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Practice areas
Clear legal answers for every chapter of your life
From your first home to your family’s future, find the service you need below, explained in plain language with no jargon.
Family law
Move forward after separation with your children and finances protected
Separation is one of the hardest things a family can go through. As your family lawyer, we help you understand your rights, reduce conflict where possible and reach an agreement that lets everyone move forward. When court is necessary, we stand firmly in your corner.
Your lawyer: Modupe Ehinlaiye
Divorce
Guidance through every step of a divorce, from the application to final orders. In Ontario, you can usually apply once you’ve been separated for one year.
Separation agreements
A written contract setting out parenting, support and property arrangements, so you have certainty without going to court.
Custody and access (parenting time)
Arrangements that put your children first. The law now calls these ‘decision-making responsibility’ and ‘parenting time’.
Child and spousal support
Fair support based on the federal guidelines, plus help changing a support order when your circumstances change.
Property division and equalization
Equalization means sharing the growth in value of what each spouse owned during the marriage. We make sure it’s calculated correctly.
Prenuptial and marriage contracts
Protect what you each bring into a marriage and agree in advance on how things would be handled.
Cohabitation agreements
Common-law couples don’t get the same property rights as married spouses in Ontario. A cohabitation contract fills that gap.
Independent Legal Advice and second opinions
Independent Legal Advice (ILA) means a lawyer reviews an agreement with you alone before you sign. We also give second opinions on advice you’ve already received.
Family law litigation
Strong, calm representation in family court when an agreement can’t be reached.
Real estate law
Close on your dream home with total peace of mind
Buying a home is likely the single most expensive investment you’ll ever make. As your real estate lawyer, we protect that investment by making sure you receive good, clear title, so no one can make a claim against your property once it’s yours.
We handle residential, commercial, recreational and rural properties, plus mortgages, refinancing, second mortgages, title transfers and reviews of your agreement of purchase and sale and condo status certificate.
Your lawyer: Olutoyin Ehinlaiye
The searches we complete before you close
These checks make sure you get your property free and clear of other people’s debts and claims.
Title search
Confirms the seller owns the property and that you’ll receive it free and clear of any claims.
Utility search
Checks with the water, hydro and gas companies that the previous owners paid their bills up to the day you take possession.
Execution search
An execution is a court judgment against a debtor that can attach to land. We search everyone with an interest in the property, right up to closing day.
Tax search
Under Ontario’s Municipal Act, unpaid property taxes rank ahead of almost everything else on title. We make sure you don’t inherit someone else’s tax bill.
Protecting your title
Lawyer's opinion vs. title insurance: which protects you more?
There are three ways to assure title on your home: traditional title insurance, TitlePLUS®, or a lawyer’s opinion on title. Here’s how the two main approaches compare.
What’s covered
Lawyer’s opinion on title
Title insurance
Based on government records and surveys
✓ Yes
✓ Yes
Protects you if records or surveys are out of date or wrong
✗ No Limited to the accuracy of the records
✓ Yes
Title defects, liens, charges or encumbrances
✗ No Only those that can be found
✓ Yes
Unmarketable title
✗ No
✓ Yes
Lack of legal access to and from the land
✗ No
✓ Yes
One-time cost at closing
✓ Yes
✓ Yes
Coverage varies by policy. We’ll walk you through the options and recommend the right protection for your purchase.
Wills & estates
Protect the people you love, no matter what comes
Planning your estate and preparing your will can feel daunting. We take pride in simplifying the process, with step-by-step guidance from your first questions to signing day.
Your first half hour is free. Bring your questions and concerns about your will or power of attorney, and leave with clear answers.
Your lawyer: Modupe Ehinlaiye
Will drafting
A clear, legally valid will that says who receives your assets and who will carry out your wishes.
Guardianship for minor children
Name the person you trust to care for your children if something happens to you.
Estate planning
Practical strategies to protect your assets and reduce stress and cost for the people you leave behind.
Probate
Probate is the court process that confirms your executor’s authority to manage the estate. We prepare and file the application for you.
Estate administration
Gentle, practical guidance for executors, from gathering assets and paying debts to distributing the estate.
Support for grieving families
We take care of the legal details with patience, so you can focus on your family.
Powers of attorney
Choose who speaks for you, while you still can
As we age, or if illness or an accident strikes, many routine tasks can become harder to handle. A power of attorney lets you name someone you trust to make important decisions for you, chosen by you while you’re still able to decide.
Your lawyer: Modupe Ehinlaiye
Power of Attorney for Personal Care
Names someone to make health care, housing and other personal decisions if you become unable to make them yourself.
Power of Attorney for Property
Names someone to manage your money, bills, investments and property on your behalf.
Without a power of attorney, your family may need to go through a slow and costly court process before they can help you. Putting one in place now is one of the kindest things you can do for them.
Business & corporate law
Build your business on solid legal ground
Whether you’re launching a startup or growing an established small business, the right structure and contracts protect you from costly problems later. We give practical advice in plain language, so you can get back to running your business.
Your lawyer: Olutoyin Ehinlaiye and Modupe Ehinlaiye
Incorporation and structuring
Choose the right structure for your business and get incorporated correctly from day one.
Business contracts
Shareholder, employment, service, supply and lease agreements written to protect your interests.
Corporate compliance
Keep your minute book and annual filings up to date so your business stays in good standing.
Startup and small business support
Ongoing advice as your business grows, from your first hire to your next big deal.
Notary public & commissioner of oaths
Get your documents signed, sworn and accepted the first time
Need a document notarized for a bank, government office or foreign authority? Our notary public services are quick, professional and done right, so your paperwork isn’t sent back.
Affidavits
A written statement you swear or affirm is true, commonly needed for court and government matters.
Statutory declarations
A formal written declaration of facts, often required for insurance claims, name changes and official forms.
Witnessed signatures
We witness and verify signatures on contracts and other legal documents.
Notarized copies
Certified true copies of passports, diplomas, IDs and other important documents.
Practice area FAQs
Answers to the questions clients ask us most
Do we need to go to court to get divorced?
Not always. Many couples settle parenting, support and property issues through a separation agreement and then apply for an uncontested divorce. Court is needed when you can’t agree, and we’ll prepare you fully if that happens.
When should I call a real estate lawyer?
Ideally before you sign an agreement of purchase and sale, so we can review it and flag risks. At the latest, contact us as soon as your offer is accepted, so there’s time to complete searches and arrange title insurance before closing.
Is a will I wrote myself legally valid in Ontario?
A handwritten (holograph) will can be valid in Ontario if it’s entirely in your handwriting and signed by you. But do-it-yourself wills often miss important details or are worded unclearly, which can lead to costly disputes. A lawyer-drafted will gives your family certainty.
What happens if I die without a will?
Ontario law decides who inherits, and the result may not match your wishes. Common-law partners don’t automatically inherit, and a court must appoint someone to manage your estate. A will keeps those decisions in your hands.
What's the difference between a notary public and a commissioner of oaths?
A commissioner of oaths can take your sworn statement, such as an affidavit, for use in Ontario. A notary public can also do that, and can certify copies and verify signatures on documents being used outside Ontario or Canada.
Not sure which service you need?
Tell us what’s going on. We’ll point you in the right direction, even if it’s not us.