1. Talk to an estates lawyer
It's important to get legal advice from a lawyer with experience in wills, estates, and powers of attorney.
An estates lawyer can explain what the law says and how it applies to your situation. They can also:
- tell you the legal rules you must follow when making a will
- draft wills and power of attorney documents for you
- help you apply for
- prepare the documents you need for court
- explain your options
- represent you at court
Finding a lawyer
The Law Society of Ontario (LSO) has an online directory of all lawyers who can practice law in Ontario. You can search the directory for an estates lawyer. You can also search by name, city, postal code, or language spoken.
You can also get this information by calling the LSO at 416-947-3300 or 1-800-668-7380.
Check the LSO directory to see if a lawyer can practice in Ontario. The directory also shows if the LSO found a lawyer did something wrong and if the LSO disciplined or punished them for it.
Contact the lawyer
You may need to call a few lawyers before finding one that will take your case or one that you're comfortable with. You can contact most lawyers by phone or email. Be ready to give them basic information like your:
- name
- contact information
- legal problem
Give the lawyer some time to respond to your call or email.
Arrange a meeting or phone appointment with the lawyer to talk about your legal problem in more detail. Ask if there's a charge for the first meeting. There are other things you can do to prepare for your meeting with them.
When you speak with a lawyer, remember that you're also interviewing them to decide if you want to hire them.