About me

Para Português

Rita V. Gonsalves is a Barrister & Solicitor, with a focus on family law and child protection. Rita holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting and Auditing) and a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Bombay. On completion of her legal education, she practiced law in a foreign jurisdiction. After her immigration to Canada, she obtained a Certificate of Qualification from the National Committee on Accreditation in 2011. She articled with an experienced criminal defence practitioner in Brampton in 2011-2012 and was called to the bar in Ontario in 2012. Rita is also a Notary Public.

In her spare time, Rita enjoys interior decoration and paints portraits in oil. She is an avid traveller and enjoys scrapbooking her travels.  

Since her admission to the Ontario bar, Rita has appeared in the Ontario Court of Justice and the Superior Court of Justice and has a genuine interest in the protection of the rights of her clients. She has been retained by clients of various ethnicities to represent them in issues arising from the breakdown of a spousal/marital relationship, child protection and criminal law.

Since November 2014, Rita volunteers her time every month to present the Ministry of the Attorney General’s Mandatory Information Program at the Brampton courthouse through Peel Family Mediation Services.

Rita speaks English and Portuguese.  

Rita offers legal services in the family courts in Brampton and Milton. If you are having family or child protection issues, please contact Rita.

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

  • Law Society of Ontario
  • Peel Law Association
  • Family Lawyers Association
  • Legal Aid Ontario – Family law and Child Protection panels
  • Ontario’s Family Law Limited Scope Services Project

Areas of Practise

Family law:

  • Divorce (contested and uncontested*)
  • Custody and Access
  • Child and Spousal Support
  • Equalization/division of properties
  • Separation agreements
  • Motions to Change
  • Family Responsibility Office
  • Mobility and non-removal
  • Child protection

* Uncontested Divorce:

If you are married, the only way to legally end your marriage is to get a divorce. If all other issues arising from the breakdown of your marriage have been resolved, you could file a Simple Divorce Application in the Superior Court of Justice and may not require appearing before a judge. You have to get a Divorce Order and Certificate of Divorce before you can re-marry. You have to make sure that you give enough time to complete the process before making plans to marry.  Uncontested divorce is a relatively simple and inexpensive way to end your marriage. Rita would work with you on a block fee plus filing fees, disbursements and HST.

Retainer

Rita accepts private retainers as well as Legal Aid certificates for family law and child protection issues.

You could also retain Rita on a limited scope retainer, which means that you will continue to represent yourself in court and Rita will take certain steps on your behalf. The services that Rita will perform could include providing you with advice whenever you require, drafting documents to prepare for court, doing research, initiating, reviewing or responding to correspondence, and even appearing in court on your behalf for a specified appearance like a motion or conference. If you do opt to retain Rita on a limited scope retainer, you and Rita will have to be clear about what services Rita will provide to you and which part of your proceeding you will handle yourself.

Get in Touch

Rita V. Gonsalves

7111 Syntex Drive, 3rd Floor

Mississauga, Ontario

L5N 8C3

Tel: 289 290 4388

Fax: 647 258 9664

E-mail: rita@gonsalveslaw.ca