Methodology

Why this page exists

When you see a cost range or timeline here, you should know where it comes from. This page explains how figures are collected, checked and shown.

Court fees

Court filing fees come straight from the published fee schedules of the Malaysian courts. These are set by subsidiary legislation and are public. We cite the schedule and item number for each fee we quote.

Lawyer fees

Lawyer fee ranges come from several sources:

• Solicitors' Remuneration Order: The fee scale under the Legal Profession Act 1976 for non-contentious work such as conveyancing (the 2023 Order replaced the 2005 Order). It does not cover court proceedings or contested work, so divorce litigation fees are agreed between lawyer and client.
• Bar Council guidelines: Fee guidelines published by the Malaysian Bar.
• Aggregated professional estimates: Where no official scale covers a service, we combine estimates from legal directories, firm websites and publicly quoted ranges.

Every fee range notes which type of source it uses. Figures based on combined estimates are marked as a rough guide, not a fixed price.

Timelines

Timeline estimates come from:

• Waiting periods set by Act 164 (such as the three months before a decree nisi can be made absolute, under section 61)
• Published court performance targets and scheduling practice
• Combined professional experience, where published data is limited

Timelines are shown as ranges because courts and cases differ.

How often figures are checked

Figures are re-checked when their sources change (for example, a new court fee schedule). Each page shows its last updated date and its sources, so you can see how current it is.

Limitations

These figures are a guide, not a promise. Real costs and timelines depend on how complex the case is, which court hears it, and whether it is contested. Check current fees with your lawyer or the court registry.