Family Law Consultation: Questions to Ask a Family Lawyer in Ontario (And What to Prepare or Bring)
Taking the first step to consult a family lawyer can feel daunting. Whether you're considering separation, need guidance on parenting arrangements, or are exploring cohabitation or pre-nuptial agreements (known in Ontario as Marriage Contracts), that initial meeting is crucial. It’s your opportunity to ask questions, understand your options, and get a clear picture of what lies ahead.
At Revive Law, we believe that being prepared for your first consultation can significantly reduce anxiety and make the meeting far more productive. It allows us to give you the most accurate and helpful advice from the outset.
Here’s a guide on how to prepare for your family law consultation in Ontario, ensuring you get the most out of your time with us. Our goal is use your 1-hour consultation efficiently. You will have a Family Law 101 class, and we will have a “Your Case 101” lesson, so we learn how we can help you.
1. Gather Key Information & Documents
Having essential information readily available helps us understand your situation quickly. Don't worry if you don't have everything perfect – just have what you can available. We will not have time to review every document with you, but gathering the documents will start getting you ready for the steps ahead, and give you a general idea of the relevant information. If a document is more relevant for your circumstances, it will be available during the consultation for review.
Dates:
- Date of marriage (if applicable) and/or date of Cohabitation (when you started living together as a couple)
- Date of separation (if applicable – even an approximate month/year).
- Dates of birth for yourself, your spouse/partner, and any children.
Children's Information:
- Current living arrangements (who lives where).
- School information.
- Any special needs or health concerns.
Income Information (for both parties, if known):
- Your most recent income tax returns (T1 Generals, Notices of Assessment) for the last 3 years.
- Your last 3 pay stubs or a recent statement of employment income.
- Any information you have about your spouse's/partner's income (if available). You should never get their documents without their knowledge, though. This will be requested and provided in due course.
Asset & Debt Information (as much as you know):
- List of major assets (e.g., matrimonial home address, other properties, bank accounts, investments, pensions, RRSPs, vehicles, businesses).
- List of major debts (e.g., mortgage balances, lines of credit, credit card balances, loans).
- Any existing wills, marriage contracts, or cohabitation agreements.
Self-Tip: Create a simple list or create a folder on your device with copies of these documents. No need to have hard copies.
2. Write Down Your Questions & Concerns
It's easy to forget important points when you're feeling emotional or overwhelmed.
- What are your biggest worries? (e.g., "Will I lose my home?", "How will this affect my kids?", "Can I afford to separate?").
- What are your goals? (e.g., "I want an amicable divorce," "I need to ensure my children's routine isn't disrupted," "I want a fair property division").
- What do you not understand? (e.g., "What is spousal support?", "What does 'equalization of net family property' mean?").
Self-Tip: Organize your questions by topic (e.g., Children, Finances, Process) to ensure you cover everything important to you.
3. Be Ready to Share Your Story (Briefly)
While we'll focus on the legal aspects, understanding the context of your relationship and separation helps us provide tailored advice.
Be prepared to briefly describe the history of your relationship and the circumstances leading to your consultation.
Don't feel the need to recount every single detail – focus on the key events that have legal relevance.
4. Understand the Purpose of the Consultation
Your first consultation is an information-gathering and strategy-setting session. It's an opportunity to:
- Get Clarity: Understand the relevant laws in Ontario and how they apply to your situation.
- Explore Options: Learn about different pathways to resolution (e.g., mediation, collaborative divorce, traditional negotiation, litigation).
- Discuss Next Steps: Understand what the legal process might look like and what actions you might need to take.
- Assess Fit: Determine if the lawyer and firm are the right fit for your needs and approach.
5. Don't Hesitate to Ask for Clarification
This is your consultation. If something is unclear, please ask! Our role at Revive Law is to demystify the process and ensure you feel heard, understood, and informed. There are no "silly" questions.
Taking That Empowering First Step
Preparing for your family law consultation is an empowering act. It shows you're ready to take control and move forward. Even if you only have a few pieces of information or just a handful of questions, that's a perfect start. We're here to help you fill in the blanks and guide you towards a clear, compassionate path.
Ready to gain clarity and explore your options? Schedule your confidential family law consultation with Revive Law today.
About Revive Law – Family Law, Collaborative Divorce, and Mediation
We understand that legal challenges such as divorce, parenting arrangements, or marriage contracts (“prenuptial agreements”) are never just "legal matters"—they are profound human experiences filled with stories, emotion and uncertainty. With this understanding, lawyer and mediator Camila Motta founded Revive Law Professional Corporation to provide a better path forward for their clients’ new beginnings.
Revive Law is more than a traditional law office. It is a supportive, structured space designed to help individuals and families navigate delicate transitions with confidence, empowerment, and respect.
We specialize in Family Law, Mediation, and Collaborative Divorce, prioritizing out-of-court solutions that reduce emotional strain, preserve relationships, and promote autonomy. Our approach combines legal competence with empathy and active listening, recognizing that every case involves real people and real stories.
With an international and diverse background, Camila is known by clients for her discretion, steadiness, and human-centered approach. Our work is grounded in three core pillars:
- Trust: Transparent guidance that brings safety.
- Structure: Clarity that supports informed decisions.
- Dialogue: Communication that opens healthier paths forward.
Whether you are navigating a separation, divorce, discussing parental responsibilities, preparing a cohabitation agreement or marriage contract, or seeking preventive guidance through Wills and Powers of Attorney, Revive Law is here to support you. Our purpose is to help you move through change with respect, clarity, and emotional intelligence.
FAQ for: Questions to Ask a Family Lawyer in Ontario (And What to Bring)
Why is it important to prepare for my first consultation?
Preparing for your consultation makes the meeting more productive and reduces your anxiety. It allows your lawyer to quickly grasp your situation, answer your questions more effectively, and provide accurate initial advice and strategic options tailored to your specific needs. Knowing beforehand what may be relevant prepared your mindset to keep the consultation objective and efficient.
What is the most important thing I should bring or have available for my consultation?
While all the suggested documents are helpful, having a clear idea of your goals and your most pressing concerns is often the most important. This helps your lawyer understand what matters most to you and prioritize the discussion.
What is more relevant will also change in accordance with your specific needs. Are you mostly concerned about child support? Then the parties' income information is more relevant. Are you more concerned about the house and mortgage? Knowing the approximate value of the home, any debt (mortgage, line of credit) information, will be very important.
What if I don't have all the requested documents or income information?
Don't worry if you don't have everything! Just gather what you can. The consultation is an initial step, and we can identify what's missing and guide you on how to obtain it. The goal is progress, not perfection.
We will not review most of these documents during the consultation, but gathering them will better prepare you for the consultation so you know what is relevant and the basic information that will be discussed.
Should I bring my spouse/partner to the first consultation?
No, your initial consultation is a confidential meeting for you alone. This allows you to speak freely, understand your individual rights, and discuss your options without your spouse/partner present.
If, however, you are looking for a mediator in Ontario, then you should let us know before your appointment. If acting as mediators, Revive Law should not have an individual consultation with an individual. The best approach is to email at camila@revivelaw.ca for next steps.
What questions are "off-limits" or inappropriate to ask?
There are no "off-limits" or inappropriate questions, especially during your initial consultation. This is your opportunity to understand everything. Please ask anything that is on your mind – our role is to provide clarity and compassionate guidance on all aspects of your family law matter. The information shared in a consultation is private with three exceptions: if we have reason to believe someone's physical integrity is at risk, if we have reason to believe a child is at risk, if we are ever ordered by a judge to share the information (which is a very rare event).
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