How Our Legal Calculators Work

What these calculators are — and are not

LexScale.ai publishes 400+ free legal calculators across 23 practice areas, each in a Canadian and a US edition. They exist to turn a legal question — "roughly how much severance am I owed?", "what will probate cost?", "how is child support calculated?" — into a fast, private, jurisdiction-aware estimate. They are educational planning tools, not legal advice, and they do not replace a consultation with a licensed lawyer.

Where our numbers come from

Each calculator is built from the primary sources that govern its topic: statutes and regulations; official government rate tables (for example the CRA and IRS for tax, USPTO and CIPO for intellectual property, the SSA and VA for US benefits, and provincial and state agencies for workers' compensation and disability); court and tribunal guidelines such as the Federal Child Support Guidelines and the Spousal Support Advisory Guidelines; and the standard formulas practitioners use. Where a specific rate, cap, or threshold drives the result, we name it in the calculator's explanatory text so you can verify it.

How we keep them current

Legal rates move — tax brackets, benefit amounts, statutory caps, and filing fees are commonly indexed each year, and legislatures amend the underlying rules. We review calculators when their inputs change and label dollar figures as current-year estimates. If you are relying on a number for a filing or a decision, confirm the live rate with the relevant agency or your lawyer.

How we handle Canada vs. the United States

Legal outcomes differ sharply between the two countries, and between provinces and states. Rather than a single blended figure, every tool has a dedicated Canadian edition (federal plus provincial rules) and US edition (federal plus state rules). A pain-and-suffering estimate reflects the Supreme Court of Canada cap in the Canadian version and state-specific non-economic caps in the US version; a lien deadline reflects the provincial Construction Act in Canada and the applicable state statute in the US.

Privacy: everything runs in your browser

Our calculators compute entirely client-side. The numbers you enter are never transmitted to or stored on a server — nothing to leak, nothing to sell. This is also why every calculator can be embedded freely: the widget carries the same in-browser logic and a link back to LexScale.ai.

Limits you should know

A calculator can only work with the inputs it asks for. It cannot weigh evidence, read a contract, account for every exception, or predict how a specific judge or adjudicator will exercise discretion. Use the result as an informed starting point and a way to ask a lawyer better questions — not as the final word on your case.

Questions or corrections

Spotted an outdated rate or think a formula could be sharper? We take accuracy seriously — let us know. Explore the full calculator directory or browse by Canada and US.

Methodology FAQ

Where do the numbers in your calculators come from?

Each calculator is built from primary legal sources for its topic — statutes and regulations, government rate tables (CRA, IRS, USPTO, SSA, VA, provincial and state agencies), court guidelines (such as the Federal Child Support Guidelines or the Spousal Support Advisory Guidelines), and established legal formulas used by practitioners. Rates and thresholds are cited in the calculator's explanatory text where relevant.

How often are the calculators updated?

We review calculators when the underlying law or rate changes — for example, annual indexation of tax brackets, benefit rates, and statutory caps, or a legislative amendment. Figures are labelled as current-year estimates because many rates change annually.

How do you handle differences between Canada and the US?

Every calculator has two separate editions. The Canadian edition uses federal and provincial rules; the US edition uses federal and state-level rules. We do not average the two or present a single 'North American' number, because that would be wrong for most users.

Are the results legal or financial advice?

No. Our calculators are free educational tools that produce planning and research estimates. They do not account for every fact in your situation, do not create a lawyer-client relationship, and are not a substitute for advice from a licensed lawyer or professional in your jurisdiction.

How accurate are the estimates?

For the inputs you provide, the calculators apply the correct current formula for your jurisdiction, so the math is reliable. Real outcomes still vary with facts the calculator can't see, evidence, settlement dynamics, and the discretion of courts and agencies. Treat results as a well-informed starting point, not a guarantee.

Can I trust an embedded LexScale.ai calculator on another site?

Yes — embedded calculators run the same code as the pages here and always link back to LexScale.ai. The calculation happens in your browser; nothing you type is sent to a server.