Terms of Use

These Terms of Use govern your access to and use of this website (the “Site”), operated by D&JP Pietrangelo Law (“D&JP Pietrangelo Law,” “we,” “us,” or “our”). By accessing or using this Site, you agree to be bound by these Terms. If you do not agree, please do not use this Site.

1. No solicitor-client or paralegal-client relationship

Using this Site, reading its contents, subscribing to our newsletter, or sending us a message through the contact form, by email, or by voicemail does not create a solicitor-client or paralegal-client relationship between you and D&JP Pietrangelo Law or any of its licensees.

That relationship is created only when we have carried out a conflicts check, agreed in writing to act for you, and a retainer agreement has been signed. Until that happens, you should not assume that we are protecting your interests, watching your limitation periods, or attending to your matter.

2. Not legal advice

Everything on this Site, including any newsletter article, guide, service description, or answer to a common question, is general information only. It is not legal advice and must not be relied on as legal advice. Every matter turns on its own facts, and the law changes. You should obtain advice from a licensed lawyer or paralegal about your specific circumstances before acting or declining to act.

3. Scope of practice

D&JP Pietrangelo Law brings together a lawyer and a licensed paralegal, each licensed by the Law Society of Ontario (“LSO”) and each authorized to provide legal services within a different scope.

Lawyer services — including family law matters such as separation and divorce, parenting and decision-making responsibility, child and spousal support, property and equalization, marriage contracts, cohabitation agreements and adoptions — are provided by a lawyer licensed under the Law Society Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. L.8.

Paralegal services are provided within the scope permitted to paralegals under the Law Society Act and By-Law 4. That scope includes, among other things:

• Proceedings before the Landlord and Tenant Board and other tribunals;
• Small Claims Court proceedings in the Superior Court of Justice;
• Proceedings under the Provincial Offences Act, including Highway Traffic Act matters before the Ontario Court of Justice;
• Summary conviction matters within the limits set by By-Law 4.

Paralegals are not authorized to provide legal services in areas reserved to lawyers. Where a matter falls outside the authorized scope of the licensee you are dealing with, we will say so and, where we can, direct you to the right person — including, where it fits, to the lawyer in this office. A referral is not an endorsement or a guarantee of any other professional's work, and you remain responsible for satisfying yourself as to their suitability.

4. Family mediation — the mediator is neutral

Where we act as a family mediator, we act as a neutral third party. The mediator does not represent either participant, does not act as anyone's lawyer, and does not provide legal advice to either party. Information given during mediation is general and procedural.

Each participant should obtain independent legal advice from their own lawyer before signing any agreement arising from mediation. Where the same office has acted as mediator, it cannot subsequently act as counsel for either participant in a dispute arising from that same matter.

5. No guarantee of results

Nothing on this Site is a promise, warranty, or prediction about the outcome of any matter. Descriptions of past experience do not guarantee or suggest a similar result in your case. Outcomes depend on the facts, the evidence, the applicable law, and the decision-maker.

6. Accuracy and currency of information

We take reasonable care to keep this Site accurate, but legislation, regulations, tribunal rules, court forms, filing fees and monetary limits change, sometimes without notice. Content may become out of date. We make no representation or warranty that the information on this Site is complete, current, or applicable to your situation.

7. Limitation of liability

To the fullest extent permitted by law, D&JP Pietrangelo Law and its licensees, employees and agents are not liable for any loss or damage of any kind — including direct, indirect, incidental, consequential, or economic loss — arising from your access to, use of, or reliance on this Site or anything contained on it, or from your inability to access it.

8. Confidentiality of communications

Email and web forms are not secure and may be intercepted, delayed or lost. Please do not send confidential, privileged, or time-sensitive information through this Site until we have confirmed in writing that we are able to act for you. Information sent before a retainer is in place may not be treated as confidential and may not prevent us from acting for another party.

Deadlines do not wait for email. Limitation periods, notice periods and hearing dates are strict. If a date is approaching, telephone the office at (226) 326-2010 rather than relying on a message sent through this Site.

9. Intellectual property

All content on this Site — text, guides, articles, graphics, logos and layout — is owned by D&JP Pietrangelo Law or used with permission, and is protected by Canadian and international copyright law. You may view, download and print content for your own personal, non-commercial use. Reproducing, republishing or distributing it for any other purpose requires our prior written consent.

10. Third-party links

This Site links to third-party resources, including the Landlord and Tenant Board, Tribunals Ontario, Ontario Court Forms, Steps to Justice and the Law Society of Ontario, for convenience only. We do not control those sites, do not endorse their content, and are not responsible for their accuracy, availability or privacy practices.

11. Privacy

Information you submit through the contact form or newsletter signup is used only to respond to your enquiry and, where you have asked for it, to send you our newsletter. We do not sell or rent your information. This Site uses Google Analytics to understand aggregate traffic patterns; that service sets cookies and collects usage data under Google's own privacy policy. You can unsubscribe from the newsletter at any time using the link in any issue.

12. Governing law

These Terms are governed by the laws of the Province of Ontario and the federal laws of Canada applicable in Ontario. You agree to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of Ontario in respect of any dispute arising from this Site.

13. Amendments

We may revise these Terms at any time by updating this page. The “last updated” date above reflects the most recent revision. Your continued use of the Site after a change constitutes acceptance of the revised Terms.

14. Contact

D&JP Pietrangelo Law
110 & 112 Woolwich Street, Guelph, ON N1H 3V2
(226) 326-2010 · danielle@djppietrangelolaw.com