Independent Legal Advice
Get expert advice on the matters of family law from your home. We bring legal expertise to you in the most convenient and affordable way.
Why It Matters
Independent Legal Advice protects your interests and gives you the opportunity to get legal advice before you sign anything. Axess Law family lawyers review legal agreements and check if the facts are true. We explain the law and confirm you understand it.
When you ask for independent legal advice, you’re getting a licensed Ontario lawyer’s unbiased and objective opinion about how a personal situation affects you.
Many qualified Ontario lawyers offer free legal advice by phone. Requesting a second opinion on a legal matter is not the same as getting independent legal advice about potential conflicts of interest between you, your lawyer, or others who share legal services with you.
An independent legal advice certificate confirms for the court, legal tribunals, banks, and law firms that you understand the nature, risks, benefits, and consequences of decisions you are making. Axess Law lawyers give you a signed certificate of independent legal advice form to verify they explained the law and how conflicts of interest affect your legal interests. They witness your signature as proof you read and understood the independent legal advice we gave you.
How It Works
01
Book Your Appointment
Click on ‘Get Started’ to submit your details. Our client care team will contact you shortly to schedule your appointment with the lawyer
02
Meet With The Lawyer
Axess Law gives you legal advice as your case requires. Family lawyers can meet you in person or online, at your convenience.
03
Review Documents
Our family lawyers file legal documents or answer court questions. We help you navigate through your domestic legal issue with ease.
Documents We Need
Whether you are seeking independent advice on what options you have or need guidance on family law needs, Axess Law’s legal services make getting legal advice a simple task. Bring the following for your online video conference (anywhere in Ontario) or in-person meeting at our Greater Toronto Area law offices:
Axess Law will ask you for two pieces of ID. Proving your identity is obligatory to prevent fraud. You may use either two pieces of primary ID or one primary and one secondary ID These include:
- Driver’s license
- Canadian passport
- Ontario photo card
- Canadian citizenship card with photo
- PR card with photo
Our lawyers will ask to see records of any existing debts that you may have. These would include debts such as car loans, mortgages, or student loans.
When drafting a cohabitation agreement, bring us your personal statement of assets. This would include documents such as stocks, investments, or real estate deeds.
When booking an appointment, our team will make a note of your contact information. This would include your name, email address, and telephone number.
When meeting with your family lawyer, carry your divorce decree, certificate of divorce, or annulment for each divorce. The documents can be either originals or court-certified copies.
Carry with you a signed copy of your Ontario marriage license application to show your lawyer.
A residency declaration showing you lived in a foreign country for at least a year before divorcing (if applicable). Your residency declaration can be brief.
Carry a witnessed statement of sole responsibility, signed by you and your future spouse. Our lawyers are also notary publics and can witness statements of sole responsibility or, if you are meeting in person, arrange for certified true copies of original documents.
When meeting with your lawyer, ensure you carry English or French translation for documents in other languages, with sworn affidavits from a certified translator.
3 Times to Get Independent Legal Advice
When you ask for independent legal advice, you’re getting a licensed Ontario lawyer’s unbiased and objective opinion about how a personal or business transaction affects you.
- Avoid Conflict of Interest – Sharing a lawyer with a partner could mean your lawyer has a conflict of interest and you want to understand how that might affect their ability to represent you.
- Document Consultation – If your lawyer makes a mistake or forgets to include something in a document you sign, it is in your best interest to ask for advice on your legal rights.
- Draft Agreements – When your partner hands you a draft cohabitation, marriage, or separation agreement, have your lawyer review the document and advise you on the next step.
When to Get Independent Legal Advice?
Getting independent legal advice is not always mandatory but may be recommended by lawyers, courts or mediators, if it’s in your best interests. Axess Law Ontario lawyers offer independent legal advice when:
- your lawyer has a conflict of interest and you want to understand how that might affect their ability to represent you
- you agree to share a lawyer with your spouse or someone else
- you have joint business interests, such as buying investments with your lawyer
- your lawyer makes a mistake or forgets to include something in a document you sign and you ask for advice on your legal rights
- you are given a draft agreement by a family law mediator and want to understand how mediated agreements affect parenting or spousal support rights
- your partner hands you a draft cohabitation, marriage or separation agreement
- your spouse takes out a mortgage on your matrimonial home but you are not on the property title
- you are buying real estate or your bank requires you to get independent legal advice on your mortgage
- or you are worried about being coerced into making decisions.
Why an Independent Legal Advice Certificate Matters
When you ask for independent legal advice, you’re getting a licensed Ontario lawyer’s unbiased and objective opinion about how a personal or business transaction affects you.
Avoid Conflict of Interest
Sharing a lawyer with a partner could mean your lawyer has a conflict of interest and you want to understand how that might affect their ability to represent you.
Document Consultation
If your lawyer makes a mistake or forgets to include something in a document you sign, it is in your best interest to ask for advice on your legal rights.
Draft Agreements
When your partner hands you a draft cohabitation, marriage or separation agreement, have your lawyer review the document and advise you on the next step.
Safeguard Your Interests
Safeguard your own interests by taking steps to understand what you are signing before you commit to legally binding contracts.
What Our Customers Say About Us
I was so happy with the services I received at this extremely professional and toward thinking law firm. From the beginning of the transaction Axess Law guided me through a easy and painless legal experience. Axess Law’s lawyers are kind and care about their clients. The administration team is also very knowledgeable and organized. I would recommend this firm to anyone looking for a professional legal experience.
★★★★★ 5/5
Extremely impressed by the services and convenience provided by Axess Law. We have engaged with Davinder a few times for different services, and it has been a breeze each time. We've been able to do both remote and in-person visits, and she has been very professional and forthcoming in all her advice. Their prices are fair too, so I would definitely recommend them to anyone looking for the legal services that they provide.
★★★★★ 5/5
We had a family member who was in serious financial difficulty due to the Covid-19 pandemic impact on their income. I contacted Trina Powell with Axess Law following considerable research. Our experience with Trina and her firm exceeded our expectations in terms of fast response to our inquiry, sensitive consultation, appropriate solution, and follow-up. The best word to describe our experience is "professional."
★★★★★ 5/5
I contacted Axess Law to prepare a legal document; they have a very easy online booking system. When I arrived to thier office I dealt with a lawyer by the name Pratheeb Uthayakumar; he is very knowledgeable and pleasant to deal with. I highly recommended Axess Law.
★★★★★ 5/5
Great experience, professional, knowledgable and pleasant staff, they guide you through a simplified process and explain everything. I definitely recommend them and will return again for future business.
★★★★★ 5/5
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We are rated 4.8/5 based on 1,475 reviews.
Convenient Appointments
Axess Law gives you the choice of booking an online or in-person appointment. Our lawyers are available 7 days a week, at times convenient for you. We can meet in person, by phone, email, or via a remote video call. In addition to these, there are 5 Axess Law offices located across the Greater Toronto Area – all with onsite parking or easily accessible by public transit.
Some FAQs
Notary publics can offer some legal services, such as taking affidavits for the court, witnessing legal documents you sign, or making certified true copies of documents for legal purposes. Only lawyers licensed by the Law Society of Ontario can offer legal advice on interpreting the law or represent you in court.
Courts, tribunals, banks, or law firms often ask for Independent Legal Advice certificates to confirm a lawyer not involved in a legal or financial transaction has explained Canadian or provincial laws to you and you are not being unduly influenced or coerced to participate. Axess Law helps you meet your legal obligations to third parties.
Family members or business partners may suggest signing a joint retainer to save money on legal fees when hiring a lawyer to represent you. Before you sign any agreement, get independent legal advice about how joint legal retainers affect your legal rights. When you hire a lawyer, you want to know your legal advisor has experience and knowledge in areas of the law that involve you. Family law or estate disputes can have lasting consequences and sharing a lawyer with a friend or acquaintance may not give you the objective legal advice needed to protect your financial interests. Axess Law’s Greater Toronto Area lawyers give referrals to qualified financial advisors if you need their specialized expertise.
Ontario courts have ruled that not seeking independent legal advice is no reason to overturn a legally signed agreement. You are expected to safeguard your own interests by taking steps to understand what you are signing before you commit to legally binding contracts such as mediation agreements. Even if you felt coerced at the time, that may not be enough to convince a court. Before you waive legal rights you may regret later, ask Axess Law for an ILA certificate.