Affordable solutions

We recognize that the cost of family law services can seem prohibitive for many people. 

While we cannot help everyone who requires assistance, we do our best to offer solutions to clients that provides access to justice for all families in Fergus, Elora, Guelph and surrounding areas, regardless of income.

To ensure transparency and clarity regarding the payment of legal fees, we offer fixed fee options for many services, including:

• Mediation
• Preparation of separation agreements
• Preparation of cohabitation agreements or marriage contracts
• Simple uncontested divorces
• Limited scope legal services (see below)

At the end of a consultation, we can often give our clients options to provide the above services in exchange for a one-time fixed fee payment.  This can provide our clients with comfort against unanticipated or rising costs for legal services. 

Unfortunately, in some situations family law litigation can result in significant legal fees.  To assist those who require assistance with litigation but cannot afford to retain a lawyer to represent them, we offer many services on a limited scope or unbundled basis, including:

• Preparation of court documents including applications, answers, financial statements, motions and affidavits
• Attendance at certain court appearances on your behalf as your agent
• Coaching to prepare you to represent yourself in family court proceedings

Limited scope services are provided on a pay-as-you-go basis, with clients obtaining and paying for assistance with certain steps along the path of litigation, while otherwise representing themselves and retaining personal responsibility for managing their case. 

Christopher J. Unruh is a member of the panel for Legal Aid Ontario and is able to accept legal aid certificates. 

Unfortunately, due to high demand, we are not able to represent everyone who contacts us seeking representation on a legal aid certificate, but we do accept some legal aid certificates on a case-by-case basis. 

If you have experienced domestic violence and reside in Wellington County, you can contact Guelph Wellington Women in Crisis.  In addition to providing you with support, Women in Crisis can in certain circumstances provide referral forms that can permit you to obtain a two-hour consultation with a lawyer.   

We regularly accept these referral forms to assist those who have experienced domestic violence. 

While given our workload we cannot provide consultations to everyone who is interested in obtaining legal services from us, the consultations that we are able to provide are always free.  

We believe it is important for there to be an appropriate fit between a lawyer and the approach a client wants to take in a matter, and we want to ensure that our office is a good fit for you before you are required to pay for our legal services. 

We offer remote consultations and meetings by Google Meet or Zoom to make the consultation process easy and avoid our clients having to leave work or arrange childcare to meet with us. 

Please click the button below to request a consultation.