Durham Region
Durham Region Lawyers: Wills, Criminal Defence and Immigration, by Phone and Video
We don't have an office in Durham Region. We act for clients in Oshawa, Whitby, Ajax, Pickering, Clarington and across Durham by phone and video, and you can meet us in person at our downtown Toronto or North York office by appointment. Wills and powers of attorney can be prepared and signed by video, and many early criminal court dates can be handled remotely.
Durham Region has some of the GTA's fastest-growing communities, many families who commute along Highway 401 and Highway 407, and a large student population at Ontario Tech University and Durham College. That shapes our work here: estate planning for young families and new homeowners, criminal defence for charges laid by the Durham Regional Police Service, and immigration help for students, workers and families.
How We Help Durham Region Clients
Wills & Powers of Attorney for Durham Region Families
Wills and mirror wills for couples with young children · Islamic wills · Continuing power of attorney for property and power of attorney for personal care
Criminal Defence Lawyer for Durham Region
Impaired driving, over 80 and refusal charges · Stunt driving and careless driving · Assault and domestic assault
Immigration Lawyer for Durham Students and Families
Study permits and post-graduation work permits · Family and spousal sponsorship · Work permits and employer support
Wills & Powers of Attorney for Durham Region Families
Many Durham families are young couples who bought a first home and have children in school. A will names who looks after the children and who inherits, and powers of attorney let a trusted person manage money and health decisions if one of you is ill or injured. These are the documents we prepare most often for Durham clients.
You can complete the process from home. We talk through your wishes by phone or video, send you the documents to review, and arrange a signing by video, as Ontario allows if at least one witness is a lawyer or paralegal licensed in Ontario and everyone can see and hear each other in real time. For families who want the Islamic shares followed, we prepare Islamic wills drafted to work under Ontario law.
See wills and powers of attorney, with our feesWe help with:
- Wills and mirror wills for couples with young children
- Islamic wills
- Continuing power of attorney for property and power of attorney for personal care
- Wills for newcomers with property or family abroad
- Powers of attorney for an ageing parent
Criminal Defence Lawyer for Durham Region
Criminal charges laid by the Durham Regional Police Service are heard at the Lieutenant Colonel Samuel S. Sharpe Courthouse at 150 Bond Street East in Oshawa, which houses the Ontario Court of Justice and the Superior Court of Justice. We act for clients charged anywhere in Durham, appearing at the courthouse or remotely where the court allows. Your release document will tell you how and where to attend.
Highway 401, Highway 407 and Highway 412 carry heavy commuter traffic through Durham, so many charges begin with a traffic stop: impaired driving, over 80, refusal and stunt driving. We also act in assault, theft, fraud, drug and weapons cases, and we handle bail hearings and bail reviews. If a family member has been arrested, our family-arrested page explains what happens in the first 24 hours.
Learn about our criminal defence servicesWe help with:
- Impaired driving, over 80 and refusal charges
- Stunt driving and careless driving
- Assault and domestic assault
- Theft, shoplifting and fraud
- Bail hearings and bail reviews
Immigration Lawyer for Durham Students and Families
Durham College and Ontario Tech University bring many international students to Oshawa. We help with study permits and extensions, post-graduation work permits and permanent residence, and we help families with sponsorship applications. If a student is charged with an offence, we can advise on how it could affect their status.
Explore our immigration servicesWe help with:
- Study permits and post-graduation work permits
- Family and spousal sponsorship
- Work permits and employer support
- Inadmissibility and refusals
The Oshawa courthouse serves all of Durham
Criminal matters from Oshawa, Whitby, Ajax, Pickering, Clarington and the rest of Durham are generally dealt with at 150 Bond Street East in Oshawa. We review your disclosure by phone or video and appear for you at court dates where that's allowed.
Commuter families and new homeowners
Many Durham households have two working parents, a mortgage and young children. That's exactly when a will and powers of attorney matter most, because a single accident or illness can leave a family without anyone who has legal authority to act.
Why Durham Region Clients Choose Our Law Services
By phone and video
Meet from home and skip the commute. Sign your will by video where the law allows.
Criminal and immigration together
If a charge could affect your status, we look at both from the start.
Your language
We meet clients in English, Urdu, Hindi and Punjabi.
Plain-language advice
Clear explanations and fees confirmed in writing before we start.
What to Expect When You Contact Us
- 1
Call or book online
Reach us at (289) 652-0529 or through our contact form. We respond promptly, and urgent matters such as arrests and IRCC deadlines get priority.
- 2
Consultation
We listen to your situation, review any documents, and explain your options, risks and likely costs in plain language.
- 3
Clear plan & fees
If you retain us, you get a written plan and fee arrangement before work begins, so there are no surprises.
- 4
We handle it
We prepare the filings, deal with the court, IRCC, lenders or the other side, and keep you updated until your matter is complete.
Our Offices
Our Law Services – North York
77 Finch Avenue East, Unit #807, North York, ON M2N 6H8
(289) 652-0529 · Mon–Fri 9–5, by appointment
Get directionsOur Law Services – Toronto (Downtown)
52 Fort York Blvd, Toronto, ON M5V 4A6
(289) 652-0529 · Mon–Fri 9–5, by appointment
Get directionsWe serve Durham Region by phone and video. Our nearest offices are in North York and downtown Toronto. Meetings are by appointment.
Areas We Serve Near Durham Region
- Oshawa
- Whitby
- Brooklin
- Ajax
- Pickering
- Courtice
- Bowmanville
- Newcastle
- Port Perry
- Uxbridge
- Beaverton
- Cannington
Frequently Asked Questions – Durham Region
Do you have an office in Durham Region?
No. We serve Durham clients by phone and video. If you want to meet in person, our nearest offices are 77 Finch Avenue East, Unit #807, North York, and 52 Fort York Blvd, Toronto, by appointment. Call (289) 652-0529.
Where are criminal charges from Durham Region heard?
Generally at the Lieutenant Colonel Samuel S. Sharpe Courthouse, 150 Bond Street East, Oshawa. Your release document will say how and where to attend, and we can appear for you where the court allows.
Can I sign my will and power of attorney by video?
Often, yes. Ontario allows virtual signing if at least one witness is a lawyer or paralegal licensed in Ontario and everyone can see and hear each other in real time. See our page on signing a will by video, and we'll tell you whether it suits your situation.
I'm a student at Durham College or Ontario Tech and I've been charged. What should I do?
Don't plead guilty before getting advice. A conviction can affect a study permit and future applications. We practise criminal and immigration law, so we look at both together.
Do you handle probate or estate administration?
No. We prepare wills and powers of attorney. We don't handle probate applications or estate administration.
Can we meet in Urdu, Hindi or Punjabi?
Yes. We meet clients in English, Urdu, Hindi and Punjabi.
This page provides general legal information, not legal advice, and does not create a lawyer–client relationship. Laws and government programs change, so contact us for advice about your situation. Read our full disclaimer.
Legal Guides for Durham Region Residents
Can You Make a Handwritten Will in Ontario?
Ontario allows a will written entirely in your own handwriting and signed, with no witnesses. But valid does not mean safe. Here are the rules and the risks.
Can You Disinherit a Child in Ontario?
Ontario gives you a lot of freedom in your will, but not unlimited freedom. Here is when a child can still make a claim, and how to reduce the risk of a dispute.
Power of Attorney vs. Executor: What Is the Difference in Ontario?
A power of attorney acts for you while you are alive. An executor acts after you die. Here is how they differ, when each starts and ends, and who to choose.
How Much Does a Will Cost in Ontario?
What does a will cost in Ontario? It depends on how complex your situation is. Here is what changes the price, what is included, and what we charge.
Does Marriage Cancel Your Will in Ontario?
For many years, getting married automatically cancelled a will in Ontario. That rule was repealed. Here is what marriage, divorce and separation do to your will today.
Naming a Guardian for Your Children in Your Ontario Will
If something happened to both parents, who would look after your children? Here is what an Ontario will can and can't do.
Talk to a Lawyer About Your Durham Region Matter
Call (289) 652-0529 or book a consultation online. Phone and video meetings are available.
Also serving Brampton, Oakville, Milton, Toronto, Vaughan, London, Markham & Richmond Hill, Burlington, Caledon, Hamilton, Kitchener-Waterloo, Orangeville & Dufferin County, Mississauga, Scarborough, Etobicoke, North York, Pickering & Ajax and our main office in Mississauga.