Pricing

Hourly Rate and Approach

At D-Legal, we use a fair and transparent hourly rate of €121 including VAT. This is considerably lower than at many law firms, where hourly rates of €250 to €350 excluding VAT are common. For this rate, you receive dedicated and knowledgeable legal support, with clear explanations of what we do, why we do it, and what it means for your case. No unnecessary work, no hidden costs.

Hourly Rate and Approach

At D-Legal, we use a fair and transparent hourly rate of €121 including VAT. This is considerably lower than at many law firms, where hourly rates of €250 to €350 excluding VAT are common. For this rate, you receive dedicated and knowledgeable legal support, with clear explanations of what we do, why we do it, and what it means for your case. No unnecessary work, no hidden costs.

Cases against the government: start-up fee only

In cases against a government authority, such as objection or appeal proceedings against a decision of a municipality or another administrative body, you only pay the initial start-up fee at the beginning of the case. These consist of:

Analysis of your file
Drafting a notice of objection or appeal
If necessary: initial correspondence with the authority

The amount of work depends on the complexity of the case:

Simple objection: approximately 2 hours of work
Average objection or short appeal: approximately 4 hours of work
Complex appeal before the administrative court: up to 8 hours of work

Good to know

If we bring the case to a successful conclusion, in many cases our additional costs are recovered from the government through a reimbursement of legal costs. This means you will not pay more than the agreed advance.

Cases against the government: start-up fee only

In cases against a government authority, such as objection or appeal proceedings against a decision of a municipality or another administrative body, you only pay the initial start-up fee at the beginning of the case.

These consist of:

Analysis of your file
Drafting a notice of objection or appeal
If necessary: initial correspondence with the authority

The amount of work depends on the complexity of the case:

Simple objection: approximately 2 hours of work
Average objection or short appeal: approximately 4 hours of work
Complex appeal before the administrative court: up to 8 hours of work

Good to know

If we bring the case to a successful conclusion, in many cases our additional costs are recovered from the government through a reimbursement of legal costs. This means you will not pay more than the agreed advance.

Disputes with individuals or companies

Gaat het om een geschil met een particulier of bedrijf zoals een klant die weigert te betalen, of een leverancier die een overeenkomst niet nakomt, dan brengen wij ons volledige uurtarief van € 121 inclusief btw in rekening.

In civil proceedings, additional costs apply for:

Summons via bailiff: on average €90 – €130
Court registry fee (court costs):
- €93 to €265 for claims ranging from €500 to €12,500.
- €753 for claims ranging from €12,500 to €25,000.

We always provide a clear estimate of the number of hours in advance and work with an advance payment, so you are never faced with unexpected costs.

Disputes with individuals or companies

If the case involves a dispute with a private individual or a company, such as a client who refuses to pay or a supplier who fails to comply with an agreement, we charge our standard hourly rate of €121 including VAT.

In civil proceedings, additional costs apply for:

Summons via bailiff: on average €90 – €130
Court registry fee (court costs):
- €93 to €265 for claims ranging from €500 to €12,500.
- €753 for claims ranging from €12,500 to €25,000.

We always provide a clear estimate of the number of hours in advance and work with an advance payment, so you are never faced with unexpected costs.

Average cost of a subdistrict court case

Example: you have a claim of €4,000 and the other party refuses to pay. You ask us to start legal proceedings on your behalf. The costs would then look approximately as follows:

Legal work (10 hours × €121): €1,210
Summons via bailiff: €130
Court fee (district court): €265
Total amount: €1,597 including VAT

Advies: niet procederen bij vorderingen onder € 1.000
Zelfs als je de zaak wint, krijg je meestal niet al je kosten vergoed. De rechter gebruikt een vaste staffel (het liquidatietarief), en die ligt doorgaans lager dan de werkelijke kosten. Daarom adviseren wij in de praktijk om niet te procederen bij vorderingen onder de € 1.000, tenzij het gaat om een principiële kwestie of er andere omstandigheden meespelen. We bespreken dit altijd eerlijk vooraf.

Average cost of a subdistrict court case

Example: you have a claim of €4,000 and the other party refuses to pay. You ask us to start legal proceedings on your behalf.

The costs would then look approximately as follows:

Legal work (10 hours × €121): €1,210
Summons via bailiff: €130
Court fee (district court): €265
Total amount: €1,597 including VAT

Advice: avoid legal proceedings for claims under €1,000
Even if you win, you will usually not recover all legal costs. The court applies a fixed compensation scale (the liquidated costs tariff), which is often lower than the actual expenses. For this reason, in practice we usually advise against starting legal proceedings for claims under €1,000, unless the matter is principled or there are other relevant circumstances. We always discuss this with you honestly and in advance.

Working on an Advance Payment

Before we get started, we make a realistic estimate of the number of hours required. Based on this, you will receive an advance invoice. Once it has been paid, we will start work immediately.

If the case requires more work than initially anticipated, we will discuss this with you in good time. This way, you remain in control of the costs and know exactly where you stand.

Intake and Start-up

The advance includes the intake and case preparation. During the intake, we discuss your case, review the relevant documents, and create a plan of action. This forms the foundation of our legal work.

No unexpected costs

The advance includes the intake and case preparation. During the intake, we discuss your case, review the relevant documents, and create a plan of action. This forms the foundation of our legal work.

Working on an Advance Payment

Before we get started, we make a realistic estimate of the number of hours required. Based on this, you will receive an advance invoice. Once it has been paid, we will start work immediately.

If the case requires more work than initially anticipated, we will discuss this with you in good time. This way, you remain in control of the costs and know exactly where you stand.

Intake and Start-up

The advance includes the intake and case preparation. During the intake, we discuss your case, review the relevant documents, and create a plan of action. This forms the foundation of our legal work.

No unexpected costs

The advance includes the intake and case preparation. During the intake, we discuss your case, review the relevant documents, and create a plan of action. This forms the foundation of our legal work.