As you read through a contract that you are about to sign, you notice a provision that says that you have received independent legal advice (ILA) before signing the contract.  From whom can you receive independent legal advice?  Independent legal advice is legal advice that you receive from a lawyer who does not act for any of the other parties to the contract.  Before signing any agreement, it may be best to hire your own lawyer to review the contract to ensure that your interests are taken into consideration. 

To find a lawyer or law firm to provide you with independent legal advice, click here and select one or more areas of law in which you need help.

You have just created a wonderful new product that can change the world and earn a significant amount of money.  How can you protect your idea and gain the exclusive rights to sell it?  If you have invented a world-changing product and would like to take steps to prevent others from copying it, you should speak to a patent agent and lawyer who can describe the cost and process of patenting an idea in Canada.

To find a patent agent, lawyer or law firm, click here and select “Intellectual Property Law” as the area of law in which you need help.

Trademarks (TM) can be found in all aspects of our lives.  From famous brand names to catchy jingles on the radio, these trademarks have value because their owners have invested time and money in ensuring that the trademark is well-known.  If you are planning to start a business or looking to launch a new product or service, before you select a name or logo, consider speaking with a trademark (TM) lawyer or law firm to determine if you are able to use the name or logo design.

To find trademark (TM) lawyers or law firms, click here and select “Intellectual Property Law” as the area of law in which you need help.

Literary, artistic, musical and dramatic works may be covered by copyright laws in Canada.  If you have created such a work or if you are looking to sue or defend against a claim for copyright infringement, a copyright lawyer may be able to help you protect and defend your work.  To find a copyright lawyer or law firm, click here and select “Intellectual Property Law” as the area of law in which you need help.

Elder law encompasses many different areas of law focusing specifically on how they affect older Canadians.  There may be estate law, family law, financial planning and capacity-related concerns which may be specific to senior citizens.  To find an elder law lawyer, click here and select “Estate Law” as the area of law in which you need help.

Powers of attorney can give other people the authority to make decisions on your behalf.  Depending on your province, you may need separate powers of attorney for decisions concerning personal care and those concerning financial decisions.  To ensure that you have a properly drafted power of attorney appropriate for your circumstances, it is best to speak to a power of attorney lawyer.

To find a power of attorney lawyer, click here and select “Estate Law” as the area of law in which you need help.

A Henson trust is a particular type of trust which gives the trustee absolute discretion over the trust’s assets.  This form of trust can be useful in passing on an inheritance to people with poor financial management skills or to those with disabilities seeking to continue to collect government benefits.  If you are looking to pass on assets to a person with disabilities or a person who is otherwise unable to manage their own finances, you may want to speak with a lawyer to determine whether a Henson trust is appropriate.  To find a Henson trust lawyer, click here and select “Estate Law” as the area of law in which you need help.

A will is a legal document that expresses a person’s wishes as to how and to whom he or she would like his or her property and assets distributed after passing away.  Although a lawyer isn’t required to draft a will, to ensure that your wishes are respected after passing away, it may be best to have a lawyer prepare your will since a lawyer may be more familiar with the formalities and what is required.

To find a wills lawyer or law firm, click here and select “Estate Law” as the area of law in which you need help.

There may be a number of reasons why a trust is created.  It may be for tax or estate planning or for privacy or asset protection.  Regardless of the reason, there are a number of different types of trusts available to help you achieve your goal.  To find a trust lawyer or law firm, click here and select “Estate Law” as the area of law in which you need help.

End-of-life care and decision-making can be a difficult experience for family and loved ones when it comes time to determining what types of medical treatment an incapacitated loved one would have wanted.  Should all efforts be taken to keep them alive or would they prefer to be made comfortable and be allowed to die? 

To determine the answer to these questions yourself instead of relying on your family and loved ones’ choices, you may consider creating a living will (aka an advance health directive drafted) and discussing your wishes with your family and loved ones.  To find a living will lawyer or law firm, click here and select “Estate Law” as the area of law in which you need help.</

Estate planning is the process by which individuals determine how they are to be treated when incapacitated and how they can reduce the amount of tax that is paid when property is transferred to others during or after their life.  Estate planning can ensure that your wishes are respected by your family and by the state.  If you would like to contact an estate planning lawyer, click here and select “Estate Law” as the area of law in which you need help.

Unexpected changes in your financial situation may affect your ability to repay your mortgage.  This may involve a default in your mortgage and, if payment is not made in a specified period of time (with any additional late fees and penalties), the bank may choose to take enforcement measures against your property. 

If you are facing such a situation and would like to contact a real estate lawyer specializing in mortgage defaults and enforcement, click here and select “Residential Real Estate” as the area of law in which you need help.

If you are buying a new house or condo, especially if you are a first-time property owner, you will likely need a mortgage to finance your purchase.  A mortgage lawyer and mortgage professional can help you understand your rights and obligations under your mortgage agreement and to help you better understand the home buying process from a legal perspective.

To find a mortgage agreement lawyer or law firm, click here and select “Residential Real Estate” as the area of law with which you need help.

Instead of owning or renting a property, obtaining a life lease in a shared-living community may be an affordable alternative.  Life leases tend to be governed by the life lease agreement and contract and common law as there are few provinces with legislation governing and regulating life leases.  If you are considering the purchase of a life lease, it would be best to speak to a life lease lawyer if such an arrangement is suitable for your circumstances.

To find a life lease lawyer, click here and select “Residential Real Estate” as the area of law with which you need help.

The expropriation of your property by the government or its agents can be a stressful experience.  If you are facing an expropriation and would like to learn more about the process, a lawyer specializing in expropriations can help.  To find an expropriation lawyer or law firm, click here and select “Commercial Real Estate” and “Residential Real Estate” as the areas of law with which you need help.

Construction liens can ensure that contractors, subcontractors, suppliers and other personnel that work on a construction site are paid for their services.  Given that these liens can have priority ahead of even secured lenders, the existence of liens against a property can be of great concern to lenders and to commercial and residential real estate purchasers and vendors.  A construction liens lawyer can help you deal with any construction lien issues.

To find a construction liens lawyer or law firm, click here and select “Construction Law” as the area of law with which you need help.

Becoming a permanent resident in Canada is the first step in becoming a Canadian citizen.  It can also make it easier to leave and enter the country.  If you are looking to becoming a permanent resident of Canada, you may want to speak with a permanent resident applications lawyer to walk you through the process and explain to you Canadian immigration laws.

To find a permanent resident application lawyer or law firm, click here and select “Immigration Law” as the area of law with which you need help.

Whether it’s a departure order, exclusion order or a deportation order, receiving a removal order from the Canadian government can be a panic-inducing and stressful ordeal.  Removal order and deportation lawyers can help you navigate the process and challenge the orders.  To find a removal order and deportation lawyer or law firm, click here and select “Immigration Law” as the area of law in which you need help. 

Sponsoring a family member to live with you in Canada can be the start of an exciting new life and bring about new opportunities for you and your family.  To ensure that you are able to successfully sponsor your family member(s) to live in Canada, speak with a sponsorships lawyer.  To find an immigration lawyer or law firm specializing in sponsorships, click here and select “Immigration Law” as the area of law in which you need help.

Appealing an immigration decision in your case made by the Canadian government can be a complicated process.  Whether you disagree with their decision about a sponsorship application, removal order or the status of a permanent resident, an immigration lawyer specializing in appeals (an immigration appeals lawyer) can help you through the process before the Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB) and the courts.

To find an immigration appeals lawyer or law firm, click here and select “Immigration Law” to find the lawyer that best suits your needs.

For some people, marriage ends in divorce.  In other cases, the marriage is annulled.  A family lawyer specializing in annulments (an annulments lawyer) will be able to explain the differences between a divorce and an annulment and whether an annulment is appropriate in your circumstances.

To find an annulments lawyer or law firm, click here and select “Family Law” to find the lawyer that best suits your needs.

Bringing a child into your family through adoption can be one of the happiest moments of your life. To help you reach that moment of joy, a family lawyer specializing in adoption (an adoption lawyer) can walk you through the process and ensure that you take the appropriate adoption steps in the relevant Canadian province.

To find an adoption lawyer or law firm, click here and select “Family Law” to find the lawyer that best suits your needs.

Legal services can be expensive.  So expensive in fact that many people may not be able be able to afford having a lawyer work on their legal problem full-time.  A lawyer’s legal expertise, on the other hand, may be indispensible in successfully resolving a legal problem.  The potential solution:  limited scope retainers.