Family Law Lawyers in Ottawa, Ontario
Practice Areas
Navigate Your Ontario Family Law Matters With Empathetic Supportive Lawyers
Family law matters can be emotionally difficult to face in Ontario, but you don't have to face them alone. Francis Lawyers will strive to guide you through the process with compassion and strategic advocacy for a wide range of family law matters, including divorce, child custody and access now referred to as decision-making responsibility and parenting time, support (child and/or spousal), equalization, and property division.
Our experienced family law lawyers appreciate the sensitive nature of these issues and are committed to helping our clients navigate the legal process with empathy and expertise. Whether you're negotiating a separation agreement, litigating a child custody dispute, or seeking enforcement of a support order, you can trust Francis Lawyers to protect your rights and to work toward a resolution that fits you and your family.
Who handles your family law matter
Francis Lawyers has handled Ottawa legal matters since 1974, and four of our Ottawa family lawyers list family law in their practice on our team pages:
Marie-Luise Francis, Counsel, joined the firm in 1988. Her practice focuses on family law, real estate, and wills and estates administration. She represents clients in contested and uncontested divorce and separation proceedings, and prepares marriage, cohabitation and separation agreements. Services in English, French and German.
Paige Smith, Associate, practises family law and has worked on several high-conflict family law files involving division of property and decision-making responsibility and parenting time.
Baljinder Kaur Basi, Partner, practises real estate, wills and estates, and family law. Services in English, Punjabi and Hindi.
Farhad Mehr, Managing Partner, handles family litigation and has appeared before the Ontario Court of Appeal and the Superior Court of Justice (including its Family branch).
Our family law services
Separation agreements: Ontario law lets two people who cohabited and are living separate and apart agree on property, support, decision-making responsibility and parenting time, and other matters (FLA s. 54). To be enforceable, the agreement must be in writing, signed by both parties and witnessed (s. 55(1)).
Child support: every parent must support an unmarried child who is a minor, in full-time education, or unable to withdraw from parental charge because of illness, disability or other cause, to the extent the parent is capable (s. 31(1)). Courts set child support under the child support guidelines (s. 33(11)).
Spousal support: every spouse must support themselves and the other spouse, in accordance with need, to the extent they are capable (s. 30). For support, "spouse" includes unmarried partners who cohabited continuously for at least three years, or in a relationship of some permanence if they are the parents of a child (s. 29).
Parenting disputes: we help parents resolve decision-making responsibility and parenting time, by agreement where possible (s. 54(d)) or in court. In a separation agreement, a court may disregard a parenting term if doing so is in the child's best interests (s. 56(1)).
Divorce: divorce often triggers property deadlines. A claim to equalize net family property can't be brought after the earliest of two years after the divorce, six years after separation, or six months after a spouse's death (s. 7(3)).
Inheritance protection: property (other than a matrimonial home) received by gift or inheritance from a third person after the marriage is excluded from net family property (s. 4(2), para. 1). The person claiming the exclusion has to prove it (s. 4(3)), so records matter.
Compassionate Legal Help
Our Ottawa family lawyers can help you with your:
Cohabitation agreement
Marriage agreement
Separation agreement
We can also help you with Ottawa family law disputes arising from:
Parenting disputes
Child support payment
Spousal support payment
Property division
How a family law matter moves forward
Consultation. You meet a lawyer, set out the issues and the documents needed. Bring financial records; in a property claim each party must disclose property, debts and liabilities at the date of marriage, the valuation date and the date of the statement (FLA s. 8).
Negotiation. Most matters start with lawyer-to-lawyer negotiation toward a written agreement. A domestic contract that deals with a matter covered by the Act generally prevails over the Act unless the Act provides otherwise (s. 2(10)).
Mediation. In a court application, the court may appoint a mediator the parties have chosen (s. 3(1)); mediation is also available outside court.
Court, if needed. If agreement isn't possible, we bring or defend an application. Courts can make support orders (s. 33), equalization orders (ss. 7, 9) and orders to preserve property while a claim is decided (s. 12).
Agreement or order. A signed, witnessed agreement (s. 55(1)) or a court order sets out the result. A support provision in a domestic contract can be filed with the court and then enforced as if it were a court order (s. 35).
Family law FAQs
Do common-law partners divide property the same way as married spouses?
No. Ontario's property-equalization rules in Part I of the Family Law Act apply to "spouses", which means people who are married (or in a void or voidable marriage entered in good faith) (FLA s. 1(1)). The wider definition that includes unmarried partners applies only to support (s. 29). Common-law partners should get advice on their own property rights.
Is there a deadline to claim equalization after separation?
Yes. An equalization claim can't be brought after the earliest of two years after a divorce or nullity judgment, six years after separation with no reasonable prospect of reconciliation, or six months after the first spouse's death (s. 7(3)). A court may extend some deadlines in limited cases (s. 2(8)).
Can a separation agreement be set aside?
It can. A court may set aside a domestic contract if a party failed to disclose significant assets, debts or liabilities, did not understand the nature or consequences of the contract, or otherwise under the law of contract (s. 56(4)).
Who can claim spousal support in Ontario?
A married spouse, or an unmarried partner who cohabited continuously for at least three years or in a relationship of some permanence as a parent of a child (s. 29). Support is based on need and on the other spouse's capacity to pay (s. 30).
General information about Ontario law as of October 2026, not legal advice. Every situation is different; speak with a lawyer about yours.
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Questions about your situation? Contact our Ottawa office at (613) 226-1011. Book a consultation: (613) 226-1011.