Legal Services
You are our priority. You are our number one focus. You can trust us to provide you with proven and expert legal services.
The founder lawyer of Lyceum Professional Corporation, Joy Z. Wei has over 10 years of experience with immigration law, wills, estates and trust law, and business law. She also offers notary public services.
We offer affordable fees and flexible hours. We practice law in English and Chinese languages.
We are based in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada and offer both in-person and virtual services. The virtual meetings arranged over Zoom, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams, and Tencent Meeting.
Wills, Estates, and Trust Law
Be ready for the unexpected – make sure your will and estate plan are written and prepared by a qualified estate lawyer. Working with a lawyer with expertise in estates and trusts , including drafting wills and powers of attorney ensures peace of mind and minimizes stress when a death or major life event occurs.
Estate Planning
A qualified estate lawyer like me can discuss your estate plan and draft your wills and trust deeds. The custody of minor children is an important matter that should be included in your will; I will discuss all options with you to ensure your minor children’s interest is well protected. I will make the best of my legal knowledge and skills to protect your wishes and ensure they are followed. I will also draft the powers of attorney for clients and take into consideration of any minor
If your existing will is not prepared or did not satisfy the legal formative requirements, it will likely cause disputes amongst family members. In addition, it may result into stress, problems, and additional expenses for the family, My goal is to reduce the stress and costs associated with your estate planning. I’ll work closely with you to ensure your wishes are documented in a legally binding manner. I will also do my best to help you predict the next decade and try to minimize the chance that you would need to revise your wills.
Power of Attorney consultation and drafting
In Ontario appointing a Power of Attorney for Personal Care or a Power of Attorney for Property is a key component of your estate plan. Appointing a Power of Attorney for Personal Care and for Property ensures someone you trust is making decisions for you. These decisions can include your health care, shelter, nutrition, clothing, safety, property, and finances. Working with a lawyer like me ensures your power of attorney documents are legally valid. In addition, you will be able to understand to what extent you give the power of control of your health and property to your appointed attorneys. You should be advised of how to terminate or to change an attorney if you are not satisfied of him or her, and the amount of compensation your appointed attorney is entitled to claim, etc.
Trusts
Talk to me about how I can prepare your family trust, inter vivos trust, Henson trust, and other types of trust deeds. I will ensure you choose the right type of trust, work with you to draft the trust deed, and ensure your trust complies with Ontario and Canadian legal requirements.
Probate Applications
Probate can be very confusing for a lay person. In Ontario, the probate process is called an Application for a Certificate of Appointment of the Estate Trustee with or without a Will.
The probate process gives the executor or the estate trustee the legal authority to act for the deceased. However, it is not always clear what additional documents you must submit to the court to apply for probate.
As an estate lawyer, I can advise you on whether to apply for probate, ensure your probate application is filed and completed correctly, and answer your questions about the duties of an estate trustee.
Estate Administration
Being asked to administer an estate or appointed as an Estate Trustee can be extremely exhausting, timely, and challenging. It can be
confusing to manage the estate, resolve disputes, deal with tax issues and debts, and manage beneficiaries. We are here to take the stress out of estate administration. Trust me to answer your questions and alleviate the legal and personal pressures related to tax, debt, and fund management, identifying asset values, distributing assets, bequests, and legacies, and protecting you, the executor, from any legal action.
Business Law
A lawyer gives you peace-of-mind that you, your business, assets, and intellectual property are protected. I specialize in business law for small- and medium-sized businesses at federal level and in the province of Ontario. I also support international businesses from mainland China, Taiwan, Korea, and Hong Kong operating in Ontario.
I have more than 3 years legal counsel experience at a Fortune Global 500 company in Beijing, China. And in Canada, my legal services and expertise for business founders, entrepreneurs, partnerships, family businesses, franchise owners and franchisees include:
Incorporation
There are many advantages to incorporation but depending on your business, it may not be right for you. I will work with you to determine if incorporation is right for your business and advise you on your options.
Corporate Governance
Minute book is the record of all your business’ activities. It includes all information and details about your business, including corporate registration and governance documents, such as shareholder agreements, meetings of shareholders, board resolutions, corporation by-laws, share certificates and registries, and all transactions affecting and involving your business.
All corporations in Ontario and Canada are legally required to have an up-to-date and accurate minute book. You will find it critical when your business is audited or when you want to sell or restructure your business. To fix problems you may have to double or triple cost at the later stage.
It is smart business sense to work with a business lawyer to prepare, maintain, and manage your minute book and all associated documents. Know that your business is legally compliant. We offer affordable paper and digital Minute Book drafting, reviewing, and maintenance services.
Shareholder Agreements
Ensure your shareholder agreements clearly define the terms of share transfer, shareholder loans, shareholder approval, and dispute resolution.
We will work with you to draft a comprehensive shareholder agreement that protects your interests, your business, and your shareholders.
It will minimize the potential disputes arising among shareholders and save you a lot of money and energy.
Corporate Restructures
Trust us to advise and support you with your corporate restructuring, ensuring you have a strategic plan and one-stop service that protects the value, assets, profits, and mission of your business.
We know this can be a stressful experience – We will make sure your business is safe and protected.
Partnership Agreements
Trust us to draft your partnership agreements, eliminating any disputes and concerns about your business relationship with your partners.
Have confidence that the ownership structure, partner roles and responsibilities, and terms of business are clear and specific to your business.
Liquidation of Business
We provide full consultation regarding the sale or closing of an existing business. We help our clients prepare the close of business strategies, including dealing with the termination of employees and contractors, cancelling lease agreement, termination of client-facing agreements, etc.
We ensure our clients can sell and close the business without fear of facing outstanding legal obligations and potential lawsuits or penalty upon the closure.
Immigration Law
We provide comprehensive immigration legal services at affordable rates. We have professional and personal experience with:
· Provincial Nominee Programs
· Express Entry Programs
· The Student Direct Stream
· Study Permits, Work Permits, Visitor Visas and Super Visas
· Temporary Residence Permits
· Business Class Immigration Programs, including Self-employer or Entrepreneur Programs and International Company Transfer, etc.
· Appeals, Judicial Review Applications
In Particular, our service includes the following main fields:
Study in Canada
Expert legal advice, strategic planning of permanent residence application, and application management for study and work in Canada permits, and ensuring your minor children can study in Canada.
Proven high-quality legal services to help your minor children living in mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Korea, Japan, or the Middle East to come and study in Canada.
Live and Work in Canada
Experienced legal advice, representation, and support to help you and your family obtain permits, Canadian permanent residence or citizenship. I have a considerable number of successful cases of family sponsorship, provincial nominee.
Ask me about Canada work permits, visitor visas, super visas, temporary residence permits, study permits including the Student Direct Stream, permanent residency applications, and citizenship applications. If your application is refused or you lose status, there are ways to restore your status or to solve problems with minimal costs.
Business Class Immigration Strategy
I also provide legal advice and services for corporate clients who need to retain and secure talent. Experienced in dealing with OINP (Ontario Provincial Nominee Program) applications, intra-company transfer and PR applications, and Work Permit & PR based on positive LMIA.
We specialize in immigration law services for non-residents of Canada including citizens of mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Korea, Japan and middle east.
Notary Public Services
We are Notary Public and Commissioner of Oaths. We notarize and commission oaths, affidavits, statutory declarations, and affirmations.
We certify true copies of documents including passports, birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates, and other government-issued documents.
We provide convenient and affordable notary services at my Ottawa law office located at 38 Auriga Drive, Suite 200 and virtually on appointment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to commonly asked questions about our Legal services.
What Happens if I Do Not Have a Will in Ontario?
If you die without a will in Ontario, your personal wishes will not be known or be followed. Your estate will be distributed based on the Succession Law Reform Act and other applicable statutes, which is unlikely consistent with your wishes. Death without a will would likely lead to:
1. Higher taxes
2. Lengthy and costly probate process
3. Legal ramifications
4. Children’s interests would not be properly protected if the surviving spouse remarries
5. Potential disputes regarding the guardianship for minor children
6. Family stress and disagreements
7. Your specific bequests and final wishes for your family, friends, charities, common-law partners, and other non-blood relatives may not be honoured
8. No control over your funeral and burial arrangements
It is in your best interest and that of your family, your community, and friends to have a will. Having a will eliminates stress, costs, and confusion for your family.
Why do I need a Lawyer to draft my will?
Many people ask me about handwriting a will (a holographic will), downloading an online template, or purchasing a will kit from a grocery store. I want you to BE CARFUL about DIY wills and will kits for these reasons:
1. Many online templates are designed for a specific jurisdiction. This means they are not useful (applicable) if you die as resident in a different jurisdiction.
2. Many “templates” or “kits” may be too simple or not applicable for a family who has multiple types of assets and/or more than one child.
3. With a qualified and experienced lawyer’s advice, we can help you manage each specific asset during your lifetime and ensure your will is enforceable with minimal tax and costs after death.
4. Many people do not have proper witnesses arranged for and fail to meet all legal requirements. This causes family members to spend a lot of time and money proving the will’s legitimacy after death. Additionally, a DIY-will or Power Of Attorney (POA), is more likely to be challenged by family members, causing disputes.
Having a bad will is worse than having no will, because your children would more likely dispute, as a result, a large portion of estate value will be exhausted during the lengthy litigation, and the worst, your children may never talk to each other again.
Therefore, you need an experienced estates lawyer to draft your will to:
· Ensure your will is error-free
· Complies with Ontario legal requirements
· Personalize it for you and your family
· Reduce the risk of contest
· Ensure it has all required signatures
· Ideally minimize any tax implications after death
When should I incorporate my business?
Imagine you’re running a small freelance professional business from your home office. At first, you served a few local clients under your own name. As your client base grows, you win a contract with a large client– that’s when you realize you need to protect yourself and formalize your business.
In Ontario, you’re facing an important choice: continue as a sole proprietorship (which offers no legal protection between your personal and business assets) or incorporate (either federally under the Canada Business Corporations Act or provincially under the Ontario Business Corporations Act). Incorporating your business will protect your personal assets (house and savings) from being chased by creditors.
Assuming two months after incorporating, one of your clients has suffered from loss and tries to blame your service or product. Thanks to your corporation status, your personal assets are protected. This is why we recommend incorporating before taking on significant clients or risks.
Other benefits of incorporating business include:
· Generally speaking, corporation’s income tax rate is lower, you can save considerable amount of expenses and tax.
· Tax Advantages & Cost Savings: eligibility for tax benefits specific to Canadian Controlled Private Companies including the small-business deduction and lifetime capital gain exemption. Many expenses relevant to business activities may be written off.
· Continuous/Perpetual Existence: ensures your corporation continues to operate when there are changes in ownership or leadership – ensuring stability and continuity for shareholders, investors, employees, and customers. You may pass
family wealth to the next generation strategically through corporation.
· Business Growth: corporations in Ontario and Canada are more attractive to investors, make it easier to access loans and capital, provides business credibility, and enhances saleability.
Talk to an experienced lawyer and accountant will save you ten times of the expenses and prevent risks if something goes wrong later.
What contracts does my small business need?
You need essential contracts such as:
· Client/customer service agreements
· Employee contracts or offer letters
· Vendor/supplier agreements
· Non-disclosure agreements (NDAs): to protect your commercial secrets such as client list and confidential recipe or formula
· Commercial lease agreement (if renting space): make sure you protect your rights as tenant and the landlord’s lease agreement is fair and reasonable. Do not sign it until an experienced lawyer like me review it and/or negotiate for you.
Why Should I Choose an Experienced Immigration Lawyer?
As an experienced Canadian immigration lawyer with nearly 10 years of success in immigration law, I provide comprehensive support that goes beyond basic application processing. Here’s why choosing an immigration lawyer is your best investment:
Comprehensive Legal Protection
– Backed by multi-million-dollar professional liability insurance required by the Law Society
– Strict professional oversight by the Law Society of Ontario
– Full attorney-client privilege protecting your confidential information
– Highest standard of professional accountability amongst all licensed professionals
Full-Service Legal Support
Complete handling of your case from strategy to approval
Authority to represent you at all levels:
§ Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB)
§ Federal Court proceedings
§ Appeals and judicial reviews
§ Negotiations with Department of Justice
Rapid response to IRCC requests or complications
One-stop service for all immigration-related legal needs
Proven Track Record
Extensive experience across all immigration programs:
§ Economic/Skilled Worker Immigration
§ Family Class Immigration
§ Canadian Experience Class
§ Study Permits (including minor students)
§ Individual and corporate work permits
– Consistent success with family sponsorship applications
– Strategic expertise in complex cases
Cost-Effective Legal Solutions
– Competitive rates that often match or sometimes beat consultant fees
– Example: a client used to tell me that his consultant charged $7k plus HST for the family sponsorship application while my flat fee was only $4.5k at the time.
Value-added services included:
§ Strategic application planning
§ Document review and preparation
§ Direct communication with authorities, e.g. IRCC, CBSA, MP offices, ESDC, Provincial government.
§ Appeal support if needed
Specialized Expertise for Families and Businesses
Dedicated support and expertise for families with minor students
Comprehensive guidance for study permits
Family sponsorship expertise
Protection of family interests throughout the process
Peace of Mind Guarantee
Professional experience handling diverse immigration programs
Strategic approach to prevent complications
Ready support if issues arise
Proven track record of successful applications
Are lawyers always more expensive?
NO! This is a misunderstanding.
Many people assume an immigration lawyer’s fee is higher than a consultant – however, that is not always true. For example, one of my clients was charged $7,000 plus HST for the
family sponsorship application – and at that time, I only charged $5,000 plus HST. And remember that I have nearly 10 years of experience dealing with family sponsorship files and has never been refused by the IRCC.
Remember: While a licensed consultant is limited to provide services to applications, an immigration lawyer’s scope of service is without restriction, that is, he/she can provide comprehensive legal protection and representation at every stage, through the application to appeal or judicial review if the applications are challenged or refused.
Want to discuss your specific immigration needs? Contact me for a consultation to explore how I can help you achieve your Canadian immigration goals efficiently and effectively.
What Our Clients Say
Joy Wei provided us with very professional and practical legal advice, which solved the worries for my family. highly recommended!
Crane W.
It was a pleasure having Joy complete our personal and corporate Wills and POAs. Joy was very professional and thorough and we give our best recommendations for her legal services.
Andy L.
I and my wife just had our estate planning done by lawyer Joy Wei. We had a few meetings over the planning, she’s always very patient and professionally explained every single question we had.
Strongly recommended.
Liu G.
I AM HERE TO HELP YOU!
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