Clarity and transparency are of course paramount. You need to know who you are doing business with and on what terms.
The office
I am Mr E.F.M. (Ellen) van Swaaij, acting under the trade name of my company/one-man business Ellen van Swaaij Familierecht in Maastricht. I am registered as a lawyer with the Netherlands Bar Association under bar number A07880. The company is registered in the Trade Register of the Chamber of Commerce under number 20169330. The VAT number of the company is NL001945574B56.
The assignment and conditions
An interview with a potential client, when the assignment is actually given, is followed by a clear and written assignment confirmation. This describes not only the problem and the intended route to solve it (as discussed), but also under what financial conditions. General Terms and Conditions apply to all assignments. I also have a Complaints Procedure, which is followed in case you are not (entirely) satisfied with the execution of the assignment. Naturally, I also have a privacy statement. I have registered the law of persons and family law, inheritance law and mediation as legal fields at the Netherlands Bar Association. One of the requirements of this registration is that I attend annual training courses in these areas of law. I only accept assignments in these areas of law, so that you can be assured of the specialist knowledge required to handle your case.
Rate and method of billing; payment
My hourly rate is currently (2023) € 272.25 including VAT (€ 225.00 excluding 21% VAT). For assignments already accepted, the hourly rate agreed at the time remains applicable. I do not charge an office surcharge or travel expenses. I do not take on cases on the basis of financed legal aid (addition at the Legal Aid Board). Cases previously taken on that basis are of course handled until they are completed.
Work done by a lawyer or mediator is always tailor-made. To put it straight, a bill of costs is actually always disappointing. This should therefore definitely be taken into account when determining the strategy to be followed. A good cost-benefit analysis is indispensable.
I assist entrepreneurs and director-major shareholders. A family law or inheritance law assignment almost always concerns the entrepreneur as a private individual, not as an entrepreneur. Declarations will therefore be made in the person's name, and not in the name of the company, as they are not business expenses. This important rule applicable to lawyers should prevent tax evasion by naming private expenses as business expenses.
Finally, a lawyer should not accept cash payments, except in very exceptional cases and then only after consultation with the Dean. Thus, payments should always be made by bank to the bank account number specified on the statements of fees.
No management of third-party funds.
My office does not manage funds for the benefit of third-party beneficiaries and does not have a foundation to manage third-party funds and other assets. To the extent that funds are nevertheless received on my business account from an entitled party (usually a client), they are immediately transferred to (exclusively) the entitled party.
You can view or download the documents by clicking on the links.
The office
I am Mr E.F.M. (Ellen) van Swaaij, acting under the trade name of my company/one-man business Ellen van Swaaij Familierecht in Maastricht. I am registered as a lawyer with the Netherlands Bar Association under bar number A07880. The company is registered in the Trade Register of the Chamber of Commerce under number 20169330. The VAT number of the company is NL001945574B56.
The assignment and conditions
An interview with a potential client, when the assignment is actually given, is followed by a clear and written assignment confirmation. This describes not only the problem and the intended route to solve it (as discussed), but also under what financial conditions. General Terms and Conditions apply to all assignments. I also have a Complaints Procedure, which is followed in case you are not (entirely) satisfied with the execution of the assignment. Naturally, I also have a privacy statement. I have registered the law of persons and family law, inheritance law and mediation as legal fields at the Netherlands Bar Association. One of the requirements of this registration is that I attend annual training courses in these areas of law. I only accept assignments in these areas of law, so that you can be assured of the specialist knowledge required to handle your case.
Rate and method of billing; payment
My hourly rate is currently (2023) € 272.25 including VAT (€ 225.00 excluding 21% VAT). For assignments already accepted, the hourly rate agreed at the time remains applicable. I do not charge an office surcharge or travel expenses. I do not take on cases on the basis of financed legal aid (addition at the Legal Aid Board). Cases previously taken on that basis are of course handled until they are completed.
Work done by a lawyer or mediator is always tailor-made. To put it straight, a bill of costs is actually always disappointing. This should therefore definitely be taken into account when determining the strategy to be followed. A good cost-benefit analysis is indispensable.
I assist entrepreneurs and director-major shareholders. A family law or inheritance law assignment almost always concerns the entrepreneur as a private individual, not as an entrepreneur. Declarations will therefore be made in the person's name, and not in the name of the company, as they are not business expenses. This important rule applicable to lawyers should prevent tax evasion by naming private expenses as business expenses.
Finally, a lawyer should not accept cash payments, except in very exceptional cases and then only after consultation with the Dean. Thus, payments should always be made by bank to the bank account number specified on the statements of fees.
No management of third-party funds.
My office does not manage funds for the benefit of third-party beneficiaries and does not have a foundation to manage third-party funds and other assets. To the extent that funds are nevertheless received on my business account from an entitled party (usually a client), they are immediately transferred to (exclusively) the entitled party.
You can view or download the documents by clicking on the links.
GENERAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS
PRIVACY STATEMENT
MODEL OFFICE COMPLAINTS PROCEDURE
MODEL PUBLIC AND PUBLICLY ACCESSIBLE DISCLOSURE OF REGISTRATION
PRIVACY STATEMENT
MODEL OFFICE COMPLAINTS PROCEDURE
MODEL PUBLIC AND PUBLICLY ACCESSIBLE DISCLOSURE OF REGISTRATION