Purves-Smith Law
1 lawyer · Wellington County (Guelph)
One of 53 law firms listed in Guelph, and one of 23 handling Family Law.
Accepts Legal Aid
Virtual appointments
Accepts Legal AidVirtual appointmentsAbout Purves-Smith Law
Purves-Smith Law is a solo practice in downtown Guelph, Ontario, focused on family law and serving clients across Guelph and the Kitchener-Waterloo area. The firm is led by Michael D. Purves-Smith, a graduate of Osgoode Hall Law School who received the Morden Prize in Evidence Law and articled at a litigation firm in Toronto before practising family law with a Guelph firm. Family matters make up the core of the work: custody and access, child and spousal support, separation agreements, property division, and both contested and uncontested divorce. The firm also takes on child protection files that involve the Children's Aid Society, adoptions, and independent legal advice on domestic contracts.
Alongside its family work, the firm handles criminal defence, and it provides notary and commissioner services such as document notarization and travel consent letters. One practical touch is that Purves-Smith Law publishes a fee schedule on its website, listing set prices for common services like a one-hour consultation, an uncontested divorce, and a separation agreement, and it offers limited scope retainers for clients who need help with only part of a matter. Legal Aid Ontario certificates are accepted on a case-by-case basis. Away from law, Michael D. Purves-Smith performs as a jazz musician and lives in Guelph.
Practice areas
Good to know
Wheelchair accessible
Virtual appointments
By appointmentFees & payment
Flat fee
Legal aidWho handles what
The neighbourhood
The firm is in downtown Guelph, at the north end of Wyndham Street around St. George's Square. This is the heart of a downtown that John Galt laid out in a radial pattern at the city's founding, so the streets fan out from the square instead of running in a plain grid. Much of the core is built from the warm limestone that local stone carvers worked so easily, and many of the Victorian buildings on and near the square carry heritage designations. A fountain topped by William McElcheran's sculpture "The Family" stands in the middle of the square.
Downtown holds Guelph's largest concentration of professional offices along with its shops, restaurants, and services, and it's easy to reach on foot, by bike, by car, or by transit. For a practice that also handles criminal defence, the setting is convenient. Guelph's courthouse sits a short distance south on Wyndham Street, so court dates and filings stay close at hand.
Frequently asked questions
- Does Purves-Smith Law handle divorce, custody, and support?
- Yes. The firm's family law work covers contested and uncontested divorce, custody and access, child and spousal support, separation agreements, and the division of property. It also handles child protection matters that involve the Children's Aid Society.
- I've been charged with a criminal offence. Can the firm represent me?
- Yes. Along with its family law practice, Purves-Smith Law takes on criminal defence work. Call the Guelph office at 519-835-2100 to talk through your situation.
- What will it cost, and does the firm post its fees?
- Purves-Smith Law lists a fee schedule on its website. A one-hour consultation is $250, a simple uncontested divorce is $1,600 plus HST, and separation agreements run from $700 to $3,000 plus HST. Limited scope retainers are available if you only need help with part of a file.
- Does the firm accept Legal Aid?
- Yes, on a case-by-case basis. The firm accepts Legal Aid Ontario certificates depending on the matter, so it's worth asking when you first make contact.
- Can the firm notarize documents or witness a child's travel consent letter?
- Yes. Purves-Smith Law offers notary and commissioner services, including document notarization and travel consent letters. Both are listed at $60 plus HST on the firm's fee schedule.
- Where is Purves-Smith Law, and what areas does it serve?
- The firm is based in downtown Guelph and works with clients across Guelph and the Kitchener-Waterloo area. You can reach the office at 519-835-2100.
Where to find them
2 Wyndham St N, Guelph, ON N1H 4E3 · 519-835-2100
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