paid to your lawyer or paralegal will be reimbursed by the other party. The fee arrangement between you and your legal representative is separate from any costs that a court or tribunal may order the opposing party to pay.

Each court and tribunal has its own rules governing costs. Depending on the type of proceeding, the outcome of the case, the conduct of the parties, and other relevant factors, you may be awarded some of your legal costs, but the amount may be significantly less than the fees you actually paid. In some proceedings, recoverable representation costs are specifically limited.

For this reason, you should not assume that winning your case will result in full reimbursement of your legal fees.

Not necessarily. Lawyers and paralegals generally charge fees for the professional services they provide, including consultations, although consultation fees and billing arrangements may vary depending on the legal service and the agreement with the client.

In some cases, a lawyer or paralegal may offer a free initial consultation or, by agreement, apply the consultation fee toward the legal fees if the client later retains them for the matter.

It is always a good idea to confirm the consultation fee and the terms of the arrangement before booking an appointm

It depends on the service required. In Ontario, commissioning an affidavit, statutory declaration, or other oath or declaration may be completed remotely when the requirements prescribed by Ontario law are satisfied. The process generally requires real-time audio-visual communication, verification of the signer’s identity, appropriate wording in the document, and compliance with applicable record-keeping and other requirements.

Notarial services are different from commissioning services. Certain notarial acts may require different procedures, and remote commissioning rules should not be assumed to apply to every service performed by a notary public.

In addition, an organization receiving a document may have its own requirements and may not accept a remotely commissioned document. We therefore recommend confirming the requirements of the receiving institution before arranging an appointment.

The recognition and enforcement of a court judgment in another country may depend on whether the two countries have a treaty, convention, or reciprocal arrangement for the recognition and enforcement of judgments. Where such an arrangement exists, the enforcement process may be more straightforward.

Canada and Iran do not have a reciprocal judgment-enforcement arrangement of the kind that Ontario has with certain other jurisdictions. Therefore, an Ontario judgment is not automatically enforceable in Iran simply because it was issued by an Ontario court.

If the person against whom the judgment was obtained, or their assets, are located in Iran or another foreign country, additional proceedings may be required under the law of that country before the judgment can be recognized or enforced. The foreign court may consider issues such as jurisdiction, whether the judgment is final, proper notice to the defendant, and compatibility with its own laws and public policy.

For this reason, before starting litigation in Ontario against a person whose assets are outside Canada, it is important to consider not only whether a judgment can be obtained, but also where and how it could ultimately be enforced.

Generally, no. A mediator is not a judge or arbitrator and does not have the authority to impose a decision on the parties. The mediator’s role is to remain neutral, facilitate negotiations, identify possible solutions, and help the parties reach a voluntary settlement.

A mediator may suggest settlement options, but the parties are generally free to accept or reject those proposals. However, if the parties reach a settlement through mediation and enter into a written and signed settlement agreement or minutes of settlement, that agreement may become legally binding and enforceable.

Mediation should therefore be distinguished from arbitration or a court proceeding, where an arbitrator or judge may have authority to make a binding decision.