Terms of Use

Last updated: September 21, 2026

1. Acceptance of these terms

By accessing or using this website (the “Site”), you agree to these Terms of Use. If you do not agree, please do not use the Site. These terms apply to every page of the Site, to the contact and newsletter forms, and to any content you view or download from it.

2. Who operates this website

The Site is operated by Nicole Van Hooren, carrying on business as NMVH Legal Services and Advocacy (“NMVH”, “I”, “me” or “my”), 163 Hale Street, London, Ontario N5W 1E5. References to “you” mean any person who uses the Site.

3. Licensing and scope of practice

I am a paralegal licensed by the Law Society of Ontario (LSO P14653). As a paralegal, I may provide legal services only within the scope of practice the Law Society of Ontario permits paralegals, and I am governed by the Law Society’s Paralegal Rules of Conduct and By-Laws. If your matter falls outside that scope, I will tell you so and, where appropriate, suggest you consult a lawyer. You can confirm my licence through the Law Society of Ontario’s public directory.

4. No legal advice

The content on this Site, including the guides on the Resources page and the newsletter, is general information only. It is not legal advice and should not be relied on as a substitute for advice about your own situation. Every matter depends on its own facts, and small differences can change the outcome. Do not act, or decline to act, based on anything on this Site without first getting advice from a licensed paralegal or lawyer.

5. No paralegal–client relationship

Using this Site, calling or emailing me, or submitting the contact form does not create a paralegal–client relationship. A paralegal–client relationship begins only after I have completed a conflict of interest check, agreed to act for you, and confirmed the terms of the engagement, normally in a written retainer agreement or engagement letter. Until then, I have no obligation to act for you and you should not assume that I am protecting your interests or tracking any deadline on your behalf.

6. Confidentiality and electronic communications

Please do not send confidential or sensitive details through the contact form, by email or by text before I have agreed to act for you. Information you send before a paralegal–client relationship exists may not be protected as confidential or privileged, and may not prevent me from acting for another party in the same matter. Email and web forms are not completely secure, and I cannot guarantee that messages sent over the internet will not be intercepted, delayed or lost. Once you are a client, we will agree on how we communicate.

7. Limitation periods and deadlines

Strict time limits apply to most legal claims, appeals and tribunal applications. In Ontario, the basic limitation period for many civil claims is two years, and some deadlines, such as those for appeals, reviews and responses to notices, are much shorter. Contacting me through this Site does not stop any limitation period or deadline from running. If you think a deadline may apply to you, get advice promptly.

8. Accuracy of information

I try to keep the Site accurate and current, but laws, court rules, tribunal procedures, forms and fees change often. Content may be incomplete, out of date or not applicable to your situation, and I am under no obligation to update it. Dates on guides and newsletter issues show when they were written, not that they are still current.

9. Past results and fees

Any description of past matters, outcomes or client feedback on this Site does not guarantee or predict a similar result in your matter. Every case turns on its own facts and on factors outside my control. Any fee, rate or cost information on the Site is a general estimate only and does not form part of any agreement; your actual fees and disbursements, plus applicable HST, will be set out in your retainer agreement.

10. Third-party links

The Site may link to websites run by others, such as the Law Society of Ontario, Tribunals Ontario, the Ontario courts and government services. These links are provided for convenience only. I do not control those websites and am not responsible for their content, accuracy, availability or privacy practices. A link is not an endorsement.

11. Intellectual property

Unless otherwise noted, the text, design, logos, photographs, graphics and other content on the Site are owned by or licensed to NMVH and are protected by Canadian and international copyright and trademark law. You may view the Site and print or save a reasonable number of pages for your own personal, non-commercial use, provided you do not change them and you keep any copyright notice. Any other copying, reproduction, distribution, republication or commercial use requires my prior written permission.

12. Acceptable use

You agree not to:

• use the Site for any unlawful, fraudulent or harmful purpose;
• submit false information, or impersonate any person, through the Site’s forms;
• send spam, unsolicited advertising or malicious code through the Site;
• attempt to gain unauthorized access to the Site, its servers or any connected system, or interfere with its operation; or
• scrape, harvest or collect content or personal information from the Site by automated means.

13. Privacy and email communications

Personal information you provide through the Site, such as your name, phone number, email address and a description of your matter, is used to respond to your enquiry, check for conflicts of interest, and, if you subscribe, to send you the newsletter. It is handled in accordance with applicable Canadian privacy law, including the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act, and my professional obligations. I do not sell or rent your personal information.

I send newsletters and other commercial electronic messages only with your consent, as required by Canada’s anti-spam legislation. Every message includes a way to unsubscribe. To ask about, correct or withdraw consent for the use of your personal information, contact me.

14. Disclaimer of warranties

The Site and its content are provided “as is” and “as available”, without warranties or conditions of any kind, express or implied, including warranties of accuracy, completeness, fitness for a particular purpose or non-infringement, to the fullest extent permitted by law. I do not warrant that the Site will be uninterrupted, error-free or free of viruses or other harmful components.

15. Limitation of liability

To the fullest extent permitted by law, NMVH and Nicole Van Hooren will not be liable for any direct, indirect, incidental, special, consequential or punitive loss or damage arising from your use of, or inability to use, the Site, or from your reliance on any content on it, even if advised of the possibility of that loss or damage. Nothing in these terms limits any liability that cannot be limited under the law of Ontario, or my professional obligations to a client under a retainer.

16. Indemnity

You agree to indemnify and hold harmless NMVH and Nicole Van Hooren from any claim, loss, liability or expense, including reasonable legal fees, arising from your breach of these Terms of Use or your misuse of the Site.

17. Governing law

These Terms of Use are governed by the laws of the Province of Ontario and the federal laws of Canada that apply there. You agree that any dispute arising from them or from your use of the Site will be heard by the courts of Ontario, and you submit to the jurisdiction of those courts. The Site is intended for people in Ontario; I make no claim that its content is appropriate or lawful elsewhere.

18. Changes, severability and entire agreement

I may update these Terms of Use at any time by posting a revised version on this page, with a new “last updated” date. Your continued use of the Site after a change means you accept the revised terms. If any provision is found invalid or unenforceable, it will be limited to the minimum extent necessary and the rest of these terms will remain in effect. My failure to enforce any provision is not a waiver of it. These terms are the entire agreement between you and me about your use of the Site; any retainer agreement for legal services is separate and governs that engagement.

19. Contact

Questions about these Terms of Use can be sent to:

Nicole Van Hooren, Paralegal
NMVH Legal Services and Advocacy
163 Hale Street
London, Ontario N5W 1E5
548-388-6684 · [email protected]