Our Boutique Approach
Lafrenière Sanna Estate Law is committed to what we like to call a “boutique” approach to the practice of law. Each of our lawyers practices exclusively in limited, specific areas of the law. This allows them to fully immerse themselves in all facets of their practice areas. Our clients appreciate that practicing in this way enables our lawyers to provide in-depth, comprehensive advice in their practice areas. And through combining their practice areas, our firm is able to offer a wide range of legal services to our clients from estate planning to trusts to real estate.
A Full Understanding
A Personal Process
At Lafrenière Sanna Estate Law, we are proud of our personal, client-centered approach. Your first meeting will be scheduled with the lawyer best able to advise you on the particular matter. We may ask that you provide us with some information prior to your meeting. This ensures that we fully understand your situation and how we can tailor our advice to best help you. All of our team members are always available to you when you have questions or concerns.
Privacy Assured
Explore our team!
FOUNDING LAWYER & NOTARY PUBLIC
Chantal M.J. Lafrenière
Chantal grew up in an entrepreneurial family in a small community in northern Ontario. She studied at the University of Ottawa obtaining a Bachelor of Social Science degree with a major in Political Science and a minor in Women’s Studies. She then continued her studies at the University of Ottawa successfully completing her law degree in French. She articled with a mid-size boutique labour and employment law firm in Ottawa and was called to the Ontario Bar in 2004.
Chantal gained valuable experience working for the Canadian Bar Association before joining a busy northern Ontario law firm. While working at this firm, she had carriage of the Real Estate and Wills, Estates & Trusts practice. Chantal is the Founding lawyer at Lafrenière Sanna Estate Law. She draws on her experience to provide legal advice tailored to each client’s needs.
Chantal is a Certified Executor Advisor.
Contacts
ASSOCIATE LAWYER & NOTARY PUBLIC
Natalie A. Sanna
Natalie is dedicated to helping clients and their loved ones plan for, and deal with, disabilities, incapacity, illness and death. From the beginning of her law career, she has been drawn to the areas of Wills, Estates, Trusts, and Guardianship, as it allows her to serve her clients and their families on a personal level and develop lasting relationships.
Natalie has always called the Ottawa area home, growing up in a small village just outside of the City. She obtained an Bachelor of Arts (Honours) degree in Psychology from Carleton University. Her studies continued at the University of Ottawa where she completed her law degree. She articled at a mid-size firm in Ottawa.
Her law career has been somewhat atypical. Following her call to the Ontario bar in 2003, she began practicing in the areas of Wills, Estates, and Trusts with Donna Neff. Following the birth of her first child in 2006, she continued to be an integral part of the firm, always fully immersed in the areas of Wills, Estates, and Trusts, while juggling the joys of parenthood. In September 2016, she was thrilled to return to the practice of law.
Contacts
Jessica Millar
Law Clerk
Zoë Bird
Law Clerk
Billing and Retainers
About our Bills
At Lafrenière Sanna Estate Law, our philosophy is one of simple, predictable and ‘no-surprise’ legal bills. In most cases, you will know exactly how much you will be paying for our legal services because we offer a ‘flat fee’ for specific work such as drafting a will and powers of attorney, or preparing and submitting an application to probate a will.
When the legal service you require is more complex, and we are not able to predict the time needed for the tasks, our fee is based on our time. Our time spent is tracked in tenths of an hour and each team member’s time is billed at his or her hourly rate. Our current rates and Billing Policy are provided to you at your first appointment.
Deposits, Retainers and Disbursements
In some cases, we require a retainer before we begin work on your behalf. A retainer is a form of deposit. It is placed into our trust account and used as a credit that, in most cases, is applied to disbursements (out-of-pocket expenses) and to your final bill. The amount of the retainer depends on the work to be done.
As your file progresses, we pay for disbursements on your behalf. These can include registration or filing fees, long-distance telephone charges, special postage or courier fees, parking, and similar charges.
Important Points to Note
We are required by law to charge HST on our fees and on most expenses.
Our accounts are due on receipt of your invoice, interest accrues on the unpaid balance after 30 days unless other arrangements have been made.
You may pay your invoice by cheque, cash, debit card, Visa or Mastercard. Deposits (retainers) may only be paid by cheque or cash.