FEES + SERVICES
At Oakley Family Law, we have designed our services and fees based on the needs of our clients. Read below to see which fee structure works best for you.
Start With A Consultation
Not just a meet and greet- Meet with a lawyer for up to an hour
- In person or by video
- Discuss your goals and interests
- Receive summary legal advice
- Identify next steps
- Additional time and secondary consultations are charged at the lawyer’s normal hourly rate
- *$125 (incl. GST) for qualified Legal Aid clients
Full Scope Services
We handle it all- This is the level of service that most of our clients choose after their Consultation
- We handle all correspondence, negotiations, drafting of documents, and Court appearances on your behalf
- Retainers start at $5000
Limited Scope Services
For the DIYers- You prefer to do most of the work yourself
- The lawyer only does specific work for you (e.g., provide independent legal advice on an Agreement, draft Court documents, or help respond to correspondence) – you handle everything else
- A retainer may be required based on the needs of the client following the Consultation
Legal Aid
Call 1-866-845-3425 to qualify- Qualified clients may be accepted through Legal Aid Alberta (LAA) after a Consultation
- Issues and hours set by LAA
- Clients make payment through LAA
- No retainer is required
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a retainer?
The retainer is like a security deposit – it’s money that you put up so that we can start work on your file. We hold the money in our trust account and only use that money to pay our invoices. A retainer is not an estimate of cost. Any money left over at the end of your file will be returned to you.
How much is the retainer?
Each retainer is unique and depends on what is going on with your file. Some retainers for simple matters may only be $1,000. Most full scope retainers are $5,000. Files that are proceeding to trial require more. Your lawyer will design your individual retainer during your Consultation.
What is my lawyer’s hourly rate?
Each lawyer at Oakley Family Law has a different hourly rate, which largely depends on how many years they have been practicing. Private rates range from $325/hour to $495/hour. Legal Aid’s current rate is $125/hour for new files. For specific rates, please phone our office at 587-943-1394.
Do you offer flat fees?
Flat fee services mean that the lawyer will complete a particular task at an agreed upon price (e.g., you and the lawyer agree that the completion of a Separation Agreement will cost $3,500). If the lawyer’s work takes more or less time to complete the task, the client is charged the set amount. However, both the client receive the benefit of certainty of price, which can be valuable.
We do not typically offer flat fee services, as we find that there are too many variables in the type of work we do. Any estimates we provide to clients should not be considered quotes – it may cost more or less. We believe our clients should benefit from any cost savings available to them where they are organized and/or it takes us less time to complete the work than otherwise expected.
How can I pay?
We accept Visa, Visa Debit, MasterCard, MasterCard Debit, and bank drafts.
What if I am eligible for Legal Aid?
Call 1-866-845-3425 to see if you qualify.
Some of our lawyers accept files through Legal Aid Alberta. If you have qualified for Legal Aid, and you would like one of our lawyers to represent you, we ask that you meet with us for a one hour Consultation for a flat fee of $125 (inclusive of GST) prior to requesting that we be appointed as your lawyer through Legal Aid.
BOOK A CONSULTATION
Please call 587-943-1394 or complete the form below. Our Client Coordinator will be in touch.
JET
BARKETING DIRECTOR