Toronto is home to large and vibrant Persian, Tamil and Punjabi 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, Tamil and Punjabi, 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, Etobicoke and downtown Toronto, through a combination of in-person, phone and video consultations.
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. Speaking with your lawyer directly in Farsi, Tamil or Punjabi 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.
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.
Shalu Atwal, Punjabi-Speaking Associate Lawyer
Shalu Atwal graduated from the University of Toronto Faculty of Law and was called to the Ontario bar in 2019. Before joining Bani Family Law, she practised corporate law with technology companies and startups, experience that is valuable when a separation involves a family business, shares or other complex finances. Shalu speaks Punjabi and warmly welcomes Punjabi-speaking clients.
Toronto does not have a Unified Family Court, so family cases are split between two courts. Divorce and property division are handled by the Superior Court of Justice downtown. Parenting and support cases that do not involve a divorce or property claim can also be started in the Ontario Court of Justice, which hears Toronto family matters at 47 Sheppard Avenue East in North York and 311 Jarvis Street downtown, depending on where you live. We help you start in the right court from the beginning.
We help Toronto clients with the full range of family law matters, including:
For a deeper look at how we handle divorce, visit our Divorce Lawyer Markham page. For child support matters, see our Child Support Lawyer Markham page.
We regularly assist Farsi, Tamil and Punjabi-speaking clients throughout Toronto, including:
If you are looking for a family lawyer in Toronto who can speak with you in Farsi, Tamil or Punjabi, 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.
In addition to Toronto, we help families in nearby communities across the GTA, including Scarborough, Markham, Vaughan and Brampton.
For more information about our services, the following pages may be helpful:
Yes. Shelly Banihashemi speaks Farsi, Lemooriya Ananthan speaks Tamil, and Shalu Atwal speaks Punjabi. Each is available for consultations and ongoing communication in their language.
Yes. We regularly assist clients throughout Toronto, including North York, Scarborough, East York, Etobicoke and downtown Toronto, through a combination of in-person, phone and video consultations.
Divorce and property division go to the Superior Court of Justice downtown. Some parenting and support cases can be started in the Ontario Court of Justice at 47 Sheppard Avenue East or 311 Jarvis Street, depending on where you live.
We handle divorce, separation, child support, spousal support, parenting arrangements, property division, separation agreements, marriage contracts, collaborative family law 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.
Bani Family Law offers free 15-minute consultations for individuals and families seeking initial guidance on Ontario family law matters, including divorce, separation, parenting issues, child support, spousal support, and related family law concerns.
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