No. If you have to go to court, you'll have to appoint another lawyer to represent you.
Legal assistance service
Talk to a lawyer for legal advice on a wide range of private and professional matters, by phone, at no charge.
What is the legal assistance service?
As soon as you sign up for our offer for professionals, our offer for students, or the Total® package, you'll receive free telephone support for your personal or professional legal questions. You can speak with a lawyer from the legal team as often and for as long as you need.
You can use this service as often as you like, Monday to Friday, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. (ET).
It's the ideal solution if you're looking for:
- A free service
- Personalized support
- Direct access to a lawyer
What does the legal assistance service cover?
Regardless of your situation, FBA Solutions' lawyers, qualified in both civil and common law, are available to assist you with the following matters 1 :
Estate
Learn how to further protect your assets, plan your estate and liquidate the estate of a loved one. Learn how to further protect your assets, plan your estate and liquidate the estate of a loved one.
Property
Get guidance on renting, purchasing or renovating a property, whether it's for professional use, personal residence or investment purposes.
Contractual relations
Learn about best practices, key contractual clauses, and general obligations when signing, terminating or carrying out a contract.
Labour law
Find out more about workers' rights and obligations, as well as current safety standards and the protection of personal information.
Family law
Find out about your parental and marital rights and obligations, including family assets, mediation in the event of separation and financial aspects.
Ethics
Learn about your ethical obligations and understand your rights in the event of an inspection or a disciplinary dispute with your professional order.
How can I access the service?
To use the legal assistance service, you just need to be an eligible client. There's no action required on your part as the service becomes available automatically as soon as you sign up.
Register now by selecting the option that best matches your situation.
Eligible clients
Clients who can enjoy our offer for professionals
Clients who benefit from our offer for students
Clients with The Total package2
Additional offer with The Total package
Are you a client with The Total package? Get access to a platform for the virtual production of notarized legal documents, such as wills, mandates, and powers of attorney with professional assistance and enjoy preferential rates if you’d like these documents to be authenticated in the presence of a lawyer or notary.
All your questions about the legal assistance service
Professional life refers to all ethical matters, including your relationship with a professional order. Professional activities refer to your professional endeavours that aren't related to your relationship with your Order. Here are some examples:
- Acceptable: A dispute with the Order of Dentists over illegal signage in a dentist’s office
- Not acceptable: A dispute over the commercial lease of an optometrist's office
The legal assistance lawyers can answer all of your legal questions within the areas of law covered by FBA Solutions. If a lawyer is unable to answer you immediately, they will conduct the necessary research and contact you as soon as possible.
Here are some examples:
Ethics
- How do you enforce your clients' right to privacy in the event of a labour inspection?
- What can you advertise under your Code of Ethics if you want to promote your firm?
- What does the conflict of interest clause in your Code of Ethics imply?
Property
- Your landlord wants to terminate the lease or increase the rent. What are your options?
- What recourse do you have if you discover a defect in your property?
- What regulations must you follow if you want to rent out your secondary property on a short-term basis?
Contractual relations
- What recourse do you have if you want to sue a supplier for breach of contract?
- What laws apply if you wish to cancel an online service subscription?
- How do you request the removal of clauses you consider unfair?
Employment law
- What should be included in your contract if you're about to become a partner?
- Is it legal for your employer to assign your responsibilities to another employee during maternity leave?
- What can you do if you're dismissed without just cause?
Family law
- How will assets be divided in the event of separation?
- Do you have to continue paying alimony to your ex-spouse if your children have reached the age of majority?
- How can you assert your rights and avoid having less time than your ex-spouse with your children?
Estate
- What are the steps involved in liquidating an estate?
- How do you manage the division of assets or testamentary issues depending on your status as a couple?
Here are some examples:
Ethics
- How do you integrate your field of study in Canada?
- Who can you turn to if you want to file a complaint about the professional association that caused you to miss admission deadlines?
- What recourse do you have if you believe you’ve been discriminated against when applying for admission to a professional order?
Housing
- What should you do if you have difficulty finding housing as an international student?
- What clauses are valid in a lease?
- What are your rights and options in the event of renovations?
Contractual relations
- How can I get my money back if my fitness center closes after I’ve paid for a membership in advance?
- I want to cancel my subscription to an online service. What laws apply to this type of contract?
- I bought a vehicle under false pretenses. How can I cancel the sale?
Employment law
- Can I refuse a credit check authorization request from a new job?
- Is it legal to ask me to take unpaid training for part-time work?
- How much notice do I have to give my employer if I want to leave, given that I signed a contract requiring 30 days' notice?
Student life
- What should you do if your university wrongly accuses you of plagiarism?
- How do you report harassment? What are the university’s obligations towards the accused and towards you?
- What should you do if you are denied access to your academic file?
Wealth
- What steps should I take to liquidate one of my parents’ estates?
- How do you obtain a power of attorney to care for a loved one suffering from Alzheimer’s disease?
- Are you a parent? What are the rules for reimbursing outstanding student debts in the event of your accidental death?
Here are some examples:
Ethics
- How do I manage a conflict of interest?
- What can you do if you believe you've been discriminated against?
- Are you bound by confidentiality obligations toward your employer?
Housing
- What clauses should you review before signing a lease?
- What are your rights and options in the event of renovations?
Contractual Relations
- What laws apply if you want to cancel an online service subscription?
- How can you request the removal of a clause you believe is unfair?
Employment Law
- What should I do if I’m dismissed without justification?
- Can you refuse a credit check request as part of a job application?
Family Law
- What happens to your assets if you separate?
- How does mediation work?
- How can you assert your parental rights?
Estate
- What are the steps involved in settling an estate?
- How do I prepare a will?
Contact our legal assistance service
Offer for students and professionals
Get legal assistance from FBA Solutions Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. (ET).
Offer for clients with The the Total package
Get legal assistance from FBA Solutions Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. (ET).
Legal disclaimers
® NATIONAL BANK, the NATIONAL BANK logo, and THE TOTAL are registered trademarks of National Bank of Canada.
NBC Assistance Inc. allows you to benefit from legal assistance services if you hold The TotalTM banking package. These services are provided entirely by Fecteau Bélanger and Associates Consulting Group Inc., also doing business under FBA, FBA Consulting Group and FBA Solutions (“FBA”). NBC Assistance Inc. and National Bank will not have access to any of your confidential information collected by this company while it is providing such services. You understand that by using FBA’s services, you release NBC Assistance Inc. and National Bank from any liability related to the services provided by FBA, including any matter relating to information security and confidential information that could be shared by you with this company or with its employees during the provision of services.
To receive free legal assistance, you must be a National Bank Privilege offer holder or have The Total banking package. To benefit from the estate assistance service, you must have The Total banking package. However, you are responsible for any fees for additionalservices not covered by the assistance service (e.g., fees for a notarized will at a competitive rate) and any fees that may be charged to you by your telecommunications provider. You will no longer be eligible for these services one month after you discontinue your Privilege offer, change your package or cease to be a National Bank client.
- Excludes any questions about any commercial or criminal activity.
- The holders of The Total banking package have access to FBA Solutions notaries and lawyers for their estate-related questions. They also have access to a secure online platform to write their wills and mandates for protection in case of incapacity, made in the presence of witnesses, with the personalized assistance. In addition, they benefit from competitive rates for the notarization of their wills, protective mandates and general powers of attorney. Consult FBA Solutions' competitive rates.