By Lawyers has released a new Notary Public Guide for Ontario, bringing long overdue attention to a practice area that many lawyers overlook, yet one that consistently provides a strong and reliable revenue stream. Notarial services are required in a wide range of personal, commercial, and international matters. As a result, the demand for qualified notaries remains high throughout the year, making this a particularly valuable offering for new and growing practices.

A notary public may witness, certify, and attest the execution of documents, certify true copies of originals, and administer oaths, affirmations, and statutory declarations. A notary also has authority to perform functions that a commissioner for taking affidavits cannot. In particular, documents intended for use outside Ontario often require notarization rather than simple commissioning, which creates meaningful opportunities for client service and practice development.

The new By Lawyers publication is designed to make the process of becoming and working as a notary public straightforward and practical. It includes guidance on applying for appointment, instructions on best practices, and practical commentary on the daily realities of notarial work. The guide also provides worksheets, precedents, instruction sheets, and a helpful set of templates for maintaining notary records and notary journal logs. These resources support efficient file management and help practitioners stay organized and compliant.

For lawyers looking to expand their services, attract new clients, and strengthen their professional offering, the Notary Public Guide for Ontario is a timely and highly practical resource.

Explore By Lawyers new Notary Public guide in our Practice Management publication. 

On January 2, 2026, the Alberta Court of King’s Bench introduced the Family Focused Protocol (FFP), a major reform to how family law cases are handled in the province. The new approach is designed to resolve disputes earlier, reduce conflict, and better support families and children during divorce and separation. The court’s goal is to streamline family law processes, reduce prolonged litigation, and lessen the negative impact of court disputes on children.

A central feature of the FFP is the assignment of a Mandatory Intake Triage (MIT) Justice at the start of each case. The MIT Justice meets with the parties, addresses interim concerns, and provides early guidance tailored to the family’s circumstances. They then manage the case toward settlement where possible, or if resolution cannot be reached, guide it toward trial, ensuring consistent judicial oversight throughout the process.

Before the court will assist, parties must complete mandatory pre-court requirements. These include completing the Parenting After Separation (PAS) course where children are involved, exchanging full financial disclosure, and participating in Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) within the previous 6 months. Self-represented parties must also meet with a Family Court Counsellor, who can help organize documents and explain the next steps in the process.

Once the requirements are met and a claim is filed, families attend a Mandatory Intake Triage (MIT) Conference, followed in most cases by a Settlement Conference. The MIT Conference allows the Justice to grant interim orders, set timelines, order reports, and identify the supports needed to encourage resolution. Settlement Conferences focus on narrowing issues and resolving disputes without proceeding to trial.

Every case proceeds through one of three pathways: the Regular Family Process, the Desk Process, or the Urgent Process. Most families follow the Regular Family Process, which involves a structured sequence of conferences and court appearances. The Desk Process allows certain matters, such as consent orders or waiver requests, to be decided through written submissions without a hearing.

The Urgent Process is reserved for situations involving immediate risk, including concerns about violence, the removal of a child from the jurisdiction, emergency protection order reviews, or other time-sensitive parenting issues. The mandatory pre-court requirements do not need to be completed before requesting urgent court assistance.

Overall, the Family Focused Protocol represents a shift toward early resolution and collaboration in Alberta’s family law system, encouraging settlement instead of trial.

By Lawyers is in the process of updating all Alberta family law publications to align with this significant change in practice and procedure. New precedents, matter plans, and commentary are being developed to assist practitioners in adapting to the new system introduced by the Family Focused Protocol.

Starting January 1, 2026, the Supreme Court of British Columbia online booking system will expand to include the booking of long chambers hearing dates for all civil and family proceedings.

Two booking processes will be used: a booking window process and an on-demand booking process. Some court locations will use both processes, while others will operate exclusively on an on-demand basis.

In locations where demand for newly released long chambers hearing dates exceeds available court time, parties and counsel will request dates during a monthly booking window, which runs from the 1st to the 7th of each month. After the booking window closes, the court will allocate hearing dates based on availability and established priority principles. Requests that cannot be accommodated will be recorded and assigned priority for future booking windows.

Dates that remain available after the booking window, as well as all dates in locations using the on-demand process, may be booked at any time through the Court Online Booking System.

As January 2026 is the first month of online booking for long chambers hearings, the booking window for the month will be extended from January 1 to January 14 to allow users sufficient time to become familiar with the new process.