Independent Legal Advice

ILA is not legally required to sign a separation agreement in Ontario. But it is the single biggest thing that makes the agreement bulletproof. Without ILA, the other party can later argue "I did not understand what I was signing" or "I was pressured into it" — and they might win. With ILA, those arguments are nearly impossible to make. Most Ontario family lawyers will do ILA for a flat fee — typically $300 to $800 per party, depending on the complexity. The lawyer reviews the agreement, explains what each clause means, points out risks, and signs a certificate confirming the review. That certificate gets attached to the agreement.