How to Find a Family Lawyer in Toronto

In Toronto, a family lawyer will be able to help deal with any legal issues relating to property, child custody, child support or spousal support in the event of a divorce or separation.  There are many legal concerns to look after once you and your spouse or partner decide to separate or to get a divorce. Some of these issues are:

-        Who will get custody of the children?

-        How much is child support?

-        How much is spousal support?

-        Who gets to live in the marital home?

-        Who will get the car, or the paintings or the cat or dog?

-        What happens to money in the bank or in investments?

-        What happens to all the debts?

-        Can you get a protection order, if you’re dealing with domestic abuse?

All of these legal concerns can be very difficult to understand on your own. You will definitely need some help to sort out all the legalities involved in order to come up with the best arrangements for everyone.

A family law lawyer can help you understand your legal rights and responsibilities. He can explain to you in plain words and give details on how the law applies to your case. He can also help you reach an agreement with your former partner without going to court.

There are too many family lawyers waiting to offer you their services, but not all of them will be the right fit for you. When you’re looking for a lawyer, follow these steps to make sure you don’t end up with the wrong lawyer.

Step 1 – Identify your needs

Do you need to hire a mediator to help you negotiate the terms of your divorce? Are your needs more complicated and you need a divorce lawyer to negotiate a settlement with your spouse’s attorney? If neither parties can agree, then a litigated trial is the only course of action. Keep in mind that any family lawyer that you consider will try to influence you in the direction they specialize in. Know what you need to get out of your divorce or separation first so you can decide on the right legal services to hire.

Step 2 – Find at least three potential lawyers

Ask for personal recommendations from trusted sources. A good word of mouth from someone who has actual experience of a lawyer’s expertise is usually reliable. In most cases, it is an advantage to look for someone who is within the local area. Clearly you need to make sure a potential lawyer specializes in family law, but you also need to look for someone who is experienced and has handled several cases similar to yours, someone who can communicate with you without difficulty and who is familiar with the local court system. Research on the lawyer’s trial record and history of success in court to give you an idea of how successful he is in negotiation.

Step 3 – Meet with the lawyers

Most lawyers provide free consultation for the initial meeting so be sure to be as thorough as possible. Prepare a list of questions to ask. Here are some:

-        How long have you practiced family law?

-        What type of client do you represent?

-        How do you typically handle a case?

-        What are your rates? How often will I be billed for the retainer?

-        Will a colleague or associate manage my case?

-        What should I expect?

Step 4 – Choose the one

Review how the first meeting went and weigh up your overall thoughts and feelings towards each of them. Here are some questions to help you make an assessment:

-          What’s your first impression?

-          How did you feel? Comfortable? Intimidated? Confused?

-          Did he answer all your questions clearly and simply?

-          Do you feel you could communicate well together?

-          Do you feel he is someone you can trust?

-          Can you afford him?

-          Do you think he can support your values and beliefs about family?

-          Do you feel he has your best interest at heart?

Divorce or separation within the family can turn your world upside down. Not only will it wear everyone down physically, it can leave you in financial uncertainty and in emotional and mental turmoil. Finding the right family lawyer in Toronto is crucial to help make the whole process smooth, quick and less expensive.

The Value of a Skilled Corporate Lawyer in Toronto

Aiding businesses in transactions and providing legal guidance on all business matters are just two of the highly important tasks of a corporate lawyer in Toronto. No matter what size of a company, from a sole proprietor, an association, to a full blown corporation, legal representation is a necessity. As a matter of fact, a business lawyer can serve a company in a few different ways that can not only help them run their business as smoothly as possible, but also make improvements to the overall business operations. 

Assisting in the execution of business objectives

One of the primary roles of a business lawyer is to understand their client’s business and the industry and business environment in which they operate. He or she must comprehend the ins and outs of the business from financial standing, to short and long term goals and also understand their needs and wants. Once a client explains their problems and their objectives, a good business lawyer will look for the best way to achieve the company’s desired result even if it is a new and novel approach.

Advising the client on different matters with a legal perspective

Being able to provide a unique and informative insight on transactions, contracts, major decisions and agreements, and even daily operations is an important task for a business lawyer.  This falls in line with the primary role above.  To make suggestions, recommendations, and new ideas to the client that they haven’t thought of yet is a significant advantage. A business lawyer adds value because they not only understand the business perspective but also bring to bear their legal expertise to help the client solve a problem. 

Being able to limit the client’s potential risk

A business lawyer is a company’s first defense against, fraud, abuse, scams, unfair practices and any other possible risks to the business. By looking through and analyzing every step that the company makes, the lawyer is able to provide legal input and insight before the company makes any final decision. This means that due diligence is also part of a business lawyer’s responsibilities. Checking and understanding all sides and aspects of an agreement or document or possible partnership, the company is protected from almost any short or long term complication.

Representation, Negotiation and Documentation

In most major deals and agreements that a company will make, legal representation will present. In some cases, only the lawyers will make an appearance. This is especially true during the negotiation process. As the details are agreed upon and hammered out, the lawyers negotiate with their client’s best interest in mind. 

Aside from representing the client, business lawyers are also responsible for documenting every aspect of the company’s dealings from simple contracts to major investment decisions.

In so many ways, a business lawyer is an invaluable asset to a company or an organization no matter what size they may be. From starting a business to mergers and acquisitions a corporate lawyer in Toronto offers up their legal expertise and beyond to help a business grow and solve their toughest challenges.

Intellectual Property Lawyer and Protecting Your Creations

An expert Intellectual Property Lawyer would commonly define Intellectual Property (IP) as creations of the mind which includes inventions, artworks, designs, names, symbols and images used in commerce. In a business setting, IP is as good as any tangible asset owned by the company. Through the help of a competent lawyer, these intangible assets can become a major competitive edge over most competitors.

Understanding IP Law in Canada can be daunting for an ordinary business owner. There are 6 laws that cover this area which are, The Patent Act, The Trade-marks Act, The Copyright Act, The Industrial Design Act, The Integrated Circuit Topography Act, and The Plant Breeders Rights Act. It can be quite difficult figure out on your own which is why it is important you have someone who can easily traverse the minute details of these kinds of legislation and help you protect your intellectual assets.

Intellectual Property Lawyer

Why is it important to protect your IP?

Without protection and exclusive rights to all your intellectual assets, any competitor can grab and use them for their own and even claim them. To prevent this, you must immediately protect your IP by utilizing non-disclosure agreements and other similar tools at your disposal. To strengthen that first step, you can either expand your confidentiality agreements, or you can publicly file for intellectual property rights.

What are Intellectual Property Rights?

In Canada, you can secure ownership of your intellectual assets by applying for exclusive rights at CIPO. You can submit different kinds of applications depending on what suits your needs. A patent prevents other parties from making, using or selling your creation. An industrial design protects how your creation looks and how it is set up. A trademark covers the words, sounds or designs that is unique to your product, service or company. Last but not the least, a copyright ensures that you are the only one who has the right to produce and reproduce your creation and any substantial part of it no matter what form it may be.

These kinds of IP rights cover different aspects of your creation and go into so much more detail than what is presented in this article. Only an expert lawyer can guide and assist you through the intricacies of the law and what is applicable in your situation.

But that’s not all…

With all the information we’ve provided, you might be ready to secure your intellectual assets, however, there is a process that you must go through and several point that you must look into before taking that important step. You have to first ascertain if your creation is covered by a patent or an industrial design. Second, you have to check if there is an existing patent or rights for your creation. Third, you have to determine the best strategy to take in securing your assets especially if you want to keep many details of your creation a secret. 

While this can seem like a complicated process to go through, having an Intellectual Property Lawyer by your side through it all will ensure that you are able to secure all the exclusive rights and protections your creation could ever need.