Find Lawyers in Ontario, 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.
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...
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...
Kate Bennett is a Partner and Practice Group Lead with the Family Law group at Harrison Pensa. Kate’s practice encompasses all issues related to family law including separation and divorce, decision-making responsibility for children (formerly custody), parenting time (formerly primary care and/or access), child and spousal support, and division of property. Kate represents clients in family law litigation, as well as alternative dispute resolution, including mediation and arbitration. ...
Mary Jane Binks, K.C. 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...
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...
Sarah Boulby of Boulby Weinberg LLP is a seasoned family law lawyer with over 30 years of experience. She advises clients in Ontario and globally on complex support, property, and parenting matters. Sarah is skilled in negotiation, litigation, mediation, and arbitration, providing comprehensive legal representation. Sarah is a sought-after speaker and writer on family law topics. Her expertise has been recognized by the Law Society of Ontario, which uses her educational materials in its licen...
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...
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...
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 ...
Kenneth A. Fishman is a partner with Boulby Weinberg LLP . He has dedicated his career to helping clients navigate the complexities of family law, providing compassionate and effective legal representation. With a deep understanding of the legal landscape and a commitment to achieving favourable outcomes, Ken has successfully handled a wide range of family law matters, including child and spousal support, property division, custody, and parenting time.
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 ranked as Consistently Recommended in the Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory. The directory, similar to Best Lawyers, is based on annual peer review surveys...
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 ...
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...
Rebecca Grosz has practiced family law for over a decade. Her practice encompasses all aspects of family law, including domestic contracts, parenting, child and spousal support, and equalization and property, with a focus on complex property, equalization, and support claims including tax, estate, business law and valuation issues. Rebecca advocates for clients through alternative dispute resolution processes, including negotiation, mediation/arbitration and Collaborative Practice, as well as...
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...
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...
A founding partner of Burrison Hudani Doris, Farrah's practice encompasses all areas of family law including complex property and support claims and custody and access disputes. She has significant experience in jurisdictional issues, Hague Convention cases and mobility disputes. Farrah has argued leading reported cases in these areas and lectured at conferences in Canada and the United States. She has experience arguing cases at all levels of Court including the Ontario Court of Justice, the...
Principal Lawyer and Mediator with Kelly D. Jordan Family Law Firm in Toronto, Ontario. Practises in the areas of family and fertility law, wills and estates. Certified as a Specialist in Family Law by the LSUC. Particular expertise in family law issues pertaining to the gay and lesbian community and assisted human reproduction. Fellow of the American Academy of Assisted Reproductive Technology Attorneys. Co-counsel on Baker v. Francis (1999) and Miglin v. Miglin (2002) before the Supreme Cou...
George is a partner with Thomson Rogers and his practice is devoted to litigation with an emphasis on matrimonial litigation and matters involving commercial disputes. George has co-authored a number of articles for use in continuing legal education seminars and is a regular contributor speaker at continuing legal education seminars having spoken at seminars conducted by the Law Society of Ontario, the National Judicial Institute, Osgoode Professional Development and the Advocates’ Soci...
Associate lawyer with Kelly D. Jordan Family Law Firm, in Toronto, Ontario. Called to the Bar in 2013. Practising in all aspects of family law including negotiation and drafting of domestic contracts and the negotiation and litigation of all issues arising out of separation. After practising civil litigation at a boutique firm for four years, transitioned into practising family law and joined Kelly Jordan in 2018. Completed Juris Doctor at Osgoode Hall Law School, during which time spent one ...
Annie handles all issues arising from breakdown of relationships including parenting, child support, spousal support and property division (equalization). Annie represents clients from diverse situations. In addition to cases involving the “usual” family law issues, Annie has significant experience in cases involving distinct challenges such as addiction, children with special needs, spouses with personality disorders, and other life circumstances that have an impact on every deci...
Jen Liew is a Partner at Maleki Liew LLP. She has trial and appeal experience and has advocated for her clients at all levels of court in Ontario. She advises on areas of family law including complex divisions of property, child and spousal support, high-conflict custody and access disputes, cross-border issues, and the negotiation of domestic contracts. Jen is known for her attention to detail and her ability to simplify complicated issues.
Called to the Bar in 1972, Alfred has over five decades worth of experience in the field of family law and family law litigation, mediation, and arbitration. A long-time lecturer and author, Alfred is well-respected in his field, evidenced by a number of professional awards that he has received including: The Ontario Bar Association Annual Award for Excellence in Family Law, the Advocates’ Society tribute dinner in recognition of an advocates’ dedication to the highest ideals of t...
Martha was called to the Bar in Ontario in 1991, winning the Silver Medal and the Family Law and Advocacy Prizes. She has practised family law since her call, first in a large Bay Street firm, then at a large specialist boutique, and now with her own firm. Though Martha’s practice focuses on all aspects of family law, she has regularly advocated on behalf of same-sex couples. Martha’s work in M. v. H., Halpern, and the Same Sex Marriage Reference resulted in equal marriage and wid...
Concentrating on family litigation, negotiation, and mediation services, Paul McInnis serves the Toronto community as a Partner at McInnis & Nicoll. Mr. McInnis has been practicing law since he was called to the Bar of Ontario in 1979. Outside of his duties as partner at his firm, Paul McInnis is an avid supporter of continuing legal education (CLE). He has been a presenter at a number of different CLE events, predominantly speaking on his concentration of family law. Paul McInnis has spo...
Daniel is a partner in our Family Law Group. Certified by the Law Society of Upper Canada as a Family Law Specialist, he is also fully qualified as a family law mediator and arbitrator. As a mediator and arbitrator, Daniel has assisted clients and family law lawyers to resolve matters in a sensible, efficient and private manner. In family law matters of property, spousal and child support, Daniel has been involved in the determination of income, the valuation of multinational, privately held ...
Judith M. Nicoll is a partner in the firm of McInnis & Nicoll. She was called to the Bar of Ontario in 1984 and practises exclusively in the area of family law. Judith also conducts mediations and arbitrations in family law matters. She has chaired and participated in programs for Osgoode Professional Development, the Law Society of Ontario, the Advocates’ Society, the Canadian Bar Association-Ontario, the American Bar Association and the International Bar Association, including wri...
Harold is actively practicing, and he remains a preeminent leader of the family law bar. Though his official title at Niman Mamo LLP is “Counsel”, he is the lead lawyer on files in which he is involved. For those cases where Harold is not involved, the firm and the firm’s clients retain the added benefit of seeking his advice and wisdom. Named Toronto’s best divorce lawyer by Toronto Life Magazine in 2009, Harold is one of the most frequently recommended lawyers in the...
Laurie is a partner in our Family Law Group, acting in disputes involving high incomes and significant property. Her practice also includes mediation and arbitration. She appears in Courts at both the trial and appellate levels. Between 2010 and 2012, Laurie was elected as the 63rd Treasurer (President) of The Law Society of Upper Canada, the regulator governing all lawyers and paralegals in Ontario. She was only the third woman since the Law Society was founded in 1797 to hold this office. T...
Sean was called to the bar in 1997 and has been practicing exclusively in the area of family law for more than 26 years. He has expertise in complex property and spousal/child support cases, marriage contracts and cohabitation agreements, and he brings a practical yet empathic approach to high conflict parenting cases. His expertise extends to married and unmarried spouses and to the LGBTQ+ community. Sean has successfully advanced matters in all levels of court in Ontario. In addition to res...
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