Wolfe, Smith & Forster LLP
3 lawyers · Wellington County (Guelph)
One of 8 law firms listed in Fergus, and one of 6 handling Family Law.
About Wolfe, Smith & Forster LLP
Wolfe, Smith & Forster LLP is a full-service law firm on the main street of downtown Fergus, Ontario, in Centre Wellington. The firm's barristers, solicitors and notaries advise individuals, businesses, and non-profit organizations, and the firm says it has served Wellington and Dufferin Counties for more than 65 years. Its work runs across real estate, wills and estates, civil litigation, corporate and commercial law, family law, and employment law. Because this is farm country, the corporate side also covers agriculture related services, from the purchase and sale of land to leases, quota, and agricultural business structures.
The practice traces back to 1960, when J. Cecil Wolfe came to Fergus to article with W.A. Maedel, then took over the practice in 1962 after Maedel was appointed a County Court Judge. The name grew over the following decades as Deryk Smith joined in 1971 and became a partner in 1974, and Charlie Forster later joined the letterhead. Since January 1, 2015, the firm has been associated with Nelson, Watson LLP of Guelph. Both firms kept their own names and their downtown offices in Fergus and Guelph, and the arrangement widened the range of legal help available to clients in the two towns.
Practice areas
Milestones & recognition
- J. Cecil Wolfe took over the Fergus practice of W.A. Maedel in 1962, after Maedel was appointed a County Court Judge.
- Deryk Smith joined the firm in 1971 and became a partner in 1974.
- The firm became associated with Nelson, Watson LLP of Guelph on January 1, 2015, with both firms keeping their own names and their downtown offices.
In the community
- J. Cecil Wolfe is a charter member of the Fergus-Elora Rotary Club and has sat on the legacy committee of the Groves Memorial Hospital Foundation.
- Colin Thurston serves on the board of directors of Shelldale Family Gateway in Guelph and belongs to the Centre Wellington Chamber of Commerce and the Speed River Collaborative.
- Lee Villar has been a member of the Kiwanis Club of Guelph since 1989, including a term as club president, and is a past president of the Victorian Order of Nurses.
- Deryk Smith provided pro bono services to cultural and environmental organizations and volunteered directly with several of them.
Good to know
Wheelchair accessible
LGBTQ+ friendlyLawyers 3
This firm’s lawyers at a glance
- Called to the bar
- 1983–2011 · median 17 years in practice 3 of 3 lawyers
- Law schools
- Dalhousie University, Queen's University 2 of 3 lawyers
Who handles what
The neighbourhood
The firm keeps a storefront office at 140 St. Andrew Street West, on the main street of downtown Fergus. The town sits on the Grand River, laid out in 1833 by Adam Fergusson and James Webster as a predominantly Scottish community. Some of that heritage shows in the local stonework: the nearby Gow limestone quarry supplied stone that carries the mark of Scottish stonemasons from a bygone era, seen in landmarks like Templin Gardens. St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church stands close to the office, and one of the firm's founding lawyers has long been a member there.
Fergus is the largest community in Centre Wellington, a township that wraps a compact downtown around a wide reach of farmland. That mix shows up in the firm's caseload, which pairs everyday home purchases, wills, and family matters with corporate work built for a farming region, including land deals, quota, and the structuring of agricultural businesses.
Frequently asked questions
- Can Wolfe, Smith & Forster help me buy or sell a home in Fergus?
- Yes. Real estate is one of the firm's main areas. From its Fergus office it handles residential purchases and sales, refinancing, mortgages, and condominium transactions.
- Can the firm prepare my will and powers of attorney?
- Yes. Wills and estates is a core practice, covering estate planning, family trusts, wills, powers of attorney, and estate administration.
- Does the firm handle family law matters like separation and divorce?
- Yes. The family law practice covers separation, divorce, custody, access, child and spousal support, equalization of net family property, and cohabitation and marriage contracts.
- I farm near Fergus. Can the firm help with land, leases, or quota?
- Yes. Alongside general corporate and commercial work, the firm offers agriculture related services, including the purchase and sale of land, leases, quota, agricultural business structures, and mortgages.
- How long has the firm been in Fergus?
- The firm says it has served Wellington and Dufferin Counties for more than 65 years. Its roots reach back to 1962, when J. Cecil Wolfe took over the local practice of W.A. Maedel.
- What is the firm's connection to Nelson, Watson LLP in Guelph?
- The two firms have been associated since January 1, 2015. Each keeps its own name and its downtown office, one in Fergus and one in Guelph, and together they offer a broader range of legal services.
Where to find them
140 St. Andrew Street West, P.O. Box 99, Fergus, Ontario N1M 2W7 · 519-843-3650
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