For most people, having a family law issue that requires the help of a lawyer is daunting. There is a lot of (wrong) information on the internet. We have all heard horror stories on how long this process can take, the cost, and the conflict.
Who should you choose to help you? Who do you trust?
We suggest that you choose a lawyer based on fit:
and background. Do you need a lawyer who:
While we try to present clear, workable information online, a website can only tell a piece of the story.
Why not come and meet us?
Book an initial no-cost 30-minute consultation at a time that is convenient for you. Bring whatever information you think is relevant such as all court documents, proof of income (for both you and your spouse), a rough idea of your major assets and debts.
We get it, the consultation is like a job interview. Interview us to see if we are a good fit to work with you.
Read more about the common issues of Separation and Divorce.
There are 4 main issues of Separation and Divorce. Read more by clicking the titles below:
Types of assets and debts, how to value property, dates to use, what property is exempt from division?
The 2 types of child support. How do you determine income? How long does child support last?
Spousal support is complicated. Why is there spousal support? What factors are considered?
Why a good parenting plan benefits you.
While cost is always a factor. We encourage you to think of value you receive for the money you spend.
Our lawyers charge between $290 and $350 per hour. To keep your costs down, we will give you checklists and information packages that describe work that you can do outside of our billable hours.
In Edmonton and across Canada, family law legal representation requires a retainer to be paid. This is money that is prepaid and deposited into a special account. As we perform work we draw on that deposit. At any time, you may ask that we stop work and return any unused deposit or ask for a detailed bill outlining the work which has been done. Most lawyers in Edmonton ask for a retainer between $3,000 and $5,000. Our initial retainer is $3,000 and we will ask you to add additional funds to the retainer when necessary.
If you only need help with some specific items, you can also hire us for certain tasks such as legal advice or review of the work that you have done. This is called ‘limited scope’ work and may have a different fee structure based on the work required. Regardless of the service performed, all fees are to be paid in advance.
Using a Family Law Lawyer can be expensive.
Not using a Lawyer can be even more expensive.
If you think you might qualify for Legal Aid the first step is to give them a call at +1 866-845-3425.
Legal Aid might be able to help you find a lawyer.
Legal Aid can cover costs, while you pay Legal Aid a monthly amount.
We do take some Legal Aid files, but you do not need to call us directly. The process requires that you first be approved by Legal Aid, and then Legal Aid contacts us to see if we can take the file.
You may need a lot of patience in waiting for information from Legal Aid, because they are a government agency, and as such they are understaffed and underfunded.
If you cannot afford a retainer and don’t qualify for Legal Aid, some free resources you might try could be: