Keystone Legal – Fees
PRICING AND FEE STRUCTURE
Our Commitment
Legal services are an investment in your future. At Keystone Legal, we are committed to providing clear communication, fair pricing, and compassionate, efficient legal representation in family law and estate matters across Alberta.
We believe clients deserve clear and predictable information about legal fees. Our fee structure is designed to promote transparency, so you understand what to expect before work begins.
Initial Consultation
We offer paid initial consultations to provide focused legal information and help clients understand their options moving forward. Initial consultations are limited in scope and are intended to provide preliminary legal information only. They do not include ongoing representation.
Initial Consultation Options (Virtual)
- 30 minutes – $150
- 45 minutes – $225
- 60 minutes – $300
At the conclusion of the consultation, the lawyer will discuss next steps and provide an overview of retainer requirements, billing arrangements, and accepted payment methods for continued legal services, where appropriate.
Important Notice – Identity Verification
Identity verification is required by the Law Society of Alberta and must be completed before your appointment.
Privacy & ID Handling
Our firm does not receive or retain copies of your identification and receives only confirmation that identity verification has been completed.
If identity verification is not completed in advance, your appointment may be cancelled or rescheduled, as we are unable to proceed without completed verification.
Flat-Fee Services
For defined and predictable legal services, we offer flat-fee arrangements so clients know the total cost upfront.
Flat-fee services are available only for straightforward matters and include, but are not limited to:
- Simple wills
- Independent legal advice (ILA)
- Powers of attorney
- Personal directives
- Uncontested or desk-order divorces
- Straightforward probate applications
The applicable flat fee will be confirmed at the conclusion of the initial consultation once the lawyer has reviewed the circumstances of your matter. Where a matter is complex, a retainer will be required and the matter will proceed on an hourly rate.
Hourly Services
Certain legal services are billed at an hourly rate of $300 per hour and require a retainer, which is held in trust and billed as work progresses. Any unused portion of the retainer will be returned at the conclusion of the matter.
Hourly billing is used where the scope or complexity of the work cannot reasonably be determined in advance.
Additional Billing Details
GST is applied to all legal fees.
Disbursements: Certain third-party costs may be billed as disbursements. GST is applied only to taxable disbursements, such as photocopying, courier services, or in-house charges. Exempt disbursements, including fees paid to government or public bodies (e.g., court filing fees, land title searches, document registration fees), are billed without GST.
Credit card payments may incur a 2.4% processing fee.
File administration fees: A $225 file opening fee and a $100 file closing fee apply to retainer matters. The file opening fee covers administrative work, including compliance checks, trust account setup, and document preparation.
Payment Options for Ongoing Legal Services
For all legal fees, we accept:
- Debit
- Credit card
- E-transfer
- Financing through Affirm and Klarna
General Inquiries
For general administrative questions, you may contact us by:
- Texting our business number
Please note that detailed fee assessments are provided by the lawyer only after your matter has been reviewed.