Family Law Resources and Publications
Navigating the Family Court System in Ontario
These resources have been produced by CLEO (Community Legal Education Ontario /Éducation juridique communautaire Ontario) with funding from: Legal Aid Ontario and the Department of Justice Canada.
An Introduction to Family Law in Ontario
This resource identifies the main issues that can come up when relationships end. It includes information about marriage and divorce, living together, and domestic contracts, and explains how decisions can be made through agreement, mediation, court, or arbitration.
Children’s aid: Information for parents (Fact sheet)
This resource offers information to help parents who are dealing with child protection agencies. A children’s aid society or CAS has a legal duty to make sure that children under the age of 16 are protected from harm. It outlines when an agency might contact a family, how to respond if contacted, what the agency might do, what to do if the agency takes a child away, and where to get help in many languages.
Family Law Resources in Ontario
This is a directory of legal resources, information, and referral services for service providers and families who need information about family law and courts in Ontario. Topics include family law services at Ontario courts, family violence resources and resources for children, youth, and parents.
Separation and Divorce or Death of a Spouse: Property Division
This resource explains the basic rules for property division between separating married spouses, their rights and obligations with respect to the matrimonial home, and what happens to property if one spouse dies. It also explains the different situation of common-law spouses. There are sections on responsibility for debts, division of CPP credits, and written agreements. The publication closes with detailed information on where to find legal assistance.
Separation and Divorce: Child Custody, Access, and Parenting Plans
When parents separate or divorce, they have to put in place a parenting plan covering where the children will live, how much time the children will spend with each parent, and who will make major decisions about raising the children. This publication discusses different custody and access arrangements, how to get help to work out a parenting plan, and how judges and arbitrators make these decisions if the parents cannot agree. The publication closes with detailed information on where to find legal assistance.
Separation and Divorce: Child Support
When parents separate or divorce, issues about how to pay the expenses of raising their children arise. This publication discusses who has a legal responsibility to pay child support, as well as how to calculate the basic amount to be paid and other factors that can affect the amount of support, such as the child’s living arrangements and special expenses. The publication also explains how to enforce payment of child support and has a section about parents on social assistance. It closes with detailed information on where to find legal assistance.
Separation and Divorce: Spousal Support
This publication looks at spousal support for married or common-law partners who are divorcing or separating, including the factors that affect whether spousal support must be paid, in what amount, and for how long. It also contains information about spouses who are on social assistance, and how to enforce payment of support. It closes with detailed information on where to find legal assistance.
*This Publications contains general legal information for people in Ontario, Canada. It is not intended to be used as legal advice for a specific legal problem.