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Family Law Firm
Halifax Nova Scotia
Success for Families
Welcome to Teryl Scott Lawyers Inc. We serve a broad range of family needs: divorces and separations, employment matters, and wills and estate planning.
We have spent more than 25 years studying how we can improve the delivery of legal services for families.
- We have developed the highly successful Divorcing Well™ mediation program (5-session mediation for high-conflicts, 3-week mediation for low-conflicts and 1-week separation agreements for no-conflicts).
- We provide flat fee services and pay-as-you-go legal coaching.
- And our most popular innovation in 25 years: No retainer required!
We are a Halifax, Bedford and Dartmouth based firm, serving clients across the province. Our team of family lawyers, wills and estate lawyers and employment lawyers provide not just solicitor-client and mediation services, they also have skills in arbitration and restorative justice processes. We also partner with law firms to provide immigration, real estate, criminal defence and prison advocacy on the same terms offered by Teryl Scott Lawyers Inc: flat-fee services, pay-as-you-go legal coaching and no retainer required.
While families are complex and have unique needs, Teryl Scott Lawyers Inc. has highly experienced lawyers and legal mediators supporting success for families.
We look forward to hearing from you,
Lisa Teryl
Co-founder/Senior Legal Counsel
Teryl Scott Lawyers Inc.
One Step Ahead
Why Choose Teryl Scott Lawyers?
Teryl Scott Lawyers Inc. offers affordable legal services by not requiring legal retainers. We have pay-as-you-go services so that you can manage your legal budget.
Our family law and employment law firm will resolve the conflict by creating fair and reasonable outcomes in ways that are cost-effective. Our wills and estate planning team can also help you with life’s unexpected events.
We proudly serve Halifax, Dartmouth, Bedford, surrounding areas and clients across the province. We are conveniently located at 380 Bedford Highway at the corner of Kearney Lake Road – overlooking the beautiful Bedford Basin.
Family Law
Family lawyers at Teryl Scott Lawyers Inc. provide sophisticated legal strategy for contested family issues. Our legal coaching program, which requires no retainer and is pay-as-you-go is very popular.
Our Halifax family law firm, serving families from across the province, has also created the hugely successful Divorcing Well™ mediation program. For high-conflict situations, we offer a 5-session mediation program, with session five being in front of a family court judge who will order a settlement if necessary. Our 3-week mediation program is designed for low-conflict situations. For no-conflict situations, if you simply need a settlement agreement drafted, we do that in a week!
Our family lawyers do not require a retainer. We provide flat-fee and pay-as-you-go services for these and other family law related matters:
- Uncontested Divorces
- Contested Court Hearings
- Separation Agreements
- Adoptions
- Custody Disputes
- Cohabitation Agreements
- Marriage Contracts
- Child Support
- Spousal Supports (Alimony)
- Property and Debt Division
Our services in Family Law include:
Divorce
Child Custody
Spousal Support
Division of Property
Separation Mediation
Divorce Mediation
Child Support
Joint Custody
Uncontested Divorce
Separation Agreement
Cohabitation agreements and marriage contracts / pre-nup
Wills and Estate Law
Our wills and estate lawyers help you plan for emotional and challenging times which can also be legally complex.
Our wills and estate lawyers are experienced in providing clients with a comprehensive plan that ensures their families and loved ones are well protected in the event of death or serious injury. Our focus is to provide our clients with proactive advice which helps to avoid litigation and probate taxes.
Here are some areas of wills and estate law we have experience in:
- Power of Attorney
- Wills
- Trusts
- Estate Planning
- Estate Litigation
- Living Will / Person Directive
- Estate Administration
- Executor of Will
Employment Law
With over 25 years of experience serving families across Nova Scotia for issues related to employment, we are focused on ensuring that you are provided cost-effective legal services with fair outcomes.
Our employment lawyers provide legal mediations, arbitrations and legal coaching for both employers and employees. We also draft and review employment contracts and severance packages for departing employees. We have vast experience in dealing with some of the toughest human rights issues and terminations.
Here are some areas of employment law and labour law that we have a depth of experience in:
- Sexual Harassment
- Discrimination
- Wrongful Dismissal
- Layoffs
- Terminations
- Severance Pay
- Employment Contracts
- Regulatory Compliance
- Workplace Mediation
- Workplace Investigations
Legal Services Offered By Our Law Office
Teryl Scott Lawyers Inc. strives to ensure that you understand how the legal process works. Being informed empowers you to make good decisions about life’s challenges.
Our Lawyers' Reviews
I recently had my will updated along with my power of attorney and a medical directive. The process was very simple as I set up a phone consultation with my lawyer,... read more
Barry JohnsonApril 20, 2022
Lisa has my highest respect with her knowledge of employment law. I would without hesitation, recommend her service! Thank You again, Lisa.
Bill SullivanMarch 4, 2022
Lisa is extremely knowledgeable, professional and personable. She made the entire process as painless as possible and I felt very supported throughout. I would highly recommend Lisa’s services.
Myra DavisOctober 19, 2021
Our Values
What you can expect from our experienced Halifax lawyers
No Retainer Fee
At the time of the appointment, you pay by e-transfer or credit card—“pay-as-you-go.” The work is done with you present so you can easily manage your legal fees.
Trusted
Our past clients have stellar things to say about our work. We pride ourselves on empowering our clients and customers to resolve their conflicts effectively and efficiently.
Personal
Teryl Scott professionals are easy to contact. Clients and customers appreciate that they can be contacted not only by email, phone and in-person but also by text!
Help
Confusing legal jargon/problems? Your first appointment will answer your questions, assess what legal tools you need and cost the out for you.
Teryl Scott Lawyers Inc. Values and Vision
What makes Teryl Scott Lawyer Inc. unique?
Maritimers are looking for better ways to control their legal fees. We understand it is a hardship to pay large retainer fees upfront–traditionally required by law firms. These retainers make it difficult to have control over your legal budget.
We do not require retainers it’s pay-as-you-go. To help you navigate the steps involved to complete the work, we give you a cost estimate and a timeline upfront.
Our vision is to simplify legal services by creating affordable, efficient and highly effective legal outcomes for clients.
Fiscal responsibility • Strength of integrity
Transparency • Personal responsibility and accountability • Creating no further harm
Our commitment is to provide you with the best legal guidance in the most cost-effective way.
Teryl Scott Lawyers Inc. making the right changes
For over a quarter of a century, Halifax law firm Teryl Scott Lawyers Inc. has listened to client concerns. We recognize how expensive and cost-prohibitive the traditional ways of delivering legal services are for Nova Scotian families. We have pay-as-you-go and flat fees to help you keep control of your legal budget. We are continually looking for ways to improve the delivery of our legal services.
Teryl Scott Lawyers Inc. assists families with all their legal needs. For divorce settlement mediations, family arbitrations and legal coaching let us show you how to Divorce Well™. We also prepare wills and estate documents, effectively manage employment disputes, arbitrate terminations, and make broad system changes through human rights litigation.
Book Your Appointment
To get started, book your first appointment online. We’re proud of our high standards– we listen, we care, and we are here to help you solve your legal issues fairly, efficiently and cost-effectively.
Making Things Better
Teryl Scott Lawyers Inc. was first established in 1995 by the sister-brother team, Lisa Teryl and Shawn Scott. They now each have their own law firm with Shawn founding Brookshire Law Office in 2009. They continue to collaborate and these are some of the improvements they continue to make in the delivery of legal services:
TRADITIONAL: Large retainers prevent many Nova Scotians from being able to hire a lawyer.
NEW: Pay-as-you-go system, pay for one meeting at a time–you’re in control. We also do a lot of our work on a flat fee basis.
TRADITIONAL: Lawyers often approach the work in an adversarial manner. This approach is costly.
NEW: Legal mediators are available to arbitrate between the parties. This approach de-escalates conflict and saves you money.
NEW: Teryl Scott mediators are highly experienced and will create a more peaceful way to resolve legal conflicts without putting the parties in the same room!
TRADITIONAL: Legal services are packaged as adversarial and controlled by the lawyer.
NEW: Legal coaching is presented as an option that allows clients to self-represent. Self-representing is a cost-effective way to handle a legal conflict if you can’t afford a lawyer to represent you.
Legal coaches explain effective legal strategy, help to prepare court documents, write letters under your signature and more. Their guidance properly prepares you for your day in court in order to maximize your chances of success.
Teryl Scott Lawyers Inc.
Lisa Teryl is a co-founder and senior legal counsel for Teryl Scott Lawyers Inc. Seeing the need Nova Scotians have for quick and easy answers to their legal problems, she authored the Nova Scotian best-selling book Nova Scotia Law: Everything you wanted to know but couldn’t afford to ask.
This book answers many common questions and misconceptions people have about Nova Scotia law. You can buy her book from Amazon.
To read more about Teryl Scott Lawyers Inc., please find our stories here.