Divorce and separation are some of the most stressful situations a family can experience and family law is complex. This website provides general information. You are encouraged to contact a lawyer for professional legal advice and help with family law issues.

Learn more about the Government of Canada, Department of Justice Family Law

The Divorce Act- Bill C-78 explained and elaborated. Legislative changes to the Divorce Act related to Children’s Best Interest.Amendments to the Divorce Act, Bill C-78, explained in detail. Changes to Family Law rules. Changes to the Divorce Act came into force on March 1, 2021. Changes to federal support enforcement laws will come into force at different times over the next few years. Learn how these changes may affect you.

Learn more about the Divorce Act

Federal Child Support Guidelines [Registration 1997] Minister of Justice, pursuant to section 26.1a of the Divorce Actb, establishes the annexed Federal Child Support Guidelines. a S.C. 1997, c. 1, s. 11:b R.S., c. 3 (2nd Supp.)

The objectives of these Guidelines are: (a) to establish a fair standard of support for children that ensures that they continue to benefit from the financial means of both spouses after separation; (b) to reduce conflict and tension between spouses by making the calculation of child support orders more objective; (c) to improve the efficiency of the legal process by giving courts and spouses guidance in setting the levels of child support orders and encouraging settlement; and; (d) to ensure consistent treatment of spouses and children who are in similar circumstances.

Learn more about Federal Child Support Guidelines

This child support table lookup will help you find the base amount of child support. Read the Step-by-Step Guide and the Table Look-up Disclaimer for more details. The Guide offers instructions and worksheets that will help explain how to calculate child support amounts. It also has information on special or extraordinary expenses that may need to be added to the basic child support amount.

You may wish to ask a lawyer for advice about your situation. The base amount is often not the final child support amount to be paid. For example, if there are special expenses such as child care or if you share custody, the amount will likely be different.

Under the Federal Child Support Guidelines, the table amount is determined by: the number of children; the province or territory where the paying parent lives; and the paying parent’s before-tax annual income.

Learn more about the Federal Child Support Table Amounts

You can use this very quick Ontario child support calculator to determine the base amount of child support payments that may need to be paid. The child support calculator, Ontario can prove useful if you are a parent at the commencement of a family court action within the province of Ontario.

Ontario’s family court system is guided in part by two different pieces of passed legislation. Those laws are Ontario’s Divorce Act and the Family Law Act. The courts will write and pass orders based on the situation which you would fall under.

Determine your child support payments using the Ontario Child Support Calculator

Two family law professors {Carol Rogerson and Rollie Thompson} developed guidelines in an effort to make spousal support more predictable and consistent. The Spousal Support Advisory Guidelines suggest appropriate ranges of support in a variety of situations for spouses entitled to support. The guidelines do not provide advice on whether a spouse is entitled to support. In each case, entitlement to support depends on how the law applies to their situation.

The Spousal Support Advisory Guidelines are not law. However, judges often base their decisions about spousal support on the guidelines. Many family lawyers also use the guideline when helping clients to make decisions and set up spousal support agreements out of court. Tools have been developed to help professionals use the guidelines. 

Learn more about the Spousal Support Advisory Guidelines

The Office of the Children’s Lawyer, a branch of the Ministry of the Attorney General, delivers programs in the administration of justice on behalf of children under the age of 18 and with respect to their personal and property rights. Lawyers within the office represent children in various areas of law including child custody and access disputes, child protection proceedings, estate matters and civil litigation. Clinical investigators prepare reports for the court in custody/access proceedings and may assist lawyers who are representing children in such matters.

Learn more about the Office of the Children’s Lawyer (OCL)

A free series of customizable printable calendars to help parents plan their parenting time schedules.

Get access to Printable Calendars

AFCC is an interdisciplinary, international association of professionals dedicated to improving the lives of children and families through the resolution of family conflict. 

AFCC promotes a collaborative approach to serving the needs of children among those who work in and with family law systems, encouraging education, research and innovation and identifying best practices. It promotes a justice system in which all professionals work collaboratively through education, support, and access to services to achieve the best possible outcomes for children and families.

Learn more about the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts (AFCC)

William A. “Bill” Eddy is an attorney, therapist and mediator and the President of the High Conflict Institute. He provides consultations and training about managing high-conflict personalities to professionals, including attorneys, judges, mediators, mental health professionals and human resource professionals. He writes articles about divorce, families, and high conflict personalities.

Learn more about Bill Eddy | BIFF Responses

Divorce Magazine is the Internet’s leading divorce and separation resource site, providing information and advice about divorce law, divorce lawyers, family law, children and divorce, and other divorce-related issues as well as information on divorce professionals such as family lawyers and online divorce.

Subscribe to the Divorce Magazine

Kids In The Middle® (KITM) is a non-profit organization that helps children, parents and families thrive during and after divorce through counselling, education and support.

Learn more about Kids in the Middle

Our Family Wizard is a fee-based tool for managing difficult shared custody, joint custody and co-parenting relationships. It offers tools to help document parenting time and custody disputes, create parenting time schedules to avoid confusion, and manage all of your important family information with entry stamps to help keep accurate records.

Learn more about Our Family Wizard

The Ontario Bar Association is a bar association representing more than 16,000 lawyers, judges, notaries, law teachers, and law students from across Ontario. It is also a branch of the Canadian Bar Association. Approximately two-thirds of all practicing lawyers in Canada belong to the CBA.

Learn more about the Ontario Bar Association (OBA)

DocuSign is an exceptional application for on-line signatures. It allows you to sign documents anywhere from any device. Documents are encrypted and a complete audit trail is maintained. You are able to sign Email documents for instant signatures and return. 

Learn more about Document Signing On-Line (DocuSign)