Not-for-profit by-laws under the Ontario Not-for-Profit Corporations Act
Drafting by-laws for an Ontario non-profit that cover membership, directors, meetings and voting.
What is included
- Reviews by-laws, policies and board practices
- Updates by-laws and articles under the Not-for-Profit Corporations Act, 2010
- Drafts governance, volunteer screening and safe sport policies
- Advises on a fair process for member discipline or removing a director
- Supports the board at meetings where needed
What is not included
- Government filing fees and other disbursements
- Bookkeeping, audit or accounting services
- Court applications or appeals not covered by the lawyer's written retainer
- Advice on foreign law for activities outside Canada
Who this service is for
- Boards updating their by-laws or policies
- Organizations dealing with a board conflict or member complaint
- Sport, youth and volunteer-based organizations
Information to have ready
- 1Current by-laws, letters patent or articles
- 2Existing policies
- 3Minutes and member records
- 4A summary of any conflict or complaint
How a referral works
- 1Tell us in a few words what the matter is about, and who else is involved, so we can check for a conflict of interest.
- 2We recommend an Ontario lawyer for your matter, and at least one other you could choose instead.
- 3The lawyer runs their own conflict check, confirms the scope and quotes the fee, normally in a written retainer agreement.
- 4You pay the lawyer's fee to the lawyer. Any referral fee comes out of it, is disclosed to you in writing, and never increases what you pay.
NEO Legal Services Professional Corporation is a licensed paralegal firm, not a law firm. Every step of a referral, and your rights
Frequently asked questions
What does the lawyer charge?
A typical Ontario fee for this service is $1,000–$3,500, plus HST. The lawyer quotes the actual fee before any work starts. You pay the lawyer directly; the referral itself costs you nothing.
What if an Ontario not-for-profit never updated its documents?
The transition period under the Not-for-Profit Corporations Act, 2010 ended in October 2024. Provisions that conflict with the Act are generally read as amended to comply, which can leave confusing gaps, so updating is usually worthwhile.
Can members remove a director?
Usually yes, by a members' vote following the process in the Act and the by-laws. Following the process carefully helps avoid a later challenge.
General information only, not legal advice. NEO Legal Services Professional Corporation is a licensed paralegal firm regulated by the Law Society of Ontario.
Important limitations
- No outcome can be guaranteed, including CRA registration or approval
- CRA and government processing times are outside the lawyer's control
- The board remains responsible for the organization's decisions and filings
PIPEDA-compliant⚖️ By-Law 9 trust accounting checks🛡️ Professional liability insured✅ LSO-licensed paralegal🔐 256-bit AES Encryption📋 Working toward WCAG 2.1 AA🇨🇦 Ontario-based firm🕒 SOC 2-audited hosting providers📄 CASL Compliant💻 Secure Client Portal📊 Transparent Fixed Fees🔍 Verified Google Reviews🤝 Free Initial Consultation🏛️ Law Society of Ontario📜 Professional Corporation🔏 Confidential by professional duty🌐 Province-Wide Service💬 Court interpreters in most languages⏱️ Same-Day Intake Response🗂️ Paperless Document Vault🔄 Real-Time Case Tracking🎓 Honours paralegal graduate · LLB in progress📱 Mobile-friendly client portal🧾 Upfront, written fees🔗 TLS 1.3 Secure Connections🛂 ID checks at sign-up (By-Law 7.1)🧑⚖️ Paralegal Scope of Practice📆 Flexible Appointment Booking💼 Small Business Friendly
