I'm wondering what the typical booking (for lack of a better word) process is - like will we sign a contract? Do you pay a deposit and the balance at the end of her duties or pay in full up front?

I'm sure 99.9% of doulas are lovely, trustworthy people I just would like to know we both have certain protections if somebody doesn't hold up their end of the bargain. I've only just begun looking into doulas so don't know any of the nitty gritty yet.