Family lawyer in Toronto
Looking for a family lawyer in Toronto? We help Toronto families with divorce, separation agreements, parenting, child and spousal support, and property, with honest advice about your options, the likely cost and which Toronto court your case belongs in.
Your family court and how we meet
Toronto does not have a single unified family court. Divorce and property cases are heard by the Superior Court of Justice at 393 University Avenue. Cases about parenting or support only, without a divorce or property claim, can also be started in the Ontario Court of Justice at 47 Sheppard Avenue East in North York. Your lawyer will tell you which court fits your case.
- In person at 77 Finch Avenue East, Unit 807, North York, near Yonge and Finch
- 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
- Superior Court of Justice, Family Court, 393 University Avenue, Toronto, ON M5G 1E6 (divorce and property); Ontario Court of Justice, 47 Sheppard Avenue East, North York (some parenting and support cases)
- Toronto office
- 52 Fort York Blvd, Toronto, ON M5V 4A6 (virtual office)
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 Toronto 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 homeDivorce in Toronto
Joint, simple and contested divorces, from the application to the divorce certificate.
Divorce lawyer TorontoWhen 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.
Which Toronto family court handles your case?
Starting in the wrong court costs time and money, so it is worth getting this right at the beginning:
- Superior Court of Justice, 393 University Avenue: divorce, division of property and the matrimonial home, and any parenting or support issues that are part of the same case.
- Ontario Court of Justice, 47 Sheppard Avenue East: parenting and child or spousal support claims where there is no divorce and no property claim, including for unmarried parents.
- Child protection cases involving a children's aid society follow a separate process. See our CAS investigation guide.
Both courts have a Family Law Information Centre with free information, and many early steps, such as case conferences, can take place by video depending on the court's current practice.
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 Toronto
- Family Law Information Centre: free information about the court process and forms at the Toronto family courthouses.
- 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 Toronto 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 Toronto clients ask
For advice on your own situation, book a consultation or call 289-652-0529.
Which court handles family cases in Toronto?
Divorce and property cases are heard by the Superior Court of Justice at 393 University Avenue. Parenting and support cases without a divorce or property claim can also be started in the Ontario Court of Justice at 47 Sheppard Avenue East, North York.
Where is your Toronto office?
Our Toronto address is 52 Fort York Blvd, Toronto, ON M5V 4A6, a virtual office. In-person meetings are at our North York office, 77 Finch Avenue East, Unit 807, near Yonge and Finch, by appointment, or by video.
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.
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.
Do unmarried couples in Toronto split property 50/50?
No. Common-law partners do not have an automatic right to share property. A partner may have a claim based on unjust enrichment or a constructive trust. Child support and, in many cases, spousal support rights still apply.
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 Toronto?
Yes. The Family Law Information Centres at the Toronto family courthouses give 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 in Toronto
We work with clients across the City of Toronto, including:
- Downtown Toronto
- North York
- Willowdale
- Scarborough
- Etobicoke
- East York
- Midtown
- Don Mills
- Leslieville
- The Annex
- York
- Thornhill
See our pages for North York, Scarborough, Vaughan and Mississauga, or all of our locations.
Talk to a family lawyer about your Toronto case
Tell us what is happening and we will explain your options, the likely next steps and what it may cost.
52 Fort York Blvd
Toronto, ON M5V 4A6 (virtual office)
In person: 77 Finch Avenue East, Unit 807, North York
Monday–Friday, 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m., by appointment
289-652-0529
Looking for a less adversarial route?
Family mediation can help Toronto families reach their own agreement on parenting, support and property. See virtual mediation in Toronto and our mediation fees.