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Divorce Lawyer in Mississauga
A divorce is the legal process which terminates a marriage. Divorces in Canada are governed by the Divorce Act, which outlines the laws regarding divorce. the laws related to child support, custody and access for children of the marriage and the laws related to spousal support for married spouses. Another issue that is governed by the province in which you live is that of the division of marital property.
Whether your divorce is complicated – involving issues of support, property division and parenting – or simple, the process is complex. Many documents must be filed to complete even the most straightforward, uncontested divorce and very specific procedural rules must be followed. At Rose Family Law, we recommend that, at a minimum, anyone seeking a divorce should have an initial consultation with a lwyer to receive a legal opinion regarding his or her rights and obligations. Our competent Mississauga divorce lawyers bring intensive experience and dedicated client support to those facing this often stressful and difficult legal process.
Ensure that your rights are protected and best interests are pursued in your Ontario divorce. Discuss your needs with one of our capable lawyers by booking your initial appointment online or at (905) 367-0134.

More About Divorce in Mississauga and the GTA
While obtaining a divorce in and of itself can be straightforward, a court order is always required. Sometimes, parties settle issues on their own, such as custody, access and support, and only apply to the court to obtain a divorce. Those cases, called “uncontested divorces,” are straightforward and relatively inexpensive. However, it is important to be fully aware of the impact a divorce can have on your rights. It is advisable to obtain legal advice from a lawyer before obtaining a divorce.
A divorce will not be granted unless you have been separated from your spouse for at least one year or you have established one of the other bases for a breakdown of the marriage. These other bases include adultery or mental or physical cruelty. If you are able to prove adultery or cruelty as the reason for your divorce, the court may grant a divorce without the need for the one-year separation rule. However claims of cruelty cannot be frivolous. They must be substantial making cohabitation an intolerable prospect for the affected spouse.
If you have already been separated for at least a year, an application for divorce can usually be completed within four to six months if it does not carry other claims, such as for child custody or access, support, or division of property.
You may be considered to be living separate and apart while continuing to live in the same home, although it will depend on the facts of your case. Generally, the courts require clear evidence that spouses no longer maintain a spousal relationship when continuing to reside in the same home. If you are not sure about whether you would be considered separated in your circumstances, we can assist you in making this determination.
If your application includes other claims, the time that it takes to complete the case will depend on how complicated the issues are and whether you and your spouse can agree on all or some of the issues.
Courts may not grant a divorce before the other issues have been decided. For example, if you have children, a court will not grant a divorce until you have shown that you have made adequate child support arrangements.
Mississauga Child Support FAQS
Every parent has a legal duty to support their dependent children. This includes parents who are separated, divorced, or who have never lived together. A parent can be the birth mother or father, an adoptive parent, or sometimes a stepparent.
A stepparent is someone who has treated their spouse’s children as members of their own family. It does not matter if the spouses were legally married to each other or living common-law. But the more time that has passed since the stepparent had an ongoing relationship with the child, the less likely it is that the court will order the stepparent to pay child support. This is especially true if their social and emotional relationship with the child has ended.
More than one parent could have a legal duty to pay child support for the same child. For example, if a child’s birth parent and stepparent separate, the other birth parent and the stepparent might both have to pay support for the child.
A biological father has a legal duty to support his child financially. This is true even if he was never married to, lived with, or had an ongoing relationship with his child’s mother. If a man denies that he is the biological father, a court can give him a chance to have a blood or DNA test to find out. If he refuses, a court may assume that he is the biological father.
Canada has established Federal Child Support Guidelines that provide a formula for determining appropriate support payments. These guidelines are based on the number of children to be supported, the province in which the paying parent resides, and his or her yearly income prior to taxes. Information is also provided as to how special circumstances or expenses may affect support payment amounts.
The amount of child support is generally based on these Guidelines unless the parents agree to something different. Parents who reach an out-of-court agreement about support do not have to apply the Guidelines. But they should look at the Guidelines before deciding how much support will be paid. If they do not apply the Guidelines, their agreement should say why not. If the court is later asked to consider the amount of support, the judge can change the amount to reflect the Guidelines.
The Child Support Guidelines have a Child Support Table for each province and territory. The Table shows the monthly amounts of support to be paid, based on the “gross income” of the payor parent and the number of children being supported. Gross income means before taxes and most other deductions. It is usually the amount on line 150 of the parent’s income tax return.
In simple cases, the Table determines how much money will be paid. In more complicated cases, the Table is used as the starting point for deciding the amount of support.
The Child Support Table for each province and territory varies. If both parents live in Ontario, the Ontario Table applies. If the payor parent lives outside of Canada and the other parent in Ontario, the Ontario Table applies. If the payor parent lives in another Canadian province or territory, the Table for that province or territory applies.
Sometimes a judge will not accept the stated income of the payor parent. Instead, the judge may use an income amount that is reasonable based on factors such as the parent’s work history, past income, and education. The judge will then apply the Table to that income.
A judge might do this if the parent:
- fails to provide the required income information,
- is unemployed or underemployed on purpose, or
- is self-employed or working “under the table,” and there is reason to believe the parent does not report all of his or her income.
Payor parents are required to provide detailed information about their income within 30 days after a support application is made. If the income of the other parent is also considered when determining support, that parent must provide the same information.
Examples of information that must be provided include:
- income tax returns,
- statements of earnings from employers,
- financial statements if the parent owns a business, and
- notices of assessment and reassessment.
If support is ordered by the court, the parent who had to provide financial information must update this information if the other parent asks. The other parent can only ask for an update once a year.
If support is included in a separation agreement, it is a good idea for the parent receiving support to make sure the agreement says the other parent must update their financial information each year.
Some parents are able to work out a support agreement on their own. They can use the Child Support Guidelines to see how much support a judge might order. It is recommended that one of the parents has a lawyer put the agreement in writing and that the other parent uses his or her own separate lawyer to review it. That way parents can ensure that the agreement says what they meant and that it protects their rights and their children’s rights.
Parents who cannot agree about support payments should get legal help. Each parent should hire a separate lawyer. The lawyers may be able to negotiate support terms that both parents accept. If not, they can go to court and ask a judge to decide. The judge will make a court order saying how much child support must be paid.
An Ontario government office called the Family Responsibility Office (FRO) can enforce support payments. The court automatically files all support orders with the FRO. Separation agreements can also be filed there if they have been filed with the court. The FRO tells the payor parent to make all support payments to the FRO. When the FRO receives a payment, it sends a cheque to the other parent or deposits the money directly into that parent’s bank account.
If any payments are missed, the FRO takes action to enforce the order or agreement. To do this, the FRO needs up-to-date information about the payor parent. This includes his or her full name, address, social insurance number, place of employment or business, income, and any property owned. The parent receiving support puts this information on a “Support Deduction Information Form” which is available at the court. This form is given to the FRO along with the support order or agreement. It is important to update this form whenever the information changes.
Sometimes parents receiving support withdraw from the FRO because it is easier to receive payments directly from the other parent. If problems arise later, however, and they want to re-file with the FRO, they might have to pay a fee.
The FRO has different ways to collect unpaid support from payor parents. It can:
- have the payments automatically deducted from their wages or other income (for example: sales commissions, Employment Insurance, Workers’ Compensation, income tax refunds, severance pay, and pensions),
- register a charge (a lien) against their personal property or real estate,
- take money from (garnish) their bank account or garnish up to half of a joint bank account that they have with someone else, or
- make an order against anyone who is helping them hide income or assets that should go toward support.
The FRO can also put pressure on parents who do not make their support payments by:
- suspending their driver’s license,
- reporting them to credit bureaus so that it will be difficult for them to get loans, or
- cancelling their passports.
The FRO can help collect money from a payor parent who lives in Canada, the United States, or another country with which Ontario has an agreement. If Ontario does not have an agreement with the country where the payor parent lives, the FRO cannot help you collect support.
The FRO cannot change the amount that the order or agreement declares the payor parent must pay. If either parent thinks that a change in the situation justifies a modification in the support amount, they can try to get a new agreement or go to court to try to get the support order changed.
Our Practice Areas
Divorce & Separation
While obtaining a divorce can be straightforward, a court order is always required. Sometimes, people agree to issues like custody and support on their own and only apply to the court to obtain a divorce. Those cases, called uncontested divorces, take a relatively short amount of time and cost relatively little.
Custody & Access
Custody technically means the legal responsibility to make decisions for the child related to health, education and religion. Access is the right to be with the child at a given time. The basic issues that revolve around custody are: who will make the primary decisions relating to the child and who the child will live with.
Child Support
Common law spouses are often awarded less spousal support or are given support for a shorter duration than married spouses. The factors that affect entitlement to support and the amount of support are generally the same between married and common law spouses. Your lawyer will best be able to help you determine how much support you can claim.
Property Division
When a couple separates, the assets accumulated during the marriage must be classified as family assets, business assets or individual assets. Family assets must be divided equally between the two partners unless it would be unfair to do so. Often, people require legal representation to identify and divide the family assets, especially if the divorce is contested and or complex.
Marriage Contracts
Common law spouses can obtain the same rights as married spouses by preparing and executing a cohabitation agreement. A cohabitation or marriage agreement is a written document where the parties to the agreement can provide for division of property, support or any other matter upon death or the termination of the relationship.
Court Proceedings
Litigation is a traditional method of resolving Family Law disputes. It provides parties with a decision by a Family Court Judge about custody of children, access/time with and support for their children, spousal support for themselves and their property. Our litigation lawyers can commence a court application for you or defend you when you have been served with court documentation.
Mediation & Arbitration
When a couple separates, the assets accumulated during the marriage must be classified as family assets, business assets or individual assets. Family assets must be divided equally between the two partners unless it would be unfair to do so. Often, people require legal representation to identify and divide the family assets, especially if the divorce or separation is contested and or complex.
Separation Agreements
Common law spouses can obtain the exact same rights as married spouses by preparing and executing a cohabitation / marriage agreement. A cohabitation or marriage agreement is a written document where the parties to the agreement can provide for division of property, support or any other matter upon death or the termination of the relationship.
Spousal Support
Litigation is a traditional method of resolving Family Law disputes. It provides parties with a decision by a Family Court Judge about custody of children, access/time with and support for their children, spousal support for themselves and their property. Our litigation lawyers can commence a court application for you or defend you when you have been served with court documentation.
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