Amanda is currently accepting new clients
Amanda’s Current Areas of Family Law Practice
Amanda is currently restricting her practice to:
Superior Court of Justice litigation - divorce, decision making, parenting time, child support, spousal support and division of property;
Adoptions;
Domestic Contracts - Separation Agreements, Cohabitation Agreements and Marriage Contracts; and
Voice of the Child reports - on a somewhat limited basis.
Pre-Appointment Paperwork
Prior to your initial appointment, you will be emailed an “Intake Form” to obtain general family information and contact information - which Amanda will review just prior to your appointment to make the best use of our time.
You will also have to provide government issued identification and a copy of it will be kept in your consultation file. This is a requirement established by the Law Society of Ontario to confirm identify and avert fraud.
As well, the Law Society of Ontario requires that we complete a conflict check. This means a search of all prior consultations and clients must be conducted to ensure that we haven’t met with the other party who is involved in your file. If we have, we cannot meet with you because we have received confidential information from your former partner.
What to Expect When You Meet Amanda
Your initial appointment with Amanda will be booked for one hour. During your initial meeting with Amanda, she will review the following:
Your family history and current circumstances;
The different ways in which you can resolve a family law matter;
The Court room litigation process and what you can expect; and
The three main issues that generally require resolution in family law files. Bear in mind, your matter may not have all three issues.
You will leave Amanda’s office understanding your options, how the process works and with a preliminary legal opinion as to how your particular family issues may be handled by the Court - based upon the information you have provided.
Just as you should do during the meeting, Amanda carefully considers if the two of you will be a good fit to work together and whether or not her current obligations will permit her to assume the demands your file may entail.
Initial Consultation Fee
It is important to Amanda to manage your expectations right from the outset. This is a business relationship. Amanda has twenty seven years of experience working in family law as a Law Clerk (8 years), a Student-at-Law (1 year) and Family Lawyer (18 years). She has continuously acquired continued and formal legal education to provide you with experienced, reliable legal services that you can rely upon.
Amanda will spend the time you need to have your questions answered. Many clients do not realize that many Counsel who offer “free” consultations will bill you for any additional time over the first fifteen minutes. Amanda prides herself on providing value to prospective clients at a definitive, no surprises and reduced initial price.
There is an initial fee of $250.00 for your consultation - which is a reduction of Amanda’s standard hourly rate. It is due and payable at the time you attend for your appointment. Payment of the consultation fee is not a formal retainer. To be clear, if you wish for Amanda to act for you following your first meeting with her, you will have to sign a Retainer Agreement and deposit the initial retainer funds.
Working Together After Retainer
Should you choose to work with Amanda and her staff, they will demonstrate caring, kindness and concern for you and your family throughout your family law journey. Your relationship with your Family Lawyer is important and you must ensure that you are comfortable with your choice. As we wind our way to a finalization of your issues, you will be asked to make hard decisions. You will receive information and advice from Amanda that you may not wish to hear because it does not match what you thought might happen.
You will be frustrated at times, disappointed and at times angry. Often family lawyers bear the brunt of a client’s disappointment with the way the law is applied by the Courts, delays and the inability to force your former spouse to follow Court orders or act reasonably. Sometimes lawyer-client frustration with one another occurs. Amanda is committed to working with you even when things are tough. She is not afraid of honest, transparent conversations with clients to address any concerns or frustrations they may have.
Thank you so much for visiting the website and considering Amanda to assist you. Amanda welcomes the opportunity to meet you and discuss your file in person.