OATHSTONELAW

Steady Ground When Everything Shifts

Wills & estates. Family law. Marriage contracts. Independent legal advice. Notarizations. Serving Toronto, Markham, and the GTA from our Markham office — Legal Aid Ontario certificates accepted for family law and child protection.

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Law Society of Ontario
Legal Aid Certificates Accepted
Limited Scope Retainers
Toronto & Markham
Practice Areas

How We Help

Focused legal services across five key areas — clear advice, fair pricing, and fixed fees where available. Legal Aid Ontario certificates accepted for family law and child protection.

01

Family Law

Full representation under a Legal Aid Ontario certificate for family law and child protection matters — or limited scope retainers if you need help with a specific motion, document, or court appearance without retaining a lawyer for the full case. Divorce, parenting, support, property, and children's aid society proceedings. Learn more about family law.

Legal Aid Certificates Accepted Divorce & Separation Decision-Making Parenting Time Support Child Protection Property Division
Key Legislation
Family Law Act RSO 1990, c F.3 Children's Law Reform Act RSO 1990, c C.12 Divorce Act RSC 1985, c 3 (2nd Supp) — Federal Child Support Guidelines O Reg 391/97
Your case, your way
Help that fits.
Legal Aid certificate, limited scope retainer, or full private retainer — professional representation structured around your circumstances.
Request a consultation
03

Wills & Estates

We prepare wills, powers of attorney for property, and powers of attorney for personal care — clearly drafted and enforceable under Ontario law. Whether you're planning ahead for the first time or updating after a life change, we make the process simple. Wills & powers of attorney lawyer in Markham · How much does a will cost in Ontario?

Last Wills & Testaments Powers of Attorney (Property) Powers of Attorney (Personal Care) Estate Planning
Key Ontario Legislation
Succession Law Reform Act RSO 1990, c S.26 Estates Administration Act RSO 1990, c E.22 Substitute Decisions Act, 1992 SO 1992, c 30 Trustee Act RSO 1990, c T.23
LAST WILL & TESTAMENT
Without a will
You decide.
Without a will, Ontario law steps in to decide who receives your estate. A simple document puts those decisions back in your hands.
Request a consultation
04

Notarizations & Commissioning

Notarization and commissioning at our Markham office, usually while you wait: affidavits, statutory declarations, certified true copies, travel consent letters, and other documents. $40 + HST for the first document and $25 + HST for each additional document in the same visit. Learn more about notarization.

Affidavits Statutory Declarations Certified True Copies Commissioner of Oaths
Key Ontario Legislation
Notaries Act RSO 1990, c N.6 Commissioners for Taking Affidavits Act RSO 1990, c C.17
NOTARY PUBLIC ONTARIO SEAL
Notarization
Same day.
Most documents notarized on the spot. Bring your document and valid ID to our Markham office — no advance preparation needed.
Arrange a visit
Why It Matters

Ontario Has Default Rules.
A Marriage Contract Lets You Write Your Own.

In Ontario, marriage automatically triggers the equalization of net family property under the Family Law Act. Without an agreement, the law decides how assets divide if the relationship ends — regardless of what you both intended. A marriage contract sets your own terms, in advance.

Pre-existing Assets

Protect property, savings, or a business you brought into the relationship.

Family Inheritances

Keep inherited property or family wealth separate from the equalization calculation.

Spousal Support

Address support obligations in advance, on terms you both agree to.

Each party to a marriage contract must obtain independent legal advice for the agreement to be enforceable under Ontario law. We represent one party only. A written retainer agreement is provided before any work begins.
The Lawyer

Ammar Hussain

Ammar Hussain

Barrister & Solicitor · Founder, Oathstone Law

Ammar Hussain founded Oathstone Law to provide accessible, straightforward legal services in the areas that affect people most — family law, child protection, wills & estates, and marriage contracts. He serves clients in Toronto and Markham with direct, no-handoff representation and transparent pricing.

Before launching Oathstone Law, Ammar served as an Integrity Services Investigator with Service Canada, where he conducted complex regulatory investigations into Employment Insurance fraud and collaborated with the RCMP and federal enforcement agencies. He simultaneously worked as a Legal Research Analyst at Thomson Reuters (Westlaw Edge Canada), validating case law and statutes for Ontario lawyers and judges.

During his articles at Persaud Hussain LLP, Ammar independently managed client files across family law, civil litigation, and wills & estates from intake to resolution, including court appearances, drafting pleadings and motion records, and counselling clients on litigation strategy.

Clear advice. Fair pricing. Fixed fees where possible. Limited scope available.
Why Oathstone

Four Pillars

Direct Lawyer Access

You work directly with Ammar Hussain — the lawyer handling your file. No hand-offs. No middlemen.

Transparent Pricing

Clear fee structures and limited scope retainer options — you know exactly what you are paying for before we begin.

Legal Research Background

Trained at Thomson Reuters as a Legal Research Analyst, ensuring every position is grounded in current law.

Regulatory Investigation Experience

Years of federal regulatory investigation experience — applying statutory interpretation and exercising legal judgment under pressure.

Our Process

How It Works

From consultation to resolution, a clear path forward.

Reach Out

Complete our intake form, call, or email. Tell us about your matter and we will respond within one business day to arrange a consultation.

We Review Your Matter

A conflict check first, then a 30-minute consultation where we go through your facts, the law that applies, and the options realistically open to you.

Receive a Clear Fee Quote

You receive a written fee quote and retainer agreement before any work starts: the scope, the fee, disbursements, and HST. You decide whether to go ahead.

We Get to Work

With your signed retainer and instructions, the work begins. You deal directly with your lawyer, and you are told when anything changes.

AI-Powered

Legal AI Assist

Start your inquiry — 24/7, completely free.

Intake Assistant
Online now

Please review our disclaimer before using the Legal AI Assist.

Welcome to Oathstone Law. I'll help connect you with Ammar Hussain.

What brings you here?
Wills or Powers of Attorney
Marriage Contract / Prenup
Independent Legal Advice (ILA)
Family Law Matter
Legal Aid Certificate
Notarization or Commissioning
Something Else

Legal AI Assist provides general information only. It does not constitute legal advice and does not create a solicitor-client relationship.

Transparent Pricing

Service Fees

Know what to expect. No hidden costs.

Notarizations & Commissioning

$40 + HST

First document. $25 + HST for each additional document signed in the same visit. Affidavits, statutory declarations, certified true copies, consent letters, and other notarial acts. Details.

Essential Will

$500 + HST

A will for one person: estate trustee, guardians for minor children, specific gifts, and the residue of your estate. Two meetings, including the signing (bring two witnesses, or we arrange them for $199 + HST per witness). Does not include powers of attorney.

Most chosen

Complete Package

$700 + HST / person

Will + Power of Attorney for Property + Power of Attorney for Personal Care. Two meetings with your lawyer, all three documents drafted, signed and witnessed at our office; bring two witnesses or we arrange them for $199 + HST per witness. What is included.

Couples Package

$1,200 + HST

Two Complete Packages for spouses or partners: 2 Wills + 4 Powers of Attorney (mirror wills), prepared together in the same appointments. A Mutual Wills Contract can be added from $400 + HST where appropriate; your lawyer will explain what it does before you decide.

Legal Aid — Family Law & Child Protection

LAO Certificate

If you qualify, Legal Aid Ontario pays your legal fees under your certificate — no additional charge for covered services. How certificates work.

Independent Legal Advice

From $900 + HST

Separation agreements, marriage contracts, and cohabitation agreements prepared by the other side. Includes reading the agreement, one advice meeting, and the signed certificate. The flat fee covers agreements up to 25 pages; longer agreements, a second meeting, or negotiating changes with the other side are billed at $300/hr + HST and discussed with you first. Details.

Marriage Contract / Cohabitation Agreement

From $2,000 + HST

Draft and advise one party on a marriage contract (prenup or postnup) or cohabitation agreement. Flat fee for straightforward matters; complex asset structures billed at $300/hr + HST. Details.

Family Law — Limited Scope

From $750 + HST

Task-based help without retaining a lawyer for the whole case, quoted per task at $300/hr + HST: document review and advice from $750, a motion from $2,000, an uncontested separation agreement from $2,500. Details.

Hourly Rate

$300 + HST / hour

For work that is not covered by a flat fee. Time is recorded in tenths of an hour and set out on your account. The rate and any retainer deposit are confirmed in your written retainer agreement before work starts.

All fees discussed and agreed upon before work begins. In accordance with the Law Society of Ontario's rules on fee transparency, you will receive a written retainer agreement setting out the scope of work, fees, disbursements, and HST before any work begins. Flat fees are for the scope described; if your matter turns out to need work beyond that scope, we will tell you before doing it and agree on the fee with you first. Prices shown are current as of October 2026 and apply to new retainers; a fee already quoted to you in writing is honoured.
Before You Call

Common Questions

Short answers about how the practice works. Nothing here is legal advice about your situation.

What happens after I send the intake form?
We run a conflict check on the names you give us, then reply within one business day to arrange a 30-minute consultation by phone, video, or at the Markham office. If there is a conflict, or the matter is outside what we take on, we tell you that rather than leave you waiting.
How do flat fees work?
A flat fee covers a defined scope, which is written into your retainer agreement before any work starts. The fee does not change because a meeting runs long or a document needs another revision. If your matter turns out to need work outside that scope, we tell you first and agree on the fee before doing it.
What does "limited scope" mean in family law?
You hire a lawyer for a specific task, such as reviewing a document, drafting an affidavit, or appearing at one motion, rather than for the whole case. You stay the party of record and handle the rest yourself. The retainer agreement sets out exactly which tasks are included and which are not.
Do I pay anything if I have a Legal Aid certificate?
For services covered by your certificate, Legal Aid Ontario pays the lawyer under its tariff and you are not billed by us for that work. Some certificates come with a contribution agreement between you and LAO; that is between you and LAO, and we explain it at the start. Eligibility is decided by LAO, not by this office.
How long does a will take?
Two meetings. The first is about an hour: we go through your family, your assets, and your choices of estate trustee, guardians, and attorneys. Drafts follow, and the second meeting is the in-person signing with two witnesses. Most clients finish within two to three weeks of the first meeting, sooner if there is a reason to move quickly.
I was given a separation agreement and told to get independent legal advice. What do I actually get?
A meeting where your own lawyer goes through the agreement with you, explains what each part means for you, points out anything that is unusual or that you may be giving up, and answers your questions. If you then choose to sign, we sign the certificate of independent legal advice that the other side requires. If the agreement needs changes, negotiating them is a separate step and is quoted before we start.
Get in Touch

Contact Oathstone Law

Located in Markham — serving Toronto, Markham, and the GTA. The form takes about two minutes. The name of the other party lets us run a conflict check before we reply, which we aim to do within one business day.

Office Information

Markham Office Unit 302 – 169 Enterprise Blvd
Markham Law Chambers
Markham, ON L6G 0E7
Phone (647) 539-2036
Email ammarhussain@oathstonelaw.com
Hours Monday – Friday
9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Send a Message

Your information is kept confidential and is used only to identify you, run a conflict check, and respond to your inquiry, as required by the Law Society of Ontario. Submitting this form does not create a solicitor-client relationship, and please do not send detailed confidential documents until we have confirmed we can act for you.

Markham Office — Unit 302, 169 Enterprise Blvd, Markham, ON L6G 0E7
Legal Resources

Ontario Legal Resources

Free access to legal information and services in Ontario.

CanLII Free access to Canadian law, cases, and legislation
Ontario Court Forms Court forms and procedures for Ontario courts
CLEO Community Legal Education Ontario — free legal information
Law Society of Ontario Lawyer directory, regulation, and consumer protection
Legal Aid Ontario Legal aid services and eligibility information
Ontario Family Law Government family law information and guidance
Secure Client Access

Client's Corner

This portal is for current Wills & Estates clients only. Enter your client password below to complete your Will Instructions, view your fee estimator, and review process information.

Wills & Estates Portal

This area is for Wills & Powers of Attorney clients of Oathstone Law.

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Wills & Estates Portal

About & Process Will Instructions Fee Estimator Resources Contact

Your Will & Powers of Attorney — How It Works

We prepare your Will and both Powers of Attorney in two sessions. Here is exactly what to expect from start to finish.

Our Fees — Plain and Simple

ServiceFee (+ HST)
Essential Will (will only, no powers of attorney)
— per person		$500
Complete Package: Will + POA for Property + POA for Personal Care
— per person		$700
Couples Package: 2 Wills + 4 POAs (mirror wills)
— for both spouses together		$1,200
Mutual Wills Contract
— optional add-on to the Couples Package; a separate agreement that binds both Wills so the survivor cannot change the agreed plan		From $400
Witness Arrangement
— per witness we arrange, if you cannot bring two who qualify; charged per witness arranged, not per person signing		$199 / witness
Staged Distribution of Property
— distribute estate in stages, per Will		$99
Hospital / Bedside Visit
— per visit, where the lawyer attends in person		$400
Commissioned Copy of any document
— first document; $25 each additional in the same visit		$40
What the flat fee covers: two meetings with your lawyer (the instructions meeting and the signing meeting), drafting of all three documents, revisions before signing, and supervision of the signing (you bring two witnesses who qualify, or we arrange them at $199 + HST per witness). The fee does not change if the meetings run long. Anything outside this scope (for example a trust for a beneficiary with a disability, or assets outside Canada) is quoted separately before any work is done.
One Will per person. Each person receives their own Will and their own two Powers of Attorney. If you and your spouse are both doing your Wills, the Couples Package at $1,200 covers both sets of documents (mirror wills and POAs for both of you) in the same appointments. A Mutual Wills Contract — a separate agreement that binds both Wills so the survivor cannot change the agreed plan — can be added from $400 + HST. It is not right for every couple; your lawyer will explain what it does and what it prevents before you decide.
For couples doing Wills together: In most cases, spouses come to us with what are called mirror-image Wills — each person names the other as primary beneficiary and primary executor, with the same alternate choices. This is the most common arrangement and your lawyer will walk through it with you. You are each free to give your own instructions; your Wills do not have to be identical.
Important — Joint Retainer & Conflict of Interest Disclosure: Because both of you are retaining us together, we act on a joint retainer. This means there is an inherent conflict of interest that we are required to disclose to you. When acting on a joint retainer, we cannot keep anything one of you tells us confidential from the other — anything one spouse discloses to us in connection with your Wills must be shared with both of you. Neither spouse can give us confidential instructions that are kept from the other. If at any point your instructions diverge in a material way, we may be required to cease acting for one or both of you. Your lawyer will explain this fully and obtain your informed consent before proceeding.

All fees are subject to HST (13%). Use the Fee Estimator tab to see your personalized estimate.

1

Session 1 — Meet with Your Lawyer

Virtual or In Person · 1 Hour

We meet to walk through everything about Wills and Powers of Attorney, discuss your personal situation, answer all your questions, and carry out any checks required to ensure your instructions are given freely and with full understanding. No paperwork needed from you beforehand.

2

Complete Your Instructions

After Session 1 · At Your Own Pace

After our first meeting, complete the Will Instructions form in this portal (see the Will Instructions tab above). This is where you provide the detailed information your lawyer needs to draft your documents — executors, beneficiaries, attorneys, guardians, and more. It is sent securely to your lawyer when you submit.

3

Session 2 — Review & Execute

In Person Only · 1 Hour

We meet in person at our Markham office to review your finalized Will and Powers of Attorney, answer any remaining questions, and sign all documents in the presence of two witnesses. We sign in person as a matter of policy. Ontario law does allow remote signing in limited circumstances, but meeting face to face lets your lawyer confirm that you are signing freely and with full understanding, which helps protect your documents from challenge later.

Witnesses for Session 2

Please plan to bring 2 witnesses to your execution appointment. Each witness must be 18 or older and cannot be your spouse or partner, your child (or a child you treat as your own), a beneficiary under your Will or a beneficiary's spouse, or an attorney named in your Powers of Attorney or that attorney's spouse or partner. We confirm that each witness qualifies before anything is signed. They will witness the signing of your Will and all POA documents in the same session. If you cannot bring two witnesses who qualify, we arrange them for $199 + HST per witness. The charge is per witness arranged, not per person signing, so a couple signing together pays for each witness once.

What to Bring to Session 2

  • Government-issued photo ID (passport, driver's licence, etc.)
  • Your 2 witnesses, or let us know in advance if you need us to arrange one or both ($199 + HST per witness)
  • Any questions about the draft documents — we will walk through everything together

Will & Powers of Attorney — Instructions Intake

Complete this form after Session 1 with your lawyer. Take your time — you can leave optional sections blank and we will cover them together at your review meeting. When you submit, your instructions are sent securely to your lawyer, who will prepare your draft documents for Session 2.

This form is not a will. Nothing takes effect until your documents are drafted, reviewed with you, and properly signed and witnessed. Your lawyer will review every instruction with you, flag any legal issues, and confirm your wishes before anything is finalized.

Doing mirror-image Wills with your spouse?
If your spouse has already submitted their instructions from this device, you can copy them over and just change the personal details. No spouse instructions found on this device yet.

1 About You
Marital Status *
Do you have an existing Will?

Your new Will cancels all previous wills. Anything you own outside Canada is covered in Section 3.

Do you have Powers of Attorney now?
Is there a separation agreement or a court order from that relationship?

A separation agreement or court order can affect what your Will is able to do, so your lawyer will want to see it.

2 Children & Dependants

List all of your children — including adult children, stepchildren, and children from previous relationships — and anyone else who depends on you financially. This matters even if a person will not be a beneficiary: Ontario law allows certain dependants to claim against an estate, so your lawyer needs the full picture.

If a beneficiary receives ODSP, an inheritance can affect their benefits. Your lawyer will discuss options such as a Henson trust with you.

3 What You Own

A rough picture is fine. Exact amounts are not needed. Some things pass outside a Will (for example a jointly owned home, or an account with a named beneficiary), so your lawyer needs to know they exist to make sure nothing is missed.

Do you own a home?
Is anyone else's name on the ownership of the home?
Do you have any of these? Tick all that apply.

This is the person you named when you opened the account or bought the policy. Write “not sure” if you don’t know. Your lawyer will check that these names match your Will.

Do you hold any bank or investment account jointly with anyone other than your spouse or partner (for example an adult child)?
Do you own anything outside Canada, such as property or a bank account?
Do you own a business or shares in a private company?

Nothing more is needed here. Your lawyer will talk with you about how the business should be handled in your Will.

4 Executors (Estate Trustees)

Your executor is the person who carries out your Will (Ontario law calls this person an “estate trustee”). They gather what you own, pay debts and taxes, and hand out your estate. Choose people you trust who are organized and likely to outlive you. Many married clients name their spouse first, with one or two alternates. An executor may also inherit under your Will.

Primary Executor
If you named a co-executor, how should they act?
First Alternate — acts if the primary cannot or will not act
Second Alternate (recommended)

Executors living outside Ontario can act but may face extra requirements (such as posting a bond). Flag any out-of-province choices for your lawyer.

5 Guardians for Minor Children
Do you have any children under 18?

A guardian appointment in a Will is temporary (90 days) under Ontario law and the guardian must then apply to the court — but your written wishes carry significant weight. Choose people who share your values and ask them first.

6 Specific Gifts & Cash Legacies

Optional. Specific gifts (jewellery, a vehicle, a fixed sum of money, a donation to charity) are paid out first, before the rest of your estate is divided. Most clients keep these few and simple — everything else passes under Section 6.

7 Everything Else You Own — Who Inherits

This is everything else you own after debts, taxes and any specific gifts are paid out (your Will calls it the “residue”). This is the heart of your Will.

How should everything else be divided? *
If a child of yours dies before you, their share should... *
8 Trusts for Young Beneficiaries

Without direction, a young person receives their full inheritance at 18. Most clients delay this.

Could anyone who inherits from you be under 25 at the time? Include grandchildren, since they step in if a child dies before you.
At what age should a young beneficiary receive their inheritance?

Paying out in stages means the young person receives their inheritance in parts, for example some at 21, more at 25 and the rest at 30, instead of all at once.

Until then, the person managing the money can use it for the young person’s education, health, housing and general support.

Do you want any limits on that?
Who should manage this money until it is paid out?
9 Power of Attorney — Property

Your attorney is the person who makes decisions for you; this does not need to be a lawyer. Your attorney for property manages your finances — banking, bills, property — if you cannot. This is a Continuing Power of Attorney under the Substitute Decisions Act. It operates while you are alive; your Will takes over at death.

When should it take effect?
10 Power of Attorney — Personal Care

Your attorney for personal care (again, not a lawyer; any trusted adult) makes health care, housing, and personal decisions if you cannot. Choose someone who knows your values and can advocate for you under pressure.

Organ & tissue donation
11 Other Wishes & Notes
For couples: do you want a Mutual Wills Contract? (a separate agreement that binds both Wills so the survivor cannot change the agreed plan — optional add-on from $400 + HST; your lawyer will explain it before you decide)

Your instructions are sent directly and confidentially to Ammar Hussain at Oathstone Law. They will be reviewed with you before any document is finalized. This form does not create a will or power of attorney, and submitting it does not create a solicitor-client relationship if one does not already exist.

Fee Estimator

Select the services that apply to your situation. Your draft invoice updates in real time.

Oathstone Law

Barrister & Solicitor
Draft Estimate For
—
Date
Draft Estimate Only
DescriptionAmount
Complete Package: Will + POA for Property + POA for Personal Care (You) $700.00
Subtotal$700.00
HST (13%)$91.00
Total (Est.)$791.00
Flat fees. Each package includes two meetings with your lawyer, drafting, and the supervised signing. Add-ons are listed separately so you can see exactly what each one costs.
This is a draft estimate for planning purposes only and does not constitute a retainer or create a solicitor-client relationship. In accordance with the Law Society of Ontario's requirements, a written retainer agreement setting out the scope of services, fees, disbursements, and HST will be provided and signed before any work begins. Fees are subject to change based on the complexity of your matter.

Get in Touch

For any questions about your Will or Powers of Attorney, please reach out directly:

© 2026 Oathstone Law. All rights reserved. This portal is for current clients only.
Information submitted here goes directly to our legal team. It does not constitute legal advice.
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Legal AI Assist — Important Notice

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Not Legal Advice. The Legal AI Assist provides general information about legal topics in Ontario only. Nothing provided constitutes legal advice.

No Solicitor-Client Relationship. Use of this tool does not create a solicitor-client relationship with Oathstone Law or Ammar Hussain.

Do Not Rely on This Information. Consult a qualified lawyer before acting on any information provided.

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Limitation of Liability. Oathstone Law disclaims all liability for loss arising from reliance on information provided through this tool.