Claire Aubertin
Lawyer and founder
Family law help in Ottawa since 2014
$250 for the first hourPlus HST. We credit it to your account if you hire us.
Family law help in Ottawa, explained in plain language.
We are a small family law firm in Centretown. Our lawyers are licensed by the Law Society of Ontario and help with separation, divorce, parenting and support. We explain each step before it happens, and we tell you what it will cost before you sign anything.
FRNous offrons tous nos services en français.
- Lawyers licensed by the Law Society of Ontario
- Service in English and French
- Legal Aid Ontario certificates accepted
- Meetings in person or by video
Contents
Five kinds of family law work, and nothing else.
Every file in our office is about separation, children, support or property. Pick the one closest to your situation. Each page explains the law, the papers you will need and what the work costs.
- Separation agreementsAdvice, $1,200 flatA written agreement about parenting, support and property that you and your former partner both sign.
- DivorceSimple, $1,650 flatSimple, joint and contested divorce applications in the Ontario Superior Court of Justice.
- Parenting time and decision-makingHourlyParenting plans and court applications about where children live and who makes major decisions.
- Child and spousal supportHourlySupport calculations under the guidelines, and changes when income or needs change.
- Dividing propertyHourlyEqualization of net family property, the matrimonial home and pensions.
§ 03 · The office
A quiet street, a short walk from the courthouse.
We work from a converted brick house in Centretown. There is no reception desk and no waiting room full of strangers. A clerk lets you in and brings you straight to the meeting room.
Fig. 2Our street in Centretown, a short walk from the Elgin Street courthouse.
Glossary
Words you will hear, and what they mean.
In March 2021 the Divorce Act changed the words used for children. Your parents' separation may have been about custody and access. Yours will be about Decision-making responsibilityWho makes the major decisions about a child, such as school, health care, religion and activities.Once called custody. and Parenting timeThe time a child spends in each parent's care, including the days that parent is responsible for the child.Once called access..
- Once called
CustodyDecision-making responsibility - Who decides the big questions about a child, such as school, health care and religion.
- Once called
AccessParenting time - The time a child spends with each parent. Both parents have it, even when one has the child most days.
- Once called
MobilityRelocation - A move that would change a child's relationship with the other parent. It needs written notice at least 60 days ahead.
- UnchangedEqualization
- How married spouses share the growth in their net worth during the marriage. Common-law partners are treated differently.
Tap any underlined term on this site for a short note. The notes are general information, not advice.
How a case moves
Every file starts the same way. Then it takes one of two roads.
Many families settle by agreement. Some need a judge for one issue or all of them. Pick a road to see what happens next, and what we will ask of you at each stage.
- 01
First call
About 15 minutes
You tell us, in a sentence or two, what is happening. We ask for the names of the other people involved and check that we have never acted for any of them.
Have the full name of your former partner ready.
- 02
Consultation
One hour, $250 plus HST
A lawyer explains your rights, the options that fit your situation and what each one is likely to cost. You leave with notes, even if you do not hire us.
Bring the papers on our consultation checklist.
- 03
Retainer
Often the same week
You get a written agreement that names your lawyer and clerk, sets out the fees and lists the first tasks. Nothing is billed until you sign it.
Read it at home. Ask about any line you do not understand.
- 04
Financial disclosure
Often four to eight weeks
Both of you share your income, assets and debts in a sworn financial statement. Support and property numbers are built from these papers, so this step matters most.
Gather tax returns, pay stubs, pension statements and account balances.
- 05
Negotiation or mediation
Depends on the issues
Lawyers exchange proposals by letter or meet with both clients at one table. Many families also use a mediator, who helps you reach terms but does not decide for you.
Tell us what matters most to you, and what you can live with.
- 06
Separation agreement
Two to four weeks to finalize
We draft the terms or review your former partner's draft. Each of you gets advice from your own lawyer, then you sign in front of a witness.
Read every page before signing day. We walk through it with you.
- 07
Divorce, if you were married
Usually a few months
Once the agreement is signed, a simple or joint divorce application is often all that is left. The divorce takes effect 31 days after the judge signs the order.
Find your marriage certificate. We order a copy if you cannot.
- 05
Application and information session
Filing to first date, often a few months
We file your application at the Superior Court of Justice and have it served. Both parties attend the Mandatory Information Program, a short session about the court process and its alternatives.
Sign the sworn forms and attend the session.
- 06
Case conference
A meeting with a judge
A judge meets with both sides to narrow the issues, order any missing disclosure and set the next steps. Many files settle some issues here.
Come prepared. We meet the week before to go through your brief.
- 07
Settlement conference
After disclosure is complete
Each side makes a written offer to settle. The judge gives an opinion on the likely result, which often helps both sides agree.
Decide with us what offer you are ready to make.
- 08
Trial management and trial
Only if nothing else works
If issues are still open, a judge prepares the case for trial and a trial date is set. We prepare you and your witnesses well before that day.
Plan for time off work. We give you the dates as soon as the court does.
Fees
Fees you can see before you book.
We charge flat fees for the services where we can, and we tell you in writing before any work starts if a matter will be billed by the hour. Every fee we quote says whether HST and disbursements are extra.
| Legal feeFlat. It does not change once we quote it. | $250.00 |
|---|---|
| DisbursementsNo disbursements for a consultation. | $0.00 |
| HST at 13%On the fee and disbursements. | $32.50 |
| Total | $282.50 |
What the fee covers
- One hour with a lawyer, in person or by video
- Written notes of the options we discussed
- Credited to your account if you hire us
| Legal feeFlat. It does not change once we quote it. | $1,200.00 |
|---|---|
| DisbursementsCourier and copies, about $40. | $40.00 |
| HST at 13%On the fee and disbursements. | $161.20 |
| Expected total | $1,401.20 |
What the fee covers
- Review of a separation agreement your partner's lawyer drafted
- A meeting to explain every term and what it means for you
- Suggested changes sent to the other lawyer once
- Signing and witnessing at our office, with a certificate of advice
| Legal feeFlat. It does not change once we quote it. | $1,650.00 |
|---|---|
| DisbursementsProcess server and courier, about $150. | $150.00 |
| HST at 13%On the fee and disbursements. | $234.00 |
| Court feesSet by Ontario. $224 to file, $445 for the divorce order. Ontario fee list | $669.00 |
| Expected total | $2,703.00 |
What the fee covers
- Application for divorce, prepared and filed
- Service of the papers on your spouse
- Affidavit and draft divorce order
- Your divorce certificate once the order takes effect
- Flat fees for simple divorces and independent legal advice
- Hourly rates in writing before you sign
- A written retainer agreement for every file
- Monthly accounts with a line for each task
Your lawyer
The lawyer you meet is the lawyer you keep.
Three lawyers and two law clerks. The lawyer at your consultation stays with your file until it closes, and the retainer names your clerk, so you always know who to call.
Jonah Whitlock
Lawyer
Nadia Ferreira-Lemieux
Lawyer
§ 08 · Your first meeting
One hour, and you leave with a plan.
Before we meet, we run a Conflict checkA search of our records to make sure we have never acted for the other person in your case. We must do it before we meet you.. At the meeting, a lawyer explains your options and what each one is likely to cost. Bring what you have. Estimates are fine.
- Full names of your former partner and anyone else involved
- Any agreement, court order or court papers you have received
- Your last three tax returns and notices of assessment
- Your questions, written down
Questions
Questions we hear most
Each answer is general information. Your lawyer will tell you how it applies to you.
How much does a first consultation cost?
A one-hour consultation is $250 plus HST. If you hire us, we credit that amount to your account.
Do you accept Legal Aid Ontario certificates?
Yes, for family law matters. Legal Aid Ontario decides who qualifies, so apply to them first and bring your certificate to the consultation.
Can you act for both my spouse and me?
No. In family law we can act for only one spouse. Your spouse will need their own lawyer, and the Law Society Referral Service can help them find one.
Can I meet with a lawyer in French?
Yes. Our lawyers meet with clients in English or French, in person or by video.
What should I bring to the first meeting?
Bring any agreements or court papers you have, your marriage certificate if you were married, and your last three tax returns. A list of questions helps us use the hour well.
Get in touch
Start with one hour and a written quote.
(613) 555-0117- Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
- Evening video meetings by appointment
- Saturday and Sunday, closed
