Consultation Terms

1. Who you're meeting

• Lawyers on Uncoupled are independent. Each one tells us they're licensed by their provincial law society, and a Verified mark means we've confirmed their standing on the law society's public register. They practise on their own or as part of a law firm. They're not employed by Uncoupled, and Uncoupled doesn't direct their work or their advice.
• Uncoupled is not a law firm and doesn't give legal advice. We provide the booking, messaging and video tools, and we're not part of the conversation or the advice you receive.
• A "Verified" mark means we confirmed the lawyer is listed in good standing on their law society's public register. It isn't a recommendation or a guarantee of the quality of their work. See How We Verify Lawyers.

2. What a consultation is

• An initial consultation is a first meeting. It lets you explain your situation, hear about your options in general terms, and decide with the lawyer whether to work together.
• A consultation is not full legal advice on your case. Anything the lawyer says is based only on what you tell them in that meeting, and it may change once they know more.
• Requesting or attending a consultation doesn't mean the lawyer has agreed to represent you. A lawyer acts for you only once you and the lawyer, or their firm, have agreed to work together, usually in a written retainer agreement that sets out the work and the fees.
• A lawyer may decline your request, or end a consultation, for professional reasons. For example, they may have a conflict of interest, or the matter may be outside their practice area. They don't have to tell you why.

3. The conflict of interest check

• Before a consultation, the lawyer has to check that they can meet you. Law society rules require them to make sure that neither they nor their firm has acted, or is acting, for your spouse or anyone else on the other side.
• That's why we ask for your spouse's or partner's full name when you book. Please give their full legal name, and any other names they've used.
• If the lawyer finds a conflict, they'll decline the request. For your privacy and your spouse's, they may not be able to explain why.
• Keep your booking request brief. In the description box, share only what the lawyer needs to understand the type of matter. Save the details for the consultation itself, once the lawyer has confirmed they can meet you.

4. Your information must be accurate

You agree to:

• give accurate, complete and truthful information when you book and during the consultation, including your own name and the names of the other people involved;
• use your own account and book only for your own family law matter, or as an authorized representative if the lawyer agrees to that;
• tell the lawyer if something you said turns out to be wrong or incomplete.

The lawyer relies on what you tell them. Missing or wrong information can affect the conflict check and what they tell you. It can also mean the lawyer has to decline or end the consultation.

5. Book in good faith

• Book a consultation only to get help with your own matter.
• Don't book consultations to prevent lawyers from acting for your spouse or partner (sometimes called "conflicting out" a lawyer), and don't book with no intention of attending.
• If we believe consultations are being booked in bad faith, we may cancel them and restrict the account.

6. Fees

• If a lawyer's profile says the initial consultation is free, it's free for the length shown when you book.
• Any extra time, any paid consultation and any work after the consultation are charged at the lawyer's own rates. The lawyer should tell you their fees before charging you anything.
• Any fee is agreed and paid directly between you and the lawyer or their firm. Uncoupled doesn't process consultation payments and doesn't take any share of what lawyers charge you.
• Using Uncoupled to find and book lawyers is free for clients.

7. Confidentiality and privacy

• Lawyers and their firms have professional duties of confidentiality under their law society's rules, and those duties can apply to what you share in a consultation even if you don't go on to hire them.
• When you book, the lawyer receives your name, your province, the topic you choose, your spouse's or partner's name and the description you write. They don't receive your email address or phone number. You talk through Uncoupled messages and the consultation video link, and you choose whether to share contact details.
• Uncoupled handles your information as described in our Privacy Policy. We don't take part in, listen to or record consultations.
• For a video consultation, choose a private place where you can't be overheard.
• If you'd like someone else to join, such as a friend or relative, ask the lawyer first. Having another person present can affect whether what you discuss stays confidential and privileged.
• Don't record a consultation unless the lawyer agrees.

8. Cancelling and rescheduling

• You can cancel anytime from My consultations, and the lawyer will be told by email.
• To change the time, cancel and book again, or message the lawyer. The lawyer may also suggest a different time, which you can accept or decline.
• If you can, please give at least 24 hours' notice. It lets the lawyer offer that time to someone else.
• A lawyer may occasionally need to cancel or reschedule. If they do, you'll be told by email.

9. Not for emergencies

• A consultation booked through Uncoupled is not an emergency service, and lawyers may not see messages right away.
• If you or your children are in immediate danger, call 911. For support services, see our family violence resources.
• If you have a court deadline in the next few days, say so clearly in your request. Consider also contacting your local courthouse's family law information centre or a legal aid office.

10. No guarantee

• No lawyer can guarantee the outcome of a family law matter.
• The general information on Uncoupled, including your timeline, guides and calculator, is for information only. It isn't legal advice about your situation.

11. Your rating

After a consultation, you can rate it privately. Your answers are never shown to the lawyer or the public. A lawyer's average rating appears on their profile once they have at least 5 ratings. Please rate honestly and only on your own experience.

12. Concerns and complaints

• About a lawyer's professional conduct: you can contact the law society in the lawyer's province. We'd also like to hear from you at support@uncoupled.me.
• About Uncoupled itself: email support@uncoupled.me.

13. Changes and governing law

• We may update these terms. The version that applies to a consultation is the one in place when you sent your request.
• These terms are governed by the laws of Ontario and the federal laws of Canada that apply there.