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FidesLex
FidesLex is a law firm member of the Quebec Bar that puts its expertise and rigor at the service of its clients. Specializing in tax law and tax litigation, civil and commercial litigation, criminal law and immigration, the firm provides personalized and attentive support to defend your interests with determination.
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Tax law and the defence of your rights against tax authorities, with rigor and determination.
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Deadlines and thresholds to know in Quebec
Quebec is a civil law jurisdiction: its limitation periods and court thresholds differ from those of the common law provinces.
Legal content reviewed by the FidesLex lawyers, members of the Quebec Bar. Verified against official sources on .
Key takeaways
- FidesLex is a Montreal law firm, member of the Quebec Bar, practising in tax litigation, civil and commercial litigation and criminal law.
- Services are offered in French and English, in Montreal and throughout Quebec.
- Quebec is a civil law jurisdiction: its deadlines and thresholds differ from those of common law provinces, and much of the content online still cites outdated figures.
- The initial consultation is booked online and covers the applicable deadline, the court with jurisdiction, and the resolution strategy.
Six figures, with the provision behind each
| Reference point | Rule | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Civil limitation period (default rule) | 3 years | Art. 2925 C.C.Q.LégisQuébec |
| Formal notice (mise en demeure) | In writing, allowing sufficient time to perform | Art. 1595 C.C.Q.LégisQuébec |
| Small claims (maximum principal) | $15,000 | C.C.P., Book VIIILégisQuébec |
| Court of Québec (exclusive jurisdiction) | Under $75,000 | Art. 35 C.C.P.LégisQuébec |
| Objection to a federal assessment | 90 days, or one year after the filing-due date for an individual | Income Tax Act, s. 165(1)Justice Laws |
| Objection to a Revenu Québec assessment | 90 days after the notice was sent | Tax Administration ActLégisQuébec |
What to do first after a formal notice or a notice of assessment
Three steps, in order. They cost nothing and they preserve the recourse a missed deadline would end.
- 1
Record the date the notice was sent, not the date you received it. Tax objection deadlines run from the date the notice was sent, the one printed on the document. Note it immediately: it decides whether a recourse still exists.
- 2
Assemble the file before you answer. Notice, contract, correspondence, statements, dates of every exchange. An improvised written reply locks in a version of the facts you will have to live with.
- 3
Have the recourse assessed before the deadline. An initial assessment establishes which deadline applies, which court has jurisdiction, and what settlement options exist. An expired deadline is revived only exceptionally, and rarely.
This page is general information, not legal advice. How a rule applies depends on the facts of each file.
Frequently asked questions
The questions the firm is asked most often, answered in full.
What areas of law does FidesLex practise in?
FidesLex practises in tax litigation (challenging notices of assessment, audits, representation before the Tax Court of Canada and the Court of Québec), civil and commercial litigation and criminal law. The firm is based in Montreal and is a member of the Quebec Bar.
What happens during a first consultation?
The initial consultation is booked online, in 30 minutes ($150) or 60 minutes ($300). It establishes three things: which deadline is running in your file, which court or tribunal has jurisdiction, and what settlement options exist before trial. You leave with the next steps, whether or not the firm takes the file.
How much does a consultation with a Montreal lawyer cost?
At this firm the initial consultation is 30 minutes ($150) or 60 minutes ($300), plus tax. For a mandate that follows, no fixed tariff binds lawyers in Quebec: three structures coexist — an hourly rate, a flat fee for a defined mandate, and a contingency fee proportional to the result. The structure is agreed in writing before the mandate begins.
What is the deadline to object to a federal tax assessment?
For an individual, the deadline is the later of one year after the filing-due date for the return, or 90 days after the notice of assessment was sent. For a corporation, it is 90 days after the notice was sent (Income Tax Act, s. 165(1)). The widely repeated "90 days" rule is therefore incomplete for individuals: the recourse is often still open.
Why do Quebec deadlines differ from the rest of Canada?
Quebec is the only civil law province: its limitation periods and jurisdictional thresholds come from the Civil Code of Québec and the Code of Civil Procedure, not from the common law. A two-year period read on an Ontario website does not apply here, where the default rule is three years (art. 2925 C.C.Q.).
What should I do when I receive a formal notice (mise en demeure)?
Record the date of the demand and the time it allows, then assemble the file before answering. A formal notice must be in writing and must grant sufficient time to perform, having regard to the nature of the obligation; insufficient time is replaced by a reasonable time (art. 1595 C.C.Q.). An improvised written reply locks in a version of the facts that is hard to correct later.
Where is the firm located, and in which languages are services offered?
The office is at 1165 rue Wellington, Montréal (QC) H3C 0S3, open Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (514-442-0252). Services are offered in French and English, for files in Montreal and throughout Quebec.
Contact Us
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Address
1165 Wellington Street, Montreal, QC H3C 0S3
Phone
514-442-0252
info@fideslex.com
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