Toronto Family Lawyers.
Compassionate, Strategic, Local
When your family's future is at stake, you need lawyers who know Ontario family law, know Toronto's courts, and know how to protect what matters most to you. Our family law team is steps from the Toronto Family Court at 361 University Avenue.
55 University Avenue, Toronto | 5-Minute Walk to Toronto Family Court | Free Initial Consultations | All of Toronto & GTA
Your Legal Team
Experienced Toronto Family Lawyers, Every Stage, Every Issue
Family law is rarely just a legal matter. It is one of the most personal and emotionally challenging experiences a person can go through. At Lexaltico LLP, our Toronto family lawyers combine legal expertise with genuine empathy, giving you both the strategy and the support you need to protect your rights, your children, and your future.
Our office at 55 University Avenue places us steps from the Ontario Superior Court of Justice and the Ontario Court of Justice. The two Toronto courts where family law matters are heard. We know these courts, their procedures, their judges, and their timelines. That local knowledge is a tangible advantage for our clients.
Every Family Law Matter, Handled with Care
Our Toronto family lawyers handle the full range of family law issues, from collaborative, uncontested separations to complex contested litigation involving significant assets, business interests, or high-conflict parenting disputes.
Divorce
Divorce in Canada is governed by the federal Divorce Act. You must be separated for at least one year before a divorce order can be granted (except in cases of adultery or cruelty). Our Toronto divorce lawyers guide you through every step, from filing the Application to obtaining the Divorce Order, whether your divorce is uncontested and cooperative or contested and complex.
Joint divorce applications, where both spouses apply together, now represent 31% of all divorces in Canada and are faster, less costly, and less adversarial. We assist with both sole and joint applications.
Child Custody & Parenting Time
Since the 2021 amendments to the Divorce Act and the Children's Law Reform Act, the terms "custody" and "access" have been replaced with decision-making responsibility and parenting time. Courts in Toronto determine all parenting arrangements based on the best interests of the child. The paramount consideration under both Acts.
We represent parents in negotiating parenting plans, attending case conferences, and litigating contested parenting matters at the Ontario Superior Court and Ontario Court of Justice in Toronto.
Child Support
Child support in Ontario is not discretionary. It is a legal right of the child. The amount is calculated using the Federal Child Support Guidelines, based primarily on the paying parent's gross annual income and the number of children. On top of the base "table amount," Section 7 of the Guidelines sets out special and extraordinary expenses, childcare, medical costs, tutoring, post-secondary education, and extracurricular activities, shared proportionally between parents.
We assist with calculating support, enforcing support orders, and varying support when income or circumstances change.
Separation Agreements
A separation agreement is a legally binding domestic contract under Ontario's Family Law Act that resolves all issues arising from separation, property division, support, parenting, and more. It does not require a court application and, when properly drafted with independent legal advice on both sides, it is enforceable and comprehensive.
We draft, review, and negotiate separation agreements for clients across Toronto. We also provide independent legal advice (ILA) certificates, a critical step that protects the enforceability of the agreement.
Spousal Support
Spousal support is governed by both the federal Divorce Act (for married spouses divorcing) and Ontario's Family Law Act (for married or unmarried spouses). Entitlement, amount, and duration are guided by the Spousal Support Advisory Guidelines (SSAGs), a range-based framework used by courts and lawyers across Canada. Support is not automatic; entitlement depends on compensatory, non-compensatory, and contractual factors.
Property Division
Ontario's Family Law Act governs property division for married spouses through the equalization of net family property regime. Each spouse calculates their Net Family Property (NFP): assets minus debts, minus the value of property brought into the marriage. The spouse with the higher NFP pays the other half the difference. The equalization payment. The matrimonial home has unique rules: it cannot be excluded from NFP even if owned before marriage.
Marriage Contracts & Cohabitation Agreements
Marriage contracts (prenuptial agreements) and cohabitation agreements are domestic contracts under Ontario's Family Law Act that allow couples to establish their own rules for property division, support, and other matters, overriding the default statutory rules. To be valid and enforceable, these agreements must be in writing, signed by both parties, and witnessed. Both parties should have independent legal advice.
Restraining Orders & Emergency Motions
When safety is at risk or urgent court intervention is needed, such as a parent removing a child without consent, a spouse being excluded from the matrimonial home, or a threat of harm, Toronto family courts can grant emergency relief on short notice. Our lawyers are experienced in urgent motions, restraining orders under the Children's Law Reform Act and Family Law Act, and emergency parenting applications.
Being steps from the Toronto courts means we can respond and file on extremely short notice when your situation demands it.
Key Ontario & Federal Family Law Legislation
Understanding which law applies to your situation is the first step. Ontario family law is governed by a combination of federal and provincial legislation, and the applicable Act determines your rights, timelines, and options.
Divorce Act
Canada's primary federal family law statute governing divorce, corollary relief (child support, spousal support, parenting), and variation of orders. Amended significantly in 2021 to introduce new terminology (decision-making responsibility, parenting time) and mandatory consideration of family violence.
Family Law Act
Ontario's primary provincial family law statute governing property division (equalization of net family property), spousal support for married and unmarried spouses, the matrimonial home, domestic contracts (separation agreements, marriage contracts, cohabitation agreements), and dependants' support. Amended in 2024 to enhance arbitration enforceability and update language.
Children's Law Reform Act
Governs parenting arrangements (decision-making responsibility, parenting time, contact) for children where parents are not divorcing under the Divorce Act, including unmarried couples and married couples separating without divorce. Also governs parentage, the Office of the Children's Lawyer, and recognition of foreign parenting orders.
Federal Child Support Guidelines
Mandatory regulations under the Divorce Act setting the method for calculating child support, including Table Amounts based on the paying parent's income and number of children, and Section 7 special and extraordinary expenses (childcare, medical, extracurricular). Ontario's provincial guidelines under the Family Law Act mirror the federal guidelines exactly, so the amount is identical regardless of which Act applies.
How the Ontario Family Law Process Works
Understanding the process before you start reduces anxiety and helps you make better decisions. Here is the typical path for a contested family law matter in Toronto, from first steps to resolution.
Plain-Language Guides to Ontario Family Law
Understanding your rights is the first step. Our Toronto family lawyers have written these guides to give you clear, plain-language answers to the most common family law questions in Ontario, so you can make informed decisions.
The Complete Guide to Divorce in Ontario
Everything you need to know about the divorce process in Ontario, from the one-year separation requirement to obtaining your Divorce Order at Toronto's Superior Court.
Child Custody & Parenting Time in Ontario, A Parent's Guide
How courts in Toronto decide parenting arrangements, what "decision-making responsibility" and "parenting time" mean under the 2021 Divorce Act amendments, and how to protect your relationship with your children.
Child Support in Ontario, How It's Calculated
A plain-language breakdown of how child support is calculated in Ontario under the Federal Child Support Guidelines, including Table Amounts, Section 7 expenses, shared parenting adjustments, and how to vary support when circumstances change.
Property Division in Ontario, The Equalization Guide
How Ontario divides property on separation and divorce, including the Net Family Property calculation, the matrimonial home, excluded property, and how debts are treated. With a worked example of the equalization calculation.
Separation Agreements in Ontario, What You Need to Know
A practical guide to separation agreements in Ontario, what they must include, how to make them enforceable, why you need independent legal advice, and how they interact with court proceedings.
Spousal Support in Ontario, Entitlement, Amount & Duration
A guide to spousal support in Ontario, when you may be entitled to support, how courts calculate the amount and duration using the Spousal Support Advisory Guidelines, and what happens when circumstances change.
Where Toronto Family Law Cases Are Heard
Our office at 55 University Avenue is a short walk from both Toronto family courts. We know their procedures, their scheduling systems, their duty counsel services, and their local practice directions, giving our clients a real advantage.
Ontario Superior Court of Justice
The Superior Court handles the most complex family law matters in Toronto, including divorce, property division, contested parenting disputes, and spousal support. This is where divorce applications are filed and where trials in major family law cases are held. The court also has a Family Law Information Centre (FLIC) offering free information to self-represented parties.
Ontario Court of Justice, Toronto
The Ontario Court of Justice handles family matters that do not involve divorce, including child custody and parenting time for unmarried parents, child support applications, child protection proceedings (CAS), and emergency motions. This is often the first port of call for urgent parenting matters in Toronto, as it typically has faster scheduling than the Superior Court for preliminary steps.
What Every Toronto Family Knows
Toronto Family Law FAQs
Ready to Talk to a Toronto Family Lawyer?
Our family law team offers free initial consultations. We will listen to your situation, explain your rights, and give you a clear picture of your options, with no obligation.
Book Your Free Consultation →Toronto Family Law Office, 55 University Avenue
Steps from Toronto Family Court at 361 University Avenue. TTC accessible, Osgoode Station is a 3-minute walk. In-person and virtual consultations available.
Toronto Family Law Team
55 University Ave, Suite 1100
Toronto, ON M5J 2H7
Osgoode Station (Line 1), 3 min walk
361 University Ave, 5 min walk north
60 Queen St W, 8 min walk south
Monday – Friday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Evening & weekend appointments available
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