May 20, 2021 – Pursuant to the Alberta Rules of Court – Rule 13.36, a client who is covered under a Legal Aid Alberta certificate is entitled to have filing fees waived at the courts on their matter.
After discussion with the Courts, LAA has confirmed that this waiver includes e-filing fees. In order for this to be waived you must provide a copy of your LAA certificate each time you send documents for filing.
Effective June 1, 2021, the court/ clerks across the province will discontinue charging e-filing fees on a matter provided the LAA certificate is provided each time documents are to be filed. Going forward, the Clerks’ office will not issue refunds for the $1 per page email filing fees in situations where the LAA certificate was not included at the time of filing. Also please note the court will not provide refunds for fees already paid prior to June 1, 2021.
Consequently, for documents sent for filing on or after June 1, 2021, LAA will not reimburse any e-filing or filing fees where the fee would have been waived had the certificate been provided to the courts pursuant to Rule 13.36.
It is your responsibility as counsel to request fee waivers and to remember to send a copy of the LAA certificate to the courts every time. Thanks for your cooperation.
