The price of divorce
Although the government said that divorce proceedings should cost €193 a number of clients have footed exorbitant fees.
In answer to a parliamentary question, justice minister Chris Said said that divorce proceedings in Malta should cost €193. However this has raised a few eyebrows of persons who have obtained a divorce.
While the government has said that lawyers are due €150 and the rest goes towards court expenses, persons have received bills which are much more expensive.
The Yes movement had insisted that the tariffs should not be expensive.
However, the movement's chairperson Deborah Schembri is among the lawyers who is at the centre of such complaints. A bill issued by Schembri, seen by Sunday newspaper Illum amounts to €1,300.
In comments to Illum, Schembri said the €150 tariff is not realistic.
An exercise carried out by the newspaper reveals that a number of legal firms, including Gonzi & Associates Ltd could not guarantee that the tariff stands at €150.
The president of the Chamber of Advocates Rueben Balzan said that the normal practice is to have a price agreed by the client and the lawyer before the case is filed, however clients can always file a complaint with the chamber if they feel that they have been overcharged.
Read more in today's edition of Illum