness of offence, urgency, number of hearings | Certified copies, travel to the court, surety documents |
| Mutual divorce | Whether terms are already settled, waiver application, connected cases | Notary, photographs, certified copy of decree |
| Contested divorce | Number of years, interim applications, evidence and witnesses | Process fees, copies, travel, expert or counsellor reports |
| Cheque bounce complaint | Number of hearings, whether the accused appears, settlement | Court fee on the complaint, process fee, notice charges |
| Property suit | Value of property, number of parties, interim injunction hearings | Ad valorem court fee, survey or commissioner fees, certified revenue records |
| Consumer complaint | Amount involved, whether the company contests, testing of goods | Fee above the nil slab, testing fees, notary |
| Property purchase check | Number of title documents, years of search, location | Encumbrance and records fees, stamp duty and registration |
| Will drafting | Complexity of assets and family, number of beneficiaries | Registration fee if registered, witness and notary charges |
| Writ petition in a High Court | Complexity, urgency, whether a senior is engaged | Court fee, paper book printing, travel |
| Company and tax work | Volume of documents, regulatory filings, deadlines | Government filing fees, CA certificates |
Beyond money, litigation costs time: days off work for hearings, travel, and the effort of gathering documents. When comparing options such as settlement, mediation or a full trial, count this too. For many people, a quicker route that costs a little more in fees saves far more in lost work and stress.
For an idea of what each kind of case involves, read the practice guides on divorce, bail, property, consumer and civil matters.
Most people's legal matters begin and end here. Advocates commonly charge per appearance or per stage, and many hearings are short. The total depends heavily on how many dates the case takes, so ask for an estimate of the number of hearings and whether short adjournments are charged at the full rate.
Work in a High Court involves more drafting and research, longer paper books and, sometimes, a senior advocate for arguments. Fees per appearance are generally higher than in district courts, and there may be separate charges for drafting, conferences and filing. Clerical charges for filing and listing are sometimes billed separately.
Filing in the Supreme Court is reserved for advocates-on-record, a category of advocates who have passed the Court's own examination. Your case will usually involve an advocate-on-record who files and manages it, and often an arguing counsel or senior advocate. Each may charge separately. Ask for the full team and the fee of each before engaging.
Consumer commissions, rent authorities, RERA, labour courts, tax tribunals and others have their own procedures. Some, like consumer commissions, are designed for people to appear without a lawyer in simple cases. Fees for advocates vary with the complexity and the stakes.
If your case is in another city, consider engaging a local advocate there, who will know the court and save travel costs, rather than paying your home-city advocate to travel for every date. Many advocates work in pairs across cities for this reason.
Fees reflect many things: experience, demand, location and overheads. A higher fee does not by itself mean better work for your particular matter. Fit matters more: an advocate who regularly handles your kind of case in your court.
The advocates on legal aid panels are enrolled members of the Bar like any other, and many have long practices of their own. Panels are maintained by legal services authorities, which can replace an advocate who does not perform.
Court fee is a lawful tax paid to the government through stamps or online, with a receipt. It is entirely different from illegal payments, which should never be made.
Courts can award costs, but the amount often does not cover all legal fees, though realistic costs are increasingly awarded, especially in commercial cases.
A settlement that gives you most of what you wanted, quickly and at lower cost, is often a better result than a judgment years later. Cost is a legitimate factor in that decision.
Such arrangements are not permitted for advocates in India. If someone offers one, treat it as a warning sign.
Court fees are a tax on litigation collected by the State. Each State either amends the Court Fees Act, 1870 for itself or has its own court fees law, so amounts differ across India. The principles are similar everywhere.
For suits claiming money or property, the fee is usually ad valorem: a percentage of the value of the claim, often on a sliding scale with a cap in some States. For many petitions, applications and family or criminal matters, the fee is a small fixed amount. Appeals generally carry a fee calculated on the value of the relief challenged.
The value of a suit decides both the court fee and, often, which court can hear it. Money suits are valued at the amount claimed. Property suits are valued under rules that may use market value, a multiple of land revenue or another basis depending on the State and the type of relief. Suits for declaration or injunction may have their own valuation rules. Under-valuing to save court fee is risky: the court can order the deficit to be paid, and a defendant can object.
Traditionally court fee was paid by affixing court fee stamps to the plaint or petition. Many States now use e-court fee, paid online or at authorised centres, which produces a certificate attached to the filing. If the fee paid is short, the court usually gives time to make up the deficit; if it is not paid, the plaint can be rejected.
An appeal against a money decree usually carries court fee on the amount disputed in the appeal, which can be substantial. Execution applications to enforce a decree generally carry a smaller fee. Before deciding to appeal, weigh the fresh court fee along with the advocate's fee against the realistic chance of success and the amount at stake.
Tribunals and commissions have their own fee rules. Consumer commissions charge nothing up to five lakh rupees of value paid and a graded fee above that; see the consumer fee calculator. RTI applications carry a small fee; see the RTI fee calculator. Rent authorities, RERA, labour courts and tax tribunals each have their own schedules, usually published on their websites.
A person who cannot afford court fee can apply to sue as an indigent person under Order XXXIII of the Code of Civil Procedure. If the court accepts the application, the suit proceeds without the court fee being paid up front, with the fee recoverable from the other side or the State as the court directs at the end.
Documents such as sale deeds, gift deeds, leases, powers of attorney, partnership deeds and many agreements must be stamped, and some must also be registered. Stamp duty is fixed by each State and is often the largest single cost in property matters, far exceeding any legal fee. Registration fees are separate. Under-stamped documents can be impounded and attract penalties. Use the stamp duty calculator or the Delhi stamp duty calculator for estimates, and read the property registration guide.
Courts charge a small process fee for issuing summons and notices. Service by registered post, courier or electronic means may involve additional charges. Publication in a newspaper, when ordered for substituted service, can cost considerably more depending on the newspaper.
Certified copies of orders and judgments are charged per page by the court's copying section, with an extra charge for urgent copies. Revenue records, encumbrance certificates and registration searches carry their own fees.
Affidavits are attested by a notary or oath commissioner for a fee; notary charges for different acts are prescribed under the Notaries Rules. See the affidavit and notary service.
Papers written in a language the court does not use generally have to be translated by a certified translator. Typing, printing and binding of paper books for High Court filings can be significant in document-heavy cases.
Some cases need a handwriting expert, a doctor, an engineer, a valuer or a surveyor, and courts sometimes appoint a local commissioner to inspect property or record evidence, with fees fixed by the court and usually paid initially by the party seeking the commission.
When witnesses are summoned, the party calling them is usually expected to pay their travel and daily expenses as the court fixes. In long trials with several witnesses, this adds up. Your advocate can tell you the court's practice and whether any witness can give evidence by video to save cost.
Many legal tasks involve fees to government departments rather than courts: trademark filings, company registrations, gazette publications for name changes, marriage registration, and so on. Our service pages show the government fee separately from the professional fee where we can, for example for trademark registration and name change in the gazette.
For document work, the bill usually has three parts: the professional fee, the government charge and incidental expenses. Here is how they split for common documents.
| Document | Government charge | Incidentals |
|---|---|---|
| Affidavit | Stamp paper as the State requires | Notary or oath commissioner fee, printing |
| Rent agreement | Stamp duty, and registration fee if registered | Printing, biometric registration appointment where applicable |
| Legal notice | None | Speed post or courier |
| Will | Registration fee if you choose to register | Witness attendance, printing |
| Gift deed | Stamp duty and registration fee, often concessional for close family in some States | Valuation, appointments |
| Power of attorney | Stamp duty, and registration if it concerns immovable property in many States | Attestation, apostille if executed abroad |
| Name change | Gazette publication fee | Affidavit, newspaper advertisement |
| Marriage registration | Registration fee as the State prescribes | Affidavits, photographs, witness attendance |
Each service page on Mara Vakil explains which of these are included in the shown price and which are extra.
Most fee disputes come from things that were never written down. A short engagement letter or written note, even a clear message exchange, protects both client and advocate. It should cover:
Many advocates charge for a first consultation, especially where they must read documents beforehand. Ask in advance whether there is a fee and whether it will be adjusted against the main fee if you engage them. Bring a one-page summary and copies of key documents, so the time is spent on advice rather than gathering facts. On Mara Vakil, posting your matter and receiving a call is free; any consultation fee is between you and the advocate.
Ask for a receipt for every payment. If you are a business, ask for an invoice that allows you to account for GST under reverse charge where it applies. Avoid cash payments without receipts; they make later disputes impossible to resolve.
Switching advocates is your right whenever you choose. The usual practice is to obtain a no-objection from the outgoing advocate and file a fresh vakalatnama for the new one. Settle any fees genuinely owed for work done. An advocate cannot hold on to your case papers to force payment: the Supreme Court held in R.D. Saxena v. Balram Prasad Sharma (2000) that an advocate has no lien over a client's litigation files for unpaid fees and must return them, leaving any fee claim to be pursued separately.
When you speak to more than one advocate, comparing a bare number is misleading. A lower quote may cover less, or may be per hearing in a case with many hearings. Ask each advocate the same questions:
Read how to choose an advocate for more on selecting someone suitable. On Mara Vakil, advocates appear without ratings, rankings or paid placements, and you agree fees directly with the advocate you choose.
Indian courts can order the losing party to pay the winner's costs. In practice, costs awarded have often been modest and do not cover actual legal fees, but the law has been moving towards more realistic costs, and costs can be significant in some cases.
The Supreme Court in Salem Advocate Bar Association v. Union of India (2005) emphasised that costs should be realistic to discourage frivolous litigation, and has repeated the point in later cases.
In matrimonial cases, a spouse without sufficient income can be awarded litigation expenses during the case, for example under Section 24 of the Hindu Marriage Act. This helps level the field when one spouse controls the family's money.
Consumer commissions routinely award costs to a successful complainant in addition to compensation. Tribunals have their own powers. Ask your advocate to claim costs specifically, and keep receipts for expenses.
Higher courts have imposed heavy costs on parties who file repetitive or frivolous petitions, misuse the process to delay, or make false statements. If the other side is behaving this way, ask your advocate whether to seek costs specifically; courts are more likely to award them when asked and when the conduct is clearly shown.
An order for costs is part of the decree or order and can be executed like any other money award. In criminal cases, courts may award compensation to victims, but costs in the civil sense are less common.
Criminal cases are prosecuted by the State, so a victim who has lodged an FIR does not pay for the prosecution itself; the public prosecutor conducts it. Costs arise in other ways.
The bail process guide and the criminal law guide explain the stages that affect cost.
Indians living abroad often handle property, inheritance or family matters in India from a distance. Costs that commonly arise:
Free legal aid is a right, not charity. Article 39A of the Constitution directs the State to ensure equal justice and free legal aid, and the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987 sets up authorities at national, State, district and taluk level to deliver it. Yet many people who qualify never ask.
Section 12 of the Act draws the circle wide. It covers, among others: all women and all children; people from Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes; anyone trafficked or made to do begar; people with disabilities; those hit by a natural calamity, mass disaster or caste or communal violence; factory and industrial workers; anyone held in custody, including in a protective home or psychiatric institution; and anyone earning less than the income ceiling notified for their State or, for Supreme Court cases, by the Supreme Court's legal services committee. The eligibility checker helps you see where you stand.
Legal aid can cover the advocate's fee, court fees, process fees, expenses for witnesses and the cost of preparing paper books, as the authority decides. It extends to advice, drafting, representation in courts and tribunals, and help in Lok Adalats and mediation.
Legal services authorities also run permanent Lok Adalats for disputes about public utility services such as transport, telephone, electricity, water and hospitals. These can decide disputes even if one party does not agree to settle, within the limits set by law, and charge no fee.
If the assigned advocate is not responsive, you can ask the authority to change the advocate. The panel advocate must not demand money from a legal aid client; any such demand should be reported to the authority.
Litigation in India can run for years. Planning money as well as strategy at the start reduces stress later.
For routine, well-defined tasks, a fixed price makes sense. Mara Vakil's legal services list fixed-scope work such as affidavits, rent agreements, name change, legal notices and marriage registration, with the price shown and updated by our team. Before booking any fixed-price service, from us or anyone else, check:
A fixed price is not suitable for matters whose course cannot be predicted, such as contested litigation. In those cases, a stage-wise or per-hearing arrangement with a clear estimate is fairer to both sides.
When comparing fixed prices from different providers, compare like with like: one price may include stamp paper, notary and courier while another adds them later. Ask for the all-in figure for your city and situation before deciding.
Businesses face a different set of legal costs from individuals: contract drafting and review, compliance filings, employment matters, debt recovery, trademark protection and, occasionally, litigation.
The corporate law guide covers compliance and disputes for businesses in more detail.
Whether a short or adjourned hearing is charged depends on what you agreed. Many advocates charge every appearance, because they had to prepare and attend. Others charge less for a mere adjournment. Settle the point when you first agree the fee. Fewer pointless adjournments help your pocket too, so ask your advocate to oppose them when the other side seeks one without good reason.
If you paid a lump sum for the whole matter and the case ended after the first stage, it is reasonable to discuss an adjustment, especially if your agreement said so. If you paid per stage or per hearing, you will simply not pay for stages that did not happen.
Cases throw up unplanned applications: for interim relief, amendments, condonation of delay, or replies to the other side's applications. Ask whether the application is covered by the agreed fee, why it is needed, and what it will cost before it is filed.
Your advocate should explain why a senior is needed, for which hearing, and the fee in advance. You can decline if the cost is not justified, though for crucial High Court or Supreme Court hearings a senior's experience can be valuable.
Government charges should be paid through official channels, such as e-stamping and e-court fee, and you should receive the certificate or receipt. Ask to see it.
Send a written message asking for an update by a date. If there is still no response, consider changing advocate; you are entitled to your files. Serious neglect can be reported to the State Bar Council.
Understanding the other side of the table helps in a fair conversation. When an advocate quotes a fee, they usually consider the time the matter will take, including preparation that you will not see; the complexity of the law and facts; the court and the number of likely hearings; urgency, which may mean dropping other work; their experience in that kind of case; and the overheads of running a chamber, such as staff, rent and research tools. Explaining your budget honestly, and asking what can be done within it, often leads to a workable arrangement. Advocates, for their part, are bound by professional rules: they cannot charge a share of the result, must account for money held for the client, and must not abandon a case without reasonable notice.
Disagreements over fees usually arise from unclear scope or unexpected expenses. Most can be resolved by a frank conversation with the written agreement in hand.
Ask for a breakdown of what has been charged and why. If a hearing was adjourned without any work, or an expense was not agreed, say so politely. Many disputes end at this stage.
An advocate who is owed fees can pursue a civil claim like any other creditor, but, as noted above, cannot hold on to the client's case files as security.
The State Bar Council deals with complaints of professional misconduct by advocates under Section 35 of the Advocates Act, 1961. Misconduct can include taking money for a purpose such as bribing an official, misappropriating money held for the client, abandoning a case without notice, or demanding fees tied to the result. A Bar Council complaint is not a debt collection process; it deals with professional misconduct and can lead to reprimand, suspension or removal from the roll.
Where an advocate receives money on the client's behalf, for example a settlement amount or a refund, the advocate must account for it and should not keep it against fees without the client's agreement.
A fee disagreement in the middle of a case can harm the case itself if it leads to missed dates. If you decide to change advocates, arrange the handover before the next hearing so your matter is never left unattended.
Mara Vakil does not take a share of advocates' fees and is not a party to the fee agreement. If you have a concern about an advocate you found through Mara Vakil, you can still write to us through the grievance process, and we will review the advocate's listing.
These illustrations show the sequence of costs, not specific amounts, which vary widely.
The cheque bounce calculator gives you the notice and filing dates, and see the cheque bounce notice service.
See the property verification service.
In each case, a written quote at the start and a note of expected government fees prevents most surprises.
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Appearance fee | The fee for attending a hearing in court. |
| Conference fee | A fee for a meeting, often with a senior advocate, to discuss the case. |
| Drafting fee | A fee for preparing a document such as a petition, reply, notice or agreement. |
| Reading or perusal fee | A charge for studying a large file before advising or drafting. |
| Retainer | A periodic fee to keep an advocate available for advice. |
| Clerkage | Charges for the advocate's clerk's work in filing, listing and obtaining copies, billed separately by some chambers. |
| Court fee | The government's charge for filing, paid by stamps or online. |
| Ad valorem | Calculated as a percentage of the value of the claim. |
| Process fee | The court's charge for issuing summons or notice. |
| Welfare stamp | A small stamp affixed to a vakalatnama in many States, funding the advocates' welfare fund. |
| Costs | Money a court orders one party to pay the other towards expenses of litigation. |
| Out-of-pocket expenses | Actual expenses such as travel, copies, courier and stamp papers, billed at cost. |
Not for most private work. Advocates set their own fees, though some government bodies and legal aid schemes have their own schedules for the advocates they engage.
No. Bar Council rules prohibit fees contingent on the result or a share of the claim.
Generally no, but when a pending case is settled through a Lok Adalat, the court fee paid can be refunded under the Legal Services Authorities Act.
Individuals who are not business entities are exempt. Businesses above the GST threshold pay 18 percent under reverse charge.
Women, children, SC/ST members, persons in custody, persons with disabilities, workmen, disaster victims and people below the income limit, among others.
No. Describing your matter and booking a first consultation is free. Fees for legal work are agreed directly with the advocate.
Related pages:
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This page gives general information about Indian law. It is not legal advice and is not an advertisement or solicitation by any advocate. Laws and court practice change; confirm the position for your case with an advocate before acting. Mara Vakil is a technology platform, not a law firm. Read our disclaimer.
Because of differences in experience, court and city, the scope of work included, and the fee structure. Compare what each quote covers, not just the number.
Lump-sum suits defined tasks like a notice or a mutual divorce; per-hearing or stage-wise suits long litigation. Ask how adjourned dates are charged.
No. The Supreme Court held in R.D. Saxena v. Balram Prasad Sharma (2000) that an advocate has no lien over a client's case files for unpaid fees.
Yes. Obtain a no-objection, file a fresh vakalatnama for the new advocate and settle fees genuinely owed for work done.
It depends on the State's court fees law and the valuation of the suit, often based on the value of the property or relief claimed.
You can apply to sue as an indigent person under Order XXXIII of the Code of Civil Procedure, or seek free legal aid.
Yes, in Lok Adalat settlements and in settlements reached after a court refers a case under Section 89 CPC, as the law provides.
Yes. Courts can award costs, generally against the losing side, and can impose extra costs for false claims or delay.
Yes, generally there is no charge to the parties.
Not always. Arbitrators' and institutional fees can make arbitration costlier than court for smaller disputes.
Yes. A senior advocate's fee is separate from your regular advocate's fee and is usually per appearance or conference.
Prefer bank transfer or UPI and always take a receipt, so payments can be proved later.
Scope, exclusions, fee structure, payment schedule, expenses, communication and what happens if the engagement ends early.
Refuse. Such requests are corrupt. You can complain to the State Bar Council and the authorities.
Misconduct complaints are heard by a disciplinary committee of the Bar Council of the State on whose rolls the advocate appears.
No. Clients and advocates agree fees directly, and Mara Vakil takes no share.
Notary fees for various acts are prescribed under the Notaries Rules, though additional service charges may apply.
Stamp duty and registration fees paid to the State are usually far larger than legal fees.
No. Legal services by advocates to individuals who are not business entities are exempt.
Check legal aid, use free forums, prepare your documents, consider early settlement and avoid unnecessary hearings.
Filing is done by an advocate-on-record; an arguing counsel or senior advocate may also be engaged, and each charges separately.
A charge some chambers bill separately for the clerk's work in filing, listing and obtaining copies.
A small stamp required in many States that funds the advocates' welfare fund.
Often yes. A local advocate knows the court and saves the travel costs of sending your home-city advocate to every date.
Yes. Panel advocates are enrolled advocates selected by legal services authorities, which can replace an advocate who does not perform.
It can cover the advocate's fee, court fees, process fees, witness expenses and paper book costs, as the authority decides.
No. The State prosecutes through the public prosecutor. A victim may pay a private advocate to assist, but that is optional.
A State scheme, now under Section 396 of the BNSS, through which victims of certain crimes can get compensation via the legal services authority.
Use a properly executed power of attorney, engage a local advocate where the matter is, and ask whether video hearings are allowed.
It depends on your agreement. Many advocates charge every appearance; agree at the start how adjourned dates will be charged.
The party calling a witness usually pays the travel and daily expenses the court fixes. Video evidence, where allowed, can reduce this.
Yes. An appeal carries its own court fee, often calculated on the amount disputed in the appeal.
Yes, many advocates charge for consultations. Ask beforehand whether the fee is adjusted if you engage them.
Free, enrolment-checked profile. Client requests in your practice area, no commission on your fees, a free case diary and your court group. Apply in about 10 minutes.