Bhalla Law Offices

Consultation fees vary by the type of matter and the lawyer involved, and we discuss the applicable rate when you book. Many consultations are billed, and you should budget for that unless we tell you otherwise. For some personal injury inquiries, an initial consultation may be offered at no charge where it is appropriate; that does not apply across every practice area. Call or email the office for current consultation rates before you book, so there are no surprises.

Yes. We hold consultations and ongoing meetings by telephone and video for clients across Alberta, and many matters can be run almost entirely this way. Documents can be sent and returned electronically, and remote appearances are now common in Alberta courts and tribunals. Some steps still call for an in person visit, such as signing a will or having certain documents witnessed, and we will tell you in advance when that applies.

Bring government issued photo identification and any documents connected to your matter: court papers, letters from another lawyer, contracts, police or insurance paperwork, financial statements, and correspondence with the other side. A short written timeline of what happened is often more useful than a thick stack of paper. If you are not sure whether something matters, bring it anyway. We would rather review a document and set it aside than miss it.

Tell us as soon as you call. Arrests, bail, court dates within days, limitation deadlines, safety concerns, and immigration removal issues are treated as urgent, and we will do our best to see you quickly or arrange a telephone consultation the same day. If we cannot take an urgent matter on the timeline you need, we will say so promptly rather than leave you waiting, so you have time to find other counsel.

An uncontested divorce, where both spouses agree on parenting, support, and property, can often be completed within several months of filing, depending largely on court processing. Married spouses generally must be separated for one year before a divorce is granted, and that year can run while the paperwork is prepared. Contested matters take considerably longer because they require disclosure, negotiation, and court dates. Resolving the surrounding issues by agreement is what usually shortens the timeline.

Alberta generally applies a two year limitation period, running from when you knew, or ought to have known, that you were injured and that a claim against a particular party was warranted. Miss it and the claim is usually lost no matter how strong it was. Shorter notice deadlines can apply, particularly for claims involving a municipality or the province, and different rules apply to minors. Get advice early rather than close to the deadline.

Often yes, because Alberta law can recognize a will that was validly made where it was signed. Recognition is not the same as suitability. Terminology, tax treatment, and the way real property is dealt with differ between jurisdictions, and a personal representative living outside Alberta can add cost and formality to the administration. If you have moved here or own property in more than one jurisdiction, have your existing documents reviewed in Alberta.

A Canadian citizen or permanent resident who meets the eligibility requirements can sponsor a spouse, common law partner, or conjugal partner. The application has two connected parts: approval of you as a sponsor, and your partner application for permanent residence. The central issue is proving the relationship is genuine, which is done with documents, communication history, photographs, and evidence of your life together. Depending on status, an inland application may allow your partner to remain in Canada.

Options depend on the type of application. They can include applying again with stronger evidence, requesting the officer notes to understand the actual reason for the decision, asking for reconsideration in limited circumstances, appealing to the Immigration Appeal Division where an appeal right exists, or seeking judicial review at the Federal Court. Deadlines are short and unforgiving, often measured in days or weeks from the decision. Bring the refusal letter to us quickly.

It can. A conviction, and in some cases a charge or conduct outside Canada, may make a person criminally inadmissible, including for offences such as impaired driving that carry serious consequences under Canadian law. Depending on the offence and how much time has passed, options may include a temporary resident permit for a specific trip or an application for criminal rehabilitation. Address it well before you travel rather than at the border.