Family lawyer in Newmarket
Looking for a family lawyer in Newmarket? We help Newmarket and York Region families with divorce, separation agreements, parenting, support and property, and we know the Newmarket courthouse on Eagle Street.
Your family court and how we meet
Family cases for Newmarket and the rest of York Region are heard at the Newmarket Courthouse, 50 Eagle Street West. Only the Superior Court of Justice can grant a divorce or divide property. Some parenting and support cases can also be heard by the Ontario Court of Justice in the same building. Your lawyer will tell you which court fits your case.
- In person at 77 Finch Avenue East, Unit 807, North York, by Highway 404 or Yonge Street
- By video or phone from home, with documents signed electronically
- Monday to Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., by appointment
- Your court
- Newmarket Courthouse, 50 Eagle Street West, Newmarket, ON L3Y 6B1 (York Region)
- Nearest office
- 77 Finch Avenue East, Unit 807, North York, ON M2N 6H8
What happens if your case goes to court
Most families settle through negotiation, mediation or a separation agreement. When a court case is needed, it usually moves through these stages.
- ApplicationSets out what you are asking for and is served on the other party.
- Information sessionA free Mandatory Information Program on the process and options.
- Financial disclosureSworn financial statements with proof of income, assets and debts.
- Case conferenceAn informal meeting with a judge to narrow the issues and push for settlement.
- Settlement or trialA settlement conference, and a trial only for what is left.
Served with family court papers? If you were served in Ontario, you usually have 30 days to respond. Call 289-652-0529 so we can review them with you.
How a Newmarket family lawyer can help
Separation affects your children, your finances and often your home. We help you make those decisions with a clear view of the law and the cost.
Divorce
Uncontested, joint and contested divorces, from the application to the divorce certificate.
Divorce in Ontario guideSeparation agreements
Drafting, negotiating or reviewing an agreement that settles parenting, support and property without court.
Separation agreementsParenting and custody
Decision-making responsibility, parenting time and relocation, built around your children's best interests.
Child custody guideChild and spousal support
Guideline child support, section 7 expenses, and whether spousal support is owed and for how long.
Child support in OntarioProperty and the home
Equalization of net family property, the matrimonial home, pensions and business interests.
The matrimonial homeEnforcing orders and agreements
When the other parent does not pay support or follow a parenting order, there are steps to enforce it.
Support enforcementWhen can you get divorced?
In Ontario, the usual ground for divorce is living separate and apart for at least one year. You do not have to wait to start: parenting, support and property can be settled right away, and the divorce itself follows once the year has passed. You can be separated while living in the same house.
Who keeps the house?
If you are married, both spouses have an equal right to live in the matrimonial home, whoever is on title, until an agreement or court order says otherwise. Neither spouse can sell or mortgage it without the other's consent or a court order. Its value is shared through equalization of net family property, and a matrimonial home owned before the marriage is generally not deducted the way other pre-marriage assets are.
The usual options are a buyout, a sale, or a delayed sale while children finish school. Equalization claims have time limits, so get advice early. If you are not married, different rules apply; see common-law property rights.
When the other parent does not follow the order
An order or agreement only helps if it is followed. These problems come up often in York Region files:
- Unpaid support: support orders, and separation agreements filed with the court, are enforced by the Family Responsibility Office (FRO). FRO can garnish wages, intercept tax refunds and take other steps.
- Missed or blocked parenting time: keep a written record of what happened and when. The court can make orders to enforce parenting time, and repeated breaches can affect later decisions.
- Changed circumstances: if income or schedules change for real, the right step is a written agreement or a motion to change, not a new routine by text message.
Commuting is also a factor for many Newmarket families. A schedule that works when both parents live in Newmarket may not work when one parent moves to Toronto or Barrie, so build exchange times and locations into the plan.
Children, parenting time and support
Ontario law now uses "decision-making responsibility" and "parenting time" instead of custody and access. Every decision is based on the child's best interests. If one parent wants to move with the children, the relocation rules require at least 60 days' written notice, and the other parent can object. Read our child custody guide.
Child support is calculated under the Child Support Guidelines, mainly from the paying parent's income and the parenting schedule. If each parent has the children at least 40% of the time, the calculation changes; see the 40% rule.
Free and low-cost help in York Region
- Family Law Information Centre: free information about the court process and forms at the Newmarket courthouse.
- Family duty counsel: Legal Aid Ontario lawyers at the courthouse can give free advice to people who qualify financially.
- Legal Aid Ontario: 1-800-668-8258 for eligibility and services, including help for people experiencing family violence.
- Mediation: subsidized family mediation is available through the court for eligible families.
If you are in danger, call 911.
What a family lawyer in Newmarket costs
Fees depend on how much work your case needs, and agreement is almost always cheaper than litigation. These are the three broad paths, from least to most work.
Advice or agreement review
A consultation, or reviewing a separation agreement before you sign, including independent legal advice.
Negotiated settlement
Disclosure, negotiation or mediation, and a signed separation agreement or a joint or uncontested divorce.
Contested court case
Court applications, conferences and motions, and possibly a trial, when the issues cannot be settled.
Court fees for a divorce were about $669 at the time of writing. See our 2026 family lawyer cost guide, and ask about payment plans or help with specific steps only.
Experience on both sides of the courtroom
Our goal for every client is simple: honest advice, a clear plan and a fair, lasting result, with regular updates on your case along the way.
- Law degree, 2004, and an LL.M. from Osgoode HallA Master of Laws in Family Law and Criminal Law from Osgoode Hall Law School.
- Court Registrar and Crown AttorneyBefore focusing on family law, experience inside the court system, so we prepare your case the way judges expect to see it.
- Family law todaySeparation, divorce, parenting and support for families across Ontario, in four languages.
Questions Newmarket clients ask
For advice on your own situation, book a consultation or call 289-652-0529.
Where is family court for Newmarket?
Family cases for Newmarket and York Region are heard at the Newmarket Courthouse, 50 Eagle Street West, Newmarket, ON L3Y 6B1.
Do you have an office in Newmarket?
No. Our nearest office is at 77 Finch Avenue East, Unit 807, North York. Many Newmarket clients meet with us by video call.
How long do we have to be separated before we can divorce?
One year, in most cases. You can start the paperwork earlier, but the court will not grant the divorce until a full year of separation has passed. You can be separated while living in the same house.
What can I do if my ex is not paying support?
Support orders, and separation agreements filed with the court, are enforced by the Family Responsibility Office, which can garnish wages and take other steps.
Can my spouse sell the house without my consent?
If it is the matrimonial home and you are married, no. Your spouse needs your written consent or a court order to sell or mortgage it, whoever is on title.
Can I move with my children to another city?
If the move would significantly affect the children's relationship with the other parent, Ontario's relocation rules require written notice at least 60 days before the move, and the other parent can object.
Is there free family law help in York Region?
Yes. The Family Law Information Centre at the Newmarket courthouse gives free information, and Legal Aid Ontario family duty counsel can give free advice to people who qualify financially.
Do I have to go to court to separate?
No. Many couples settle everything in a separation agreement, through negotiation or mediation, without ever going to court.
Areas we serve around Newmarket
We work with clients in Newmarket and across northern York Region, including:
- Old Newmarket
- Glenway
- Stonehaven
- Summerhill
- Woodland Hill
- Armitage
- Bristol-London
- Copper Hills
- Aurora
- East Gwillimbury
- Holland Landing
We also serve Richmond Hill, Vaughan, Barrie and North York. See all of our locations.
Talk to a family lawyer about your Newmarket case
Tell us what is happening and we will explain your options, the likely next steps and what it may cost.
77 Finch Avenue East, Unit 807
North York, ON M2N 6H8
Toronto virtual office: 52 Fort York Blvd, Toronto, ON M5V 4A6
Monday–Friday, 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m., by appointment
289-652-0529