Fees

When a family breaks up, the strain on finances is often greater than it has ever been and ever will be.  The Canadian Co-Parenting Centres endeavors to provide exceptionally high quality services at rates that are affordable, and proportional to each person's financial circumstances.

In an effort to foster a symbiotic relationship, whereby clients receiving services contribute to the agency relative to their capacity, we have structured our fees in a unique way.

Clients are asked to make a monthly charitable donation.  The benefit to clients is that they get a portion back through their income taxes, thus reducing the costs, and they can budget for a fixed amount, rather than having to pay a large amount in the initial weeks when there is usually a backlog of work that needs to be done.

A suitable amount to donate is determined by a variety of things, including: a person's income, extraordinary expenses, other charitable contributions, level of discretionary spending, legal costs to date, etc.  The amount is also a function of the agency's ability to generate funding from other sources.

Deposit Agreement

The deposit is structured so that it has no immediate financial impact on a person.  Instead of asking for a large retainer, as many professionals do, we simply have people sign a form and we take a manual imprint of their credit card.  The $500 deposit does not get processed, so it won't show up on your next statement.  It's simply held as a deposit.  - link to Deposit Agreement

Monthly Donations

The requested monthly donation is typically in the $75 to $175 range, but may be higher or lower in some circumstances.  Once your family is on track and the level of assistance and intervention required diminishes, the monthly donations may need to continue for a few months, at which point the agency will contact you and invite you to reduce the donation amount, or you may choose to cease donating entirely.

Monthly donations can be set up through CanadaHelps.org, or done through pre-authorized debits to a credit card using this form, PAD Agreement, or by providing post-dated cheques.  The agency's bank account does not currently have the capacity to do pre-authorized debits from bank accounts.

If a client wants to have someone make the donation on his or her behalf so that a larger tax refund is received, that's fine.

Fee Agreement

Some people drive the speed limit regardless of whether there's ever a radar trap or a risk of getting charged a fine.  For others, if the fine for speeding was zero or very little, then they would not adhere to the posted limit.  Similarly, parents sometimes stray from ideal behaviour when there is no risk of a consequence.  To bolster the voice of a person's conscience, clients are asked to sign a Fee Agreement, that can be used as needed.  - link to Fee Agreement Rev. 3.0

Personal Guarantee  

If the agency expends resources and does not receive the expected contribution back, it impacts all the good people who are doing their part.  To ensure that the generosity of the agency is not exposed to the hazard of bankruptcy, we ask people to have someone provide a personal guarantee. - link to Personal Guarantee

Open to Suggestions

The agency is always striving to find the very best ways of doing things, and we are always open to finding creative solutions to accommodate all circumstances.  If you have questions or concerns about any of the above agreements, or feel that you have unique circumstances that need special consideration, please contact us and we will work something out.

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