Family Lawyer in Pickering, Ontario

Family lawyers for Pickering

Our Ajax office sits close to the Pickering border, a short drive along Kingston Road or Highway 401 from most of Pickering. Clients from Bay Ridges, Amberlea, Liverpool, Duffin Heights and the new Seaton neighbourhoods meet us in person, or by video when that fits their schedule better.

A lot of Pickering families have one or both parents commuting into Toronto by car or GO Train. That affects parenting schedules, exchange times and who can realistically handle school pick-ups, so we build parenting plans around how your family actually lives rather than a standard template.

Family law services for Pickering clients

• Separation and divorce, including separation agreements and uncontested divorces
• Parenting time and decision-making responsibility and parenting plans
• Child and spousal support, including section 7 expenses
• Property division, equalization of net family property and the matrimonial home
• Motions to change existing orders and agreements
• Cohabitation and marriage contracts, and independent legal advice on agreements
• Muslim family law, including mahr and religious divorce

Newer homes, newer mortgages

Many Pickering couples bought recently, often in Seaton, Duffin Heights or other newer developments, sometimes with help from parents or with a pre-construction purchase that has not yet closed. Separating before or shortly after a closing raises questions that older files do not: who must close the purchase, what happens to the deposit, and whether a parent's contribution was a gift or a loan.

We look at the purchase documents, the mortgage commitment and the money trail, then advise on the options. Because our firm also practises real estate law, we can coordinate the closing, sale or transfer that your family law agreement calls for.

Where Pickering family cases are heard

Family cases for Pickering residents are heard at the Superior Court of Justice, Family Court (a Unified Family Court site) at the Durham Region Courthouse, 150 Bond Street East, Oshawa. This one court hears divorce, parenting, support, property and child protection matters. Most of Pickering is 25 to 30 minutes from the courthouse in Oshawa along Highway 401.

Before most first court dates, both parties must attend a Mandatory Information Program session. The first court event is usually a case conference, where a judge helps identify the issues, encourages settlement and makes procedural orders. We prepare your financial statement, conference brief and disclosure so that the conference achieves something.

Support when incomes are complicated

Child and spousal support depend on income, and income is not always a T4. If you or your spouse are self-employed, paid in commissions or bonuses, or own a corporation, the income for support purposes may be higher or lower than the tax return shows. We request the right disclosure, review it, and calculate support under the Child Support Guidelines and the Spousal Support Advisory Guidelines. See our child and spousal support guide.

Family law deadlines to know

• 6 years after separation, or 2 years after a divorce, whichever comes first, to claim an equalization of net family property (Family Law Act, s. 7(3)).
• 30 days to serve and file an Answer after being served with a family Application in Ontario.
• 60 days' written notice before a relocation that significantly affects a child's relationship with the other parent.

Exceptions apply. Speak with a lawyer about the deadlines in your case.

Legal Aid certificates for Pickering families

We accept Legal Aid Ontario certificates for eligible family law matters. If you have a certificate or think you may qualify, contact us and we will confirm whether we can take your file. Read our guide to Legal Aid for family law. We are a private firm and are not affiliated with Legal Aid Ontario.

How to get started

1. Call, WhatsApp or use the consultation form with a short description of your matter.
2. We run a conflict check before discussing details.
3. We book a consultation with a lawyer, in person in Ajax or by video.
4. If you proceed, you receive a written retainer or contingency agreement before work begins.
5. We send a document checklist and confirm next steps and deadlines.