Years of Experience
Practical Legal Services for Everyday Needs
Other services provided by Berry Family Law include Wills, Notary services, Foreign Divorce Opinion Letters, Independent Legal Advice, and Travel Letters.
One of our lawyers can prepare a will for you or for you and your spouse. We will guide you through inventorying your estate, naming beneficiaries and dependents, and drafting and executing a will that protects your wishes.
A notary can assist with preparing formal documents for filing with governments, institutions, and organizations, including notarized pension forms, birth certificates, and certified copies of important documents.
If you are applying to marry in Ontario and have a foreign divorce, you will require an opinion letter confirming that the divorce is valid and that you are legally free to remarry. We can assist with the required documentation and preparation.
If you have attended mediation or negotiation and have a draft Separation Agreement, our lawyers can review the agreement and provide Independent Legal Advice to ensure you understand its terms and that it reflects your intentions.
If you are self-represented in court, attending mediation without counsel, or seeking a second opinion, we offer Divorce Coaching through consultations designed to support you throughout your separation or divorce.
If your child is travelling outside Canada without both parents, obtaining a notarized Travel Letter is highly advisable. We can prepare the letter and notarize the non-travelling parent's signature to help ensure worry-free travel.
Here to Help
If you require other legal services, please contact our office.
Frequently Asked Questions
Estate Planning
Separation does not change your legal status as a spouse in Ontario, so a separated partner may still inherit under an existing will. Because separation does not revoke gifts to a spouse, people who have been separated for years can unintentionally leave their estate to a former partner simply because the will was never updated. Having an up‑to‑date will is essential to ensure your estate passes according to your actual wishes and intentions.
If you die without a will in Ontario, intestacy laws decide who inherits, and your legally‑married spouse is first in line even if you’ve been separated for years, with potential additional claims like equalization or support. A valid will gives you control over how your estate is distributed, lets you choose your estate trustee, and ensures proper planning for children, including guardianship. Without an up‑to‑date will, your estate may be frozen until a court appoints a trustee, your assets may be divided in ways you never intended, and your family may face unnecessary conflict, costs, and delays.
A power of attorney is a document that gives someone you choose the legal authority to act on your behalf if you become unable to manage your own affairs. In Ontario, there are generally two common types of power of attorneys: a Continuing Power of Attorney for Property, which covers financial matters like paying bills and managing investments, and a Power of Attorney for Personal Care, which covers decisions about matters such as health care, housing, and daily living. Because the person you appoint will hold significant authority over your affairs, it’s important to choose someone you trust completely to act in your best interests.
Other Services
Adoption & Family Formation
A step-parent adoption typically takes several months, although the timeline depends on factors such as court availability, the completion of required documents, and whether all necessary consents have been obtained.
In Ontario, the consent of both biological parents is generally required before an adoption can proceed. However, the court may dispense with a parent's consent in certain circumstances, such as where the parent cannot be located, has abandoned the child, is incapable of providing consent, or where another exception under the law applies. Because these situations are fact-specific, legal advice is recommended to determine whether consent can be waived.
Private adoption generally involves working with a licensed adoption practitioner or lawyer, completing any required assessments, obtaining the necessary consents, meeting provincial legal requirements, and obtaining a court order finalizing the adoption. The process varies depending on the circumstances and applicable provincial law.