Find Lawyers in Canada for Family Law
Practice Area Overview
In Canada, family law is governed by federal and provincial laws (statue and case law) that deal with family related legal issues, including marriage, separation and divorce, custody and access, child protection, division of property, support and adoption. The area of family law often includes financial negotiations, inheritance issues and the drafting and interpretation of prenuptial contracts and separation agreements.
Primarily statute-based, family law is largely codified within statues including the federal Divorce Act, which applies to married people residing in Canada. Issues such as the division of family property, child protection and custody and support matters between people who are not married are governed by statutes which vary from province to province.
Family lawyers represent clients in court and in settlement negotiations and they prepare prenuptial, separation, divorce and custody agreements in the appropriate circumstances. Family lawyers are trained to resolve disputes between parties through a number of dispute-resolution mechanisms, including litigation (bringing a matter to court and asking a judge to make a determination) and negotiating with opposing counsel. Some lawyers are also trained in mediation (assisting the parties, in a non-partisan manner, to reach agreements on the issues).
In recent years, some Canadian family lawyers have received training in Collaborative Family Law. Collaborative Family Law is a process in which the parties and their lawyers make a formal commitment to resolve the dispute using an interest-based model rather than a ligation model. Clients engage lawyers to reach a settlement, but if the process breaks down, the lawyer must withdraw from the case. The collaborative process relies on principled negotiation techniques.
Oftentimes, a family lawyer helps clients through the most difficult time in their lives. In the middle of family legal disputes, clients’ emotions tend to run high especially in cases of physical abuse or adultery. A good family lawyer not only possesses extensive knowledge of the law but also exceptional “people skills” and the ability to help clients navigate the complex legal realities of transitioning families.
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Experienced Family Law Practitioner. Called to the Ontario Bar in 1995. Graduate of Bishop's University 1988 .University of Windsor Law School (1993) Known for attention to detail and thorough preparation of materials used in litigation, mediation or arbitration to achieve successful resolution. Committed to resolving matters efficiently, fairly and without having to resort to litigation. Thorough and persuasive in court, when litigation is required. Avid downhill skier, water-skier and trave...
Michelle Bailey specializes in family law and is a partner at Moe Hannah LLP. In addition to resolving complex property division, Michelle is keen to preserve good will for parents as they move forward in their lives. She also provides mediation services for clients. Michelle’s first degree in Small Business Management provides her with a solid foundation for understanding the nuances and challenges involved when a family has a closely held company in the center of a family law dispute....
Karon Bales is a founding partner of Bales Beall LLP whose experience speaks for itself. Her practice is centred on family law, wills and estate issues. Her experience in trial and appellate advocacy in family law and estate matters is extensive, particularly with those involving partnerships, business corporations and commercial issues. Karon also provides sound guidance with estate administration and planning, domestic and off-shore trusts, and succession planning for owners of family busin...
Traci Bannister is a Family Lawyer and Family Law Mediator and is a partner at the firm Boyes Tiefenbach Bannister Family Law Counsel LLP in Calgary, Alberta. Traci practiced as an Attorney and Family Law Mediator in South Africa for 20 years before moving to Calgary in 2012. Traci requalified as a Barrister/Solicitor in Canada and was called to the Alberta bar in June 2015. Traci is experienced in helping clients reach resolutions of disputes in all areas of family law, such as parenting dis...
Mediation gives people more control over the outcome of their disputes and provides privacy over what are often highly sensitive issues for the parties involved. Many people do not fully realize the lack of control one faces at trial nor do people understand the truly public nature of the courthouse. As a mediator, Diane helps clients overcome legal challenges in a fair and efficient manner. She manages emotions and expectations, and, by engaging in an active risk analysis, she helps to achie...
Todd is a highly skilled litigator and trial lawyer with wide-ranging courtroom experience spanning all levels of Court in British Columbia. Todd settles as many files through agreements or mediation as possible, but in the event of an impasse he litigates the matter to a resolution. Todd’s practice areas include the division of high net-worth assets including complex corporate structures, trusts, foreign property, and pensions. He practices in all manner of parenting and custody litiga...
Wendy has a well-established family law practice and has earned ongoing recognition as a leading family law practitioner since being called to the bar in 1980. She joined Dunphy Best Blocksom in 1982 and became partner in 1986. Wendy was appointed King's Counsel in 1994. She acts primarily for high net worth individuals and families. While she settles most matters, Wendy’s practice includes litigation. She was inducted as a fellow of the International Academy of Family Lawyers in 2008. ...
Mary Jane is the Senior Group Counsel in the Family Law Group at Tierney Stauffer LLP. She is also an Estate Litigation Practitioner. Mary Jane was a former Assistant Crown Attorney and Vice Chairman of the Commercial Registration Appeal Tribunal (Ontario). An advocate in the Ontario Superior Court of Justice (Trial Division) and the Ontario Court of Appeal, she also serves as an Arbitrator in Family Law disputes. Mary Jane has served as a Family Law instructor for the Law Society of Ontario ...
Joanne Biron is Miller Thomson's National Specialty Lead, Family Law. In fact, she created this group which includes more than 20 lawyers throughout Canada, thus making Miller Thomson the only national law firm with a family law practice. Joanne represents primarily business people and professionals before all levels of court. Joanne has in-depth expertise in family law matters, including divorce, legal separation, child custody, alimony, parentage, common-law union contracts, separation of c...
Adam is a partner at Torkin Manes. He practises in all aspects of family law including divorce, custody and access, property, support, and domestic contracts. Adam’s focus on efficient resolution guides his practice and advice to his clients. Concurrently, Adam advocates effectively to achieve a result that is aligned with his clients’ interests. Adam regularly appears in courts throughout the Greater Toronto Area, including the Ontario Court of Justice, the Superior Court of Just...
Pat has been a partner with Dunphy Best Blocksom since 1990. She is a skilled senior matrimonial lawyer and her practice emphasizes negotiation, mediation and arbitration resolutions to complex property, support, and custody settlements. Pat’s current practice focuses on mediation, arbitration in the family and estate law. She also advises on and prepares pre-nuptial, cohabitation and post-nuptial agreements. She has been a co-instructor for the Legal Education Society of Alberta on med...
Scott Booth is the managing partner of the firm’s family law practice. Called to the British Columbia bar in 1994, he has focused exclusively on family law since 2006. His practice includes litigation as well as mediation and arbitration, both as counsel and as mediator/arbitrator. Scott’s strength is problem solving and assisting his clients in resolving complex issues. This includes the unique circumstances of high income/net worth families, families with generational wealth pla...
Sarah Boulby of Boulby Weinberg LLP in Toronto has been named one of Canada’s Best Family Law lawyers by The Best Lawyers in Canada since 2008,. Sarah is President of the Canadian Chapter of the International Academy of Family Lawyers, a worldwide association of practising lawyers recognized by their peers as the top family law lawyers in their countries. Sarah is a Director of the Toronto Lawyers Association. Sarah is a member of the Law Alumni Association Council of the University of ...
John-Paul E. Boyd, KC is an accredited family law arbitrator, family law mediator and parenting coordinator. He is the principal of John-Paul Boyd Arbitration Chambers , providing services throughout Alberta and British Columbia, Canada, and counsel to the preeminent Calgary family law firm, Wise Scheible Barkauskas . He is a senior family law lawyer nationally known for his approach to family justice issues, contributions to public and professional legal education on family law, and special ...
Alex has a broad practice in all areas of family law, including high conflict parenting issues and complex financial matters. She is a Fellow of the International Academy of Family Lawyers with experience in jurisdictional issues and Hague convention cases. Alex is focused on resolutions. She is a strategic litigator, who has successfully represented clients at all levels of court in Ontario. Wherever possible, she strives to resolve family conflicts out of court through negotiation and alter...
Erin Chaiton-Murray echaitonmurray@murraylawsonllp.com 416-596-1708 Erin is a Partner at Murray Lawson LLP Erin has practised exclusively in the area of family law since her call to the Ontario bar in 2009. She has extensive experience in all aspects of family law, including advocating for clients before all levels of court in Ontario, and negotiating and drafting cohabitation agreements, marriage contracts and separation agreements. Erin frequently represents clients at both mediations and a...
Nikki specializes exclusively in the area of family law. Her practice includes all matters affecting families in British Columbia such as separation, divorce, property division, common law trusts, spousal support, child support, guardianship, residency, and parenting time. Nikki has extensive experience drafting complex cohabitation, marriage, and separation agreements, and has appeared before all levels of court in British Columbia. As a member of the International Academy of Collaborative P...
Stephen is a strategic and fearless advocate in the courtroom. He is known for his ability to diffuse highly-charged situations so that cooler heads can prevail when resolving contentious family law matters through mediation, arbitration or litigation. Recognizing that every client is different, Stephen effectively adapts his approach to their unique wants, needs, and circumstances to ensure their best interests are protected. As a partner at Epstein Cole, Stephen’s practice focuses on ...
With strong negotiation skills and extraordinary legal acumen, Kenneth is well-known for his ability to find creative, cooperative and beneficial resolutions to complex family law disputes. Whether through mediation, arbitration or litigation, he is sharp-witted, responsive, and empathetic in his approach to achieving his clients’ goals, meeting their needs and exceeding their expectations. Kenneth founded Epstein Cole with Philip Epstein in 1978. As a senior partner, his practice focus...
Wanda has been practicing as a lawyer for more than 20 years and is a returning partner of Kirk Montoute Dawson LLP. A family law practitioner, mediator, arbitrator and parenting coordinator, Wanda Dawson has argued successfully at every level of Court in Alberta. She has extensive training and experience in many methods of litigation and conflict resolution, including collaborative law, lawyer-assisted mediation, arbitration, interest-based negotiation, and parenting coordination. Wanda&rsqu...
A scholar, teacher and leader in the Alberta legal community, Rhoda I. Dobler’s practice spans two and half decades, and includes mediation, arbitration, collaborative law and litigation. Her positive attitude, compassion and creativity guide her conflict resolution approach, making her a valued mediator and arbitrator. An ardent believer in the importance of identifying new talent and mentoring junior lawyers, Rhoda teaches the Bar Admission (CPLED) course annually, and speaks at semin...
Isabelle Duval est membre du groupe Droit de la famille, des personnes et des successions. Elle pratique toutes les facettes du droit familial : divorce, séparation, relocalisation, garde, pension alimentaire pour enfants et pour conjoints. Titulaire d’un Juris Doctor en Common Law et d’une maîtrise en droit des affaires de l’Université de Montréal, Isabelle a plaidé avec succès de nombreux dossiers d’envergure, y incluant des d...
The stakes in Family Law cases don’t get much higher: it takes a special lawyer to consistently win results at the highest level in Family Law. Jim Edney has been that kind of a lawyer for 30 years, earning him recognition as a Certified Specialist in Family Law by The Law Society of Ontario. Vision Praised by clients for his ability to “put things in perspective” and described by them as “incredibly diligent, fair and intelligent”, Jim advises on complex Family ...
I have practiced family law since 1998, and have provided collaborative law services for the past 15 years. I am one of the founding members of Collaborative Practice Manitoba and currently am on its Management Committee as well as serving as the Chair of the Membership Committee. I have taught at the Faculty of Law, University of Manitoba, as a sessional instructor since 2005. I currently teach the Clinical Family Law course and have done so since 2009. I am a frequent presenter at the Law S...
Divorce is one of the most difficult and stressful events anyone can experience. Lindsay’s passion is assisting people through this tumultuous experience in a manner that allows them to remain in control of their solution, minimize the conflict to which they and their children are exposed, preserve their assets and improve communication. Using mediation techniques tailored to client’s particular conflict level and matters in dispute, Lindsay maximizes the prospect for a mutually a...
Emma Ferguson is a member of our Wills, Estates + Trusts Practice Group. Emma has a broad wills, estates and trusts practice. She advises clients on all aspects of estate and incapacity planning, including wills, alter ego, joint partner and family trusts, powers of attorney and healthcare representation agreements. Emma has experience assisting clients with disabilities or their family members with planning to protect government disability benefits and advises clients on adult guardianship m...
Ken has practiced family law exclusively since his call to the bar in 2009. He has extensive experience in all aspects of family law including negotiating and drafting domestic contracts and advocating for clients before all levels of court in Ontario. He also frequently represents clients at both mediations and arbitrations . His significant experience includes assisting clients with issues related to child and spousal support , property division , parental decision-making responsibility (cu...
Herschel Fogelman Fogelman Law Listed in Best Lawyers since 2006 www.fogelmanlaw.ca Family Law Toronto, Canada hfogelman@fogelmanlaw.ca 416-644-7975 Herschel Fogelman is the founder and principal of Fogelman Law in Toronto. He has been named a Best Family Lawyer in Canada every year since the Best Lawyer rankings began. Herschel is also an experienced and highly sought after mediator and arbitrator, able to deftly navigate and settle complex and sensitive family law matters. Herschel is ranke...
Experienced in all aspects of family law, Aaron’s clients trust him to recognize the unique complexities of their case and to provide practical solutions that work best for them not only now – but into the future. With extensive legal knowledge and a strategic mindset, he is equally effective at reaching creative, amicable resolutions through negotiation or mediation as he is advocating for his clients in court. As a partner at Epstein Cole, Aaron’s practice encompasses all ...
Brigitte Garceau is a senior partner in our Family Law Group. Her practice focuses on all aspects of divorce and separation, including child and spousal support, child custody, and parental plans, division of property, marriage contracts, family patrimony, matrimonial regimes, all aspects related to the separation between non-married partners, execution of a judgment and family mediation with a particular emphasis on complex cross-jurisdiction and international law cases. Brigitte has acted a...
Sheila is at her core an advocate. She is smart, strategic and sees the justice of a case. A thoughtful listener and intuitive problem solver, Sheila gets to the heart of the matter for her clients, and applies her top-notch analytical skills and judgment to assess the best path forward. Sheila is equally adept at building relationships to negotiate creative separation agreements as she is pursuing strong litigation strategy to achieve success in all levels of court. Drawing on her corporate ...
Cheryl Goldhart is certified as a Specialist in Family Law by the Law Society of Upper Canada and has practiced exclusively in the area of family law since she was called to the bar in 1987. She specializes in negotiating complex agreements encompassing all areas of family law and litigates in the Ontario Superior Court of Justice, the Ontario Court of Justice, and the Court of Appeal. She is also an accomplished mediator and arbitrator and is an OAFM accredited family mediator. Cheryl is the...
Pascale Gouin works in civil and commercial litigation, particularly in areas involving civil liability, relations between shareholders and between franchisors and franchisees, real estate law, labour relations and dispute arbitration. She pleads before the Court of Quebec, the Superior Court, the Court of Appeal and the administrative courts. She also applies her expertise in preventive ways, by drafting her clients’ employment contracts and commercial leases. Pascale also specializes ...
Rebecca Grosz’ practice encompasses all aspects of family law, including domestic contracts (cohabitation, marriage and separation agreements), parenting issues, child and spousal support, and equalization and property issues, with a particular focus on complex property, equalization, and support issues including complex tax, estate, and business law and valuation issues. Rebecca advocates for her clients through the court process, having appeared at all levels of court in Ontario inclu...
Robert M. Halpern received his LL.B. from Osgoode Hall Law School in 1983 and was called to the Ontario Bar in 1985. He is certified by the Law Society of Ontario as a Specialist in Family Law and, prior to forming Halpern Law Group, was head of the one of the largest family law groups in Canada from 2000-2019. Robert’s practice addresses all aspects of family law. Beyond legal issues arising from separation, he also provides advice about important business-related family law matters an...
Kevin has practiced almost exclusively family law for over 25 years. His more recent litigation has been at the appellate level but his practice has shifted to representing a few private clients and acting as mediator (most often with counsel present) and arbitrator (often of longer, more complicated arbitrations). His articles/papers on family law issues have been published by the Lawyer's Weekly and he is a regular contributor to the continuing legal education of Alberta's family bar throug...
Ms. Caroline Harnois is a member of the Family Law, Personal Law and Estate Law team. Her practice is focused on all aspects of family and estate law, which comprises private international family law, including international child abduction. Prior to joining the firm, Ms. Harnois worked as a lawyer with the Children, Person and Family Law team at The Hague Conference on Private International Law in the Netherlands, where she developed an expertise in extraterritorial conflicts and the applica...
AREAS OF PRACTICE: Litigation, Insurance, Personal Injury, Labour and Employment, and Aboriginal Law PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE: Maria received her B.A. degree from St. Thomas University in 1977, and her LL.B degree from the University of New Brunswick in 1980. She was admitted to the Newfoundland Bar in 1981 and to the New Brunswick Bar in 1989. Maria received her appointment as Queen's Counsel (Q.C.) in 2004. Her affiliations include membership in the Canadian Bar Association, the Law Society ...
Ritu is the Owner and Managing Partner of Horra Family Law. Ritu has practiced exclusively in family law since her call to the Bar. Ritu’s practice includes all areas of family law including custody, access, support, property issues and collaborative practice. In May 2018, Ritu was appointed to the Dispute Resolution Officer (DRO) panel for the Superior Court of Justice in Newmarket, Ontario. Lawyers appointed to this panel support the family law court process by aiding parties in attem...
Family lawyer Jennifer K. Howard joined Devry Smith Frank LLP (DSF) as a partner early in 2016 after practising at a large full-service law firm in downtown Toronto. Jennifer obtained her Bachelor of Laws from Osgoode Hall Law School and was called to the Bar in 2007. Since her call to the bar, she has been practising in all areas of family law and has been involved in many difficult and noteworthy cases involving child and spousal support, equalization of property, custody and access, drafti...
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