Keystone Legal provides independent legal advice (ILA) to individuals across Alberta in connection with domestic agreements, minutes of settlement, and other family law documents where independent review is legally required or strongly recommended. Independent legal advice is obtained when an individual receives advice from a lawyer who is independent of all other parties to the agreement, ensuring that the person fully understands the document they are signing, including its legal consequences and what rights they may be giving up. ILA is a distinct service from negotiating or drafting an agreement, and can be provided efficiently even where the substantive terms have already been agreed to.
ILA is typically required or expected in connection with domestic contracts including cohabitation agreements, prenuptial and marriage contracts, separation agreements, and minutes of settlement resolving family law proceedings. Courts and opposing parties regularly require written confirmation from an independent lawyer that ILA was provided before treating such agreements as fully binding. Where ILA is not obtained, the enforceability of an agreement may be challenged at a later date, particularly where one party later claims they did not understand what they were agreeing to.
Keystone Legal provides ILA through secure virtual consultations, allowing clients throughout Alberta to complete the ILA process without attending a physical office. Virtual ILA is available for clients located in Calgary, Cochrane, and across Alberta, including those residing outside major urban centres or located abroad at the time the agreement is being executed. Following the ILA session, written confirmation of the advice provided is issued in the form required by the retaining party or their counsel. The process is efficient, confidential, and focused on ensuring the client has a genuine understanding of the agreement before signing.
