Family Law

Birth and adoption

• Can I have contact with my child if CAS puts them for public adoption?
• What does it mean to place a child for adoption?
• How do I adopt a child in Ontario?

Marriage and common‑law relationships

• I lost my marriage certificate. How do I get another one?
• How do we get married in Ontario?
• How do we get married outside of Ontario?

Separation and divorce

• What legal issues should I think about when I separate or divorce?
• Can we resolve our family law issues without going to court?
• How do I legally separate from my partner?

Decision‑making and time with children

• What is decision-making responsibility and who gets it?
• What is parenting time and who gets it?
• Who will my child live with?

Child support

• What is child support?
• Who pays child support?
• How much child support must be paid?

Spousal support

• What is spousal support?
• How much spousal support must be paid?
• Can I get spousal support?

Property and debts ‑ married couples

• We’re married. Do we have to divide our property and debts if we separate or divorce?
• We’re married. How do we divide our property and debts if we separate or divorce?
• We’re married. What if we agree on what happens to our property and debts after we separate or divorce?

Property and debts ‑ common‑law couples

• We’re not married. What happens to our property and debts if we separate?
• We’re not married. What if we agree on what happens to our property and debts after we separate?
• We’re not married. What if we can’t agree on what happens to our property and debts after we separate?

Child protection

• What should I do if I think a child is being abused or neglected?
• What can CAS do if they think my child is being abused or neglected?
• What if CAS wants to talk to me or my child?

Partner abuse

• How do I know I’m in an abusive situation?
• Can I take my child with me when I leave my abusive partner?
• Will I be forced to leave Canada if I leave my abusive partner?

Restraining orders and peace bonds

• What is the difference between a restraining order and a peace bond?
• What is a restraining order?
• How do I ask for a restraining order in my family law application?

Out‑of‑court options

• Can we resolve our family law issues without going to court?
• What if my partner and I agree on what to do after we separate or divorce?
• What is negotiation?

Going to family court

• Why do I want to go to family court?
• Can we stop our family case and try to solve our problems another way?
• What if I have family court and criminal court at the same time?

Getting legal help in Family Law

• Where can I find a lawyer to help with my family law issue?
• I can’t afford a family law lawyer. Where can I find legal help?
• Where can I find legal support if I have experienced partner abuse?