About Christopher J. Unruh Law Office

Christopher J. Unruh Law Office is a solo family law practice in Fergus, Ontario, opened by Christopher J. Unruh in 2015. The work centres on the issues that come with separation and divorce: parenting and decision-making arrangements, child and spousal support, and the division of property. Alongside the courtroom side of that work, the office offers family mediation, collaborative family law, and negotiated resolutions. It also prepares wills and powers of attorney and helps with administering estates.

Christopher J. Unruh has practised law since 2011, after a Bachelor of Social Sciences from the University of Ottawa and a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Victoria. Later training includes collaborative family law certificates and a 2018 Certificate in Conflict Management and Mediation from Conrad Grebel University College. The practice reaches well past Fergus. It serves as family law duty counsel at the Guelph and Walkerton courthouses, takes matters through the Office of the Children's Lawyer, and is empaneled with the Family Responsibility Office, appearing at courthouses across southwestern Ontario.

Affordability runs through how the office is set up. It quotes flat fees for defined jobs like separation agreements and uncontested divorces, offers limited scope help for people handling parts of a case themselves, accepts Legal Aid Ontario certificates case by case, and starts files with a free remote consultation.

Milestones & recognition

  • The office opened in Fergus in 2015. Christopher J. Unruh has been licensed to practise law since 2011.
  • Education includes a Bachelor of Social Sciences from the University of Ottawa (2006) and a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Victoria (2009).
  • Completed Collaborative Law Practice Levels I and II in 2011 and a Certificate in Conflict Management and Mediation from Conrad Grebel University College in 2018.
  • Serves as family law duty counsel at the Guelph and Walkerton courthouses, takes matters through the Office of the Children's Lawyer, and is empaneled with the Family Responsibility Office.
  • Member of the Wellington Law Association and, since 2015, of Speed River Collaborative.

In the community

  • States a goal of access to justice for families whatever their income, backed by flat-fee packages, limited scope retainers, and Legal Aid Ontario certificates accepted case by case.
  • Points clients in Wellington County who have experienced domestic violence to Guelph Wellington Women in Crisis, which can provide referral forms for subsidized legal consultations.

Good to know

A person using a wheelchairWheelchair accessibleA calendar with a checkmark beside a clockBy appointment

Fees & payment

A price tag with a dollar signFlat feeA clipboard with a speech bubble and a no-charge dollar coinFree consultationScales of justice and a gavel above a Legal Aid bannerLegal aid

The neighbourhood

The office sits at 181 St. Andrew Street East, on the road that forms the commercial heart of downtown Fergus. St. Andrew Street runs alongside the Grand River, past the stone storefronts that have characterized the town since the 1800s and the 1928 Fergus Grand Theatre, in the largest community of Centre Wellington. Fergus took its name in 1858 from one of its Scottish founders, and it still hosts the Scottish Festival and Highland Games each August. For a family law practice, a main-street address is easy to reach for clients across Centre Wellington and the nearby Elora and Guelph area the office serves.

Not every meeting needs a trip downtown, though. Free consultations and many mediation sessions run remotely over Zoom or Google Meet, so clients outside Fergus can get started without driving in.

Frequently asked questions

Does Christopher J. Unruh Law Office handle divorce, parenting, and support issues?
Yes. The Fergus office focuses on family law, including separation and divorce, parenting and decision-making arrangements, child and spousal support, and dividing property. When a settlement isn't possible, it represents clients in the Superior Court of Justice and the Ontario Court of Justice.
Can the firm help us separate without going to court?
That's much of what the office does. It offers family mediation, collaborative family law, and negotiated resolutions, all aimed at reaching an agreement outside a courtroom. The firm has belonged to Speed River Collaborative since 2015.
What does mediation cost at this office?
Mediation packages start at $2,500 plus HST, which covers separate intake meetings with each party and an initial three-hour session. Meetings run in person at the Fergus office or remotely over Zoom or Google Meet. The office can act as either your mediator or your lawyer on a file, but not both.
I can't afford a lawyer for my whole case. Are there options?
Yes. The office quotes flat fees for defined jobs like separation agreements and uncontested divorces, offers limited scope (pay as you go) help for people handling parts of a case themselves, and accepts Legal Aid Ontario certificates on a case by case basis. First consultations are free.
Can the office prepare my will and powers of attorney?
Yes. Alongside its family work, the office regularly prepares wills, including dual wills where they fit, and powers of attorney for property and personal care. It also assists with administering estates after a death.
Where is the office, and do I have to meet in person?
The office is at 181 St. Andrew Street East in downtown Fergus and can be reached at 226-780-0810. Free consultations are offered remotely over Google Meet or Zoom, and mediation sessions can run either at the office or online.

Where to find them

181 St. Andrew Street East, Fergus, Ontario N1M 1P9, Canada · 226-780-0810

Similar firms in Wellington County (Guelph)

Morris-Shannon Law Office

1 lawyer · Est. 1880

Morris-Shannon Law Office is a general practice in Elora, Ontario, part of the Centre Wellington community. Its work covers wills, estates, and commercial matters, with an emphasis on real estate. The office has been …

Real Estate LawReal Estate LawWills, Estates & TrustsWills, Estates & TrustsBusiness & Corporate LawBusiness & Corporate LawCivil Litigation & Dispute ResolutionCivil Litigation & Dispute Resolution

Maslov Law

1 lawyer

Maslov Law is the solo practice of Danica Maslov, serving Guelph and Brantford, Ontario. Its work covers separation and divorce, child protection (CAS), adoption, marriage and cohabitation agreements, wills and powers…

Family LawFamily LawWills, Estates & TrustsWills, Estates & TrustsImmigration LawImmigration LawCivil Litigation & Dispute ResolutionCivil Litigation & Dispute Resolution

Flesher & Mann

1 lawyer · Est. 1987

Flesher & Mann is a general-practice firm that's served Guelph and the surrounding area since 1987. Its work covers real estate, wills and powers of attorney, incorporations and family law, and its principal, Jeffrey …

Real Estate LawReal Estate LawWills, Estates & TrustsWills, Estates & TrustsBusiness & Corporate LawBusiness & Corporate LawFamily LawFamily Law

Listing compiled from the firm’s public website in July 2026. Verify licence status in the Law Society of Ontario directory ↗