Abarca Law
Automatically compiled listing. Details may contain errors.1 lawyer · Waterloo Region
One of 102 law firms listed in Kitchener, and one of 25 handling Civil Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Free consultation
Free consultationAbout Abarca Law
Abarca Law handles complex civil disputes as well as family and immigration problems that hit close to home, and it commits to protecting what matters most to each client. Its clients have included individuals and families, businesses and nonprofits, financial institutions, private schools and government bodies. A problem that isn't on the firm's services list still gets a look: a free first consultation sorts out whether the matter is within its scope, and if it isn't, the firm may be able to refer the client to a lawyer in its professional network.
Principal lawyer and notary public Carlos A. Abarca was born and raised in Kitchener-Waterloo and has a deep connection to the region and the people in it. Carlos earned a B.A. (Hons.) at the University of Waterloo, then an M.A. at Toronto Metropolitan University and a J.D. at the University of Ottawa, and is a licensed member of the Law Society of Ontario.
Carlos came to law after a decade of work at every level of Canadian government and with the U.S. federal government. Having lived and worked in North America, Latin America, Europe and the Middle East, Carlos brings a global outlook and cultural awareness to client service. Legal assistant Erica Abarca, who also grew up in the Kitchener-Waterloo region, helps keep the office running smoothly and supports clients through their matters.
Consultations are free and run 30 minutes. Fees depend on the kind of matter and how complex it is, and depending on what a client needs, the firm may charge a flat fee or ask for a retainer. Abarca Law commits to reviewing a consultation request and coming back with a detailed quote within 24 hours. The office is in Suite 253 at 508 Riverbend Drive in Kitchener.
Practice areas
Civil Litigation & Dispute Resolution
Immigration Law
Employment & Labour Law
Family Law
Wills, Estates & Trusts
Notary & Commissioner Services
Agreements and uncontested matters
Abarca Law drafts cohabitation agreements, marriage contracts and separation agreements, and gives independent legal advice. It also handles uncontested divorces, offers mediation and helps with grandparent access disputes.
Our guide: How to Get a Divorce in Ontario
Small Claims to the Court of Appeal
Abarca Law acts for clients bringing claims and for those defending them. It appears in Small Claims Court, the Ontario Superior Court of Justice and the Court of Appeal, as well as before administrative tribunals, on matters that include defamation, breach of fiduciary duty, civil fraud and injunctions.
Applications, hearings and appeals
The firm works with clients who want to come to Canada, those trying to stay, and people facing enforcement proceedings. That covers Post-Graduation Work Permits, humanitarian and compassionate applications and Family Class sponsorships, as well as refugee claims, detention reviews and judicial reviews.
Advice for both sides of the workplace
Abarca Law advises employees as well as employers on Ontario workplace issues. That includes compliance with and claims under the Employment Standards Act, and representation at mediations, in court and at administrative hearings.
Wills, powers of attorney and assets held elsewhere
The firm drafts and reviews wills shaped around each client's wishes and family situation, and prepares powers of attorney for property and for personal care. The aim is a will that reaches every asset, digital holdings and property in other provinces or countries included.
Notary and commissioner services
Abarca Law offers notary public and commissioner of oaths services to individuals, businesses and organizations across Ontario. That includes swearing affidavits and statutory declarations, certifying true copies, travel consent letters for children and invitation letters for visa applications. Appointments are in person with flexible scheduling, and some documents may qualify for remote commissioning under Ontario rules.
Entertainment and media law
Abarca Law also acts for people in creative fields, among them artists, influencers, writers and producers, in screen, music, publishing and digital work. Its services there include content clearance and defamation review.
Fees & payment
Flat fee
Free consultationHow Abarca Law works
In civil disputes, Abarca Law aims to settle things efficiently through negotiation, mediation or another form of alternative dispute resolution where it can, rather than through lengthy litigation. When a fair resolution can't be reached outside court, it's ready to take the case through the courts on the client's behalf.
The firm aims to keep each client up to date from start to finish, using whichever way of staying in touch suits that person, and that's worked out at the first intake meeting.
Milestones & recognition
- Carlos Abarca's earlier practice included a mid-sized Toronto firm that acted for several major Canadian banks, as well as a personal injury practice.
- Carlos Abarca practised civil litigation at full-service firms in Kitchener and Cambridge, acting for clients ranging from individuals and families to corporations and municipalities.
In the community
- Carlos Abarca has volunteered with the Food Bank and Out of the Cold, and has taught classes at the University of Waterloo and with the City of Kitchener.
Affiliations & connections
- Compass Kitchener: Carlos Abarca serves on Compass Kitchener, a City of Kitchener advisory committee that runs public processes to identify community concerns and track progress on the community's vision.
- Ontario Bar Association: Carlos Abarca is a member of the Ontario Bar Association, along with the Waterloo Region Law Association.
Who handles what
The neighbourhood
Abarca Law's office is at 508 Riverbend Drive in Kitchener, a multi-tenant office building with round-the-clock security and an elevator, reached from Lancaster Street West and Bridgeport Road East. On the second floor, an office in the Your Sandbox co-working space has extra-large windows facing the Walter Bean Trail.
That trail is a multi-use path following the Grand River through the Regional Municipality of Waterloo. The office stands on the traditional territory of the Haudenosaunee, Anishinaabe and Neutral peoples, on the Haldimand Tract, the land granted to the Six Nations of the Grand River that stretches six miles out from each bank along the river's whole length.
Frequently asked questions
- Does Abarca Law take family cases that are headed to court?
- No. Abarca Law handles only non-litigation family matters, and its family work is for clients who'd rather keep their issue out of court.
- Has Abarca Law written about spousal sponsorships refused over an online wedding?
- Yes. Abarca Law has published an article on Fiddler v Canada (Citizenship and Immigration), 2025 CanLII 71988, in which the Immigration Appeal Division upheld a refused sponsorship that rested on a marriage performed through the online platform Courtly. The firm helps clients with refused spousal sponsorships and appeals.
- What has Abarca Law said about Ontario's 2026 job posting rules?
- Abarca Law's blog has a piece by Carlos Abarca on the new hiring rules. Among the changes it covers: employers can't require Canadian experience in job postings or applications, and since 2026 a posting has to say so when AI helps screen, assess or choose candidates.
Where to find them
508 Riverbend Drive, Suite 253, Kitchener, ON N2K 3S2 · 226-887-2881
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Real Estate LawThis listing was generated by AI from public sources in October 2026. It may contain errors, and we can’t guarantee it’s accurate or complete. Before you rely on anything here, verify it on the firm’s own website. Verify licence status in the Law Society of Ontario directory ↗
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