Family Lawyer Serving Toronto

Multilingual Family Law Representation for Toronto's Persian and Tamil Communities

Toronto is home to large and vibrant Persian and Tamil communities, and finding a family lawyer who can communicate with you in your own language can make an already difficult process significantly easier. Bani Family Law offers family law services in English, Farsi, and Tamil, and we regularly assist clients across Toronto who are looking for exactly that.

While our office is based in Markham at 500 Hood Rd, Suite 400, a short distance from Toronto, we work with clients throughout the city, including North York, Scarborough, East York, and downtown Toronto, through a combination of in-person, phone, and video consultations.

Why a Farsi or Tamil-Speaking Lawyer Matters

Family law involves some of the most personal and consequential decisions a person will ever make, including decisions about children, property, and financial support. Making informed decisions requires a full and clear understanding of your rights and options.

When those conversations happen in a second language, details can be missed and legal concepts can be misunderstood. Being able to speak with your lawyer directly in Farsi or Tamil means nothing gets lost between what you say and what your lawyer hears, and nothing gets lost between what your lawyer explains and what you understand.

Our Multilingual Team

Shelly Banihashemi, Farsi-Speaking Principal Lawyer

Shelly Banihashemi is the principal lawyer and founder of Bani Family Law. Called to the bar in 2011, she has practised exclusively in family law throughout her career and is a certified collaborative lawyer. Shelly speaks Farsi fluently and has helped many Persian and Iranian clients across Toronto navigate the Ontario family law system with clarity and confidence. Learn more on our Persian Family Lawyer page.

Lemooriya Ananthan, Tamil-Speaking Associate Lawyer

Lemooriya Ananthan is an associate lawyer who was called to the bar in 2023 after graduating from Osgoode Hall Law School. She practises exclusively in family law and has appeared before courts across Southern Ontario, including matters involving family violence and high-conflict parenting disputes. Lemooriya speaks Tamil fluently and takes a trauma-informed approach with every client. Learn more on our Tamil Family Lawyer page.

Family Law Services for Toronto Clients

We help Toronto clients with the full range of family law matters, including:

  • Divorce and separation: Guidance through uncontested and contested divorce, in Farsi, Tamil, or English.
  • Child support: Help understanding and calculating support obligations under the Federal Child Support Guidelines.
  • Spousal support: Assessment of entitlement and negotiation of fair, realistic support arrangements.
  • Parenting time and decision-making responsibility: Development of parenting plans that reflect the best interests of children.
  • Property division and the matrimonial home: Guidance on equalization of net family property and matrimonial home rights.
  • Separation agreements and marriage contracts: Drafting of clear, enforceable agreements tailored to your circumstances.


For a deeper look at how we handle divorce specifically, visit our Divorce Lawyer Markham page. For child support matters, see our Child Support Lawyer Markham page.

Serving Toronto's Persian and Tamil Communities

We regularly assist Farsi and Tamil-speaking clients throughout Toronto, including:

  • North York
  • Scarborough
  • East York
  • Downtown Toronto
  • Etobicoke
  • York

What to Expect at Your First Consultation

Your first consultation is a chance for us to understand your situation and for you to understand your options, in whichever language is most comfortable for you. We listen carefully to your concerns, explain your legal rights clearly, and help you identify practical next steps.

You do not need documents prepared or decisions made in advance. Many clients come to us at the very start of a separation, unsure of where to begin. We will help you make sense of your situation and identify the right path forward.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. Shelly Banihashemi is a fluent Farsi speaker and Lemooriya Ananthan is a fluent Tamil speaker. Both are available to conduct consultations and ongoing communication in those languages.

Yes. We regularly assist clients throughout Toronto, including North York, Scarborough, East York, and downtown Toronto, through a combination of in-person, phone, and video consultations.

We handle divorce, separation, child support, spousal support, parenting arrangements, property division, separation agreements, marriage contracts, and more.

Not necessarily. We can accommodate phone or video consultations for many stages of your matter, depending on your circumstances and preferences.

Marriages performed abroad are generally recognized in Ontario if they were valid under the laws of the country where they took place. We can help you understand how your marriage is treated under Ontario law.

Explore Related Pages

Speak with a Farsi or Tamil-Speaking Family Lawyer Today

If you are looking for a family lawyer in Toronto who can speak with you in Farsi or Tamil, Bani Family Law is here to help. Contact us to discuss your situation in the language you are most comfortable with, and take the first step toward resolving your matter with clarity and confidence.

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