Johnson McMaster & Jefferies

Homes, condos and lender work

Real estate is the firm's primary focus. For more than 40 years it's helped clients buy, sell, refinance and lease their homes and property, and it's acted on thousands of real estate transactions. That work covers single-family houses, multi-family buildings and condominiums. On the lending side it regularly acts for institutional lenders, from all the major banks and credit unions to dozens of smaller and private lenders.

Estate planning and administration

The team commits to taking the time to walk you through each part of estate planning, and it can help you work out how to divide your estate in the way that most benefits your family while cutting your probate taxes. When a loved one dies, its lawyers and staff work alongside the estate trustee to administer the estate. That help covers getting a certificate of estate trustee, working out probate fees and explaining what an estate trustee is responsible for.

Small businesses, start to sale

Small businesses are the focus of the business practice, which goes back more than 40 years. The team can incorporate a company or amalgamate two or more, and it can set up and keep your Minute Books, which every business is legally required to have. If you're buying or selling a business or need a commercial lease drafted, it advises on protecting your interests in the deal.

Separation agreements and simple divorces

The family practice concentrates on drafting separation agreements, as a route to settling family issues quickly, fairly and smoothly. It also takes on simple uncontested divorce applications, domestic agreements and travel consent documents.

Our guide: How to Get a Divorce in Ontario

Four kinds of disputes

Ben Jefferies and Tanisha Merkley advise clients on estate, construction, commercial and employment litigation. On estates, that includes challenges to wills, passing of accounts and contested probate applications.