As we continue to monitor the ongoing impacts of COVID-19, we are taking every precaution to ensure the health and safety of our staff and clients. While our office continues to remain open, we may be working remotely at times and/or have varied hours of operation. We do encourage meetings by phone or video conferencing where possible. However, for those who prefer, we are accepting in-person appointments at our office again, but using strict safety protocols.
If you have been exposed to a person who has been positively identified as having – or is suspected to have COVID-19, if you or a member of your household have been travelling in the last 14 days anywhere outside of the Province of Ontario or, if you are experiencing any symptoms of illness, we would ask that you not attend our office and instead contact us to make alternative arrangements.

We continue to do our part to help reduce the spread of COVID-19.

For more information contact us today at 905-669-7577.

We help you thrive through and beyond a separation and divorce.

Our lawyers have an excellent record in winning court cases and negotiating agreements (settlements) for our clients in the areas of:

If you and your spouse are parents, children related issues of custody and access will likely be the most difficult ones to resolve. However, more than 98% of custody issues that go to court are settled by the parents before trial, often with the help of various professionals like the lawyers, counselors, mediators, or a representative of the Office of the Children’s Lawyer.

Child Access or visitation rights occur when the children who primarily live with one parent visit the other parent. Even if a parent does not have custody of their children, that parent can have access visits on a regular timetable to ensure their relationship with the child is maintained.

Each parent has an obligation to provide child support, and that obligation is apportioned in accordance with the Federal Child Support Guidelines, which were introduced in 1997 in an attempt to simplify child support issues.

This area of the law has undergone major changes in the last two decades, and the pace of that change has quickened in the last five years alone. Spousal support rules and agreements are likely to continue undergoing significant reform over the coming years as circumstances change within the family unit and the economy.

A decree of divorce is an Order of the court stating that you are no longer legally married to your spouse. Getting a divorce decree can be a separate process from dealing with the other issues that arise from a marriage breakdown, or all the issues can be handled at the same time.

Domestic Contracts are signed by couples who want to agree upon a variety of issues at different stages of their relationships. The Family Law Act has various sections related to Domestic Contracts, of which there are three categories: cohabitation agreements, marriage contracts and separation agreements.

When a marriage or relationship breaks down, the parties’ assets have to be divided somehow. If you are legally married (including legally married same sex couples), the method for dividing assets between the spouses in Ontario is governed by the Family Law Act, unless you and your spouse have signed a valid agreement outlining a different process for division.

Zeidman Law Offices is a well-respected boutique law firm serving the Greater Toronto Area.

Our lawyers focus on getting the best results for you and/or your children in family law cases. If you face a separation or divorce, you need a lawyer with the strength to fight for you and knowledge of the law. But those mean little unless your lawyer also tells you like it is.

Service Areas:

Vaughan
Thornhill
Richmond Hill
Maple
Woodbridge
Concord
King City
Newmarket
Markham
Aurora
Peel
Durham
York Regions

Frequently Asked Questions

It would be a conflict of interest and contrary to Rules of Professional Conduct for one lawyer to represent both spouses in a separation or divorce case.

There is no requirement under Ontario law for either you or your spouse to be represented by a lawyer in a separation or divorce case. Each person is entitled to represent himself or herself. However, negotiating a separation agreement and/or going to court when you are not an expert in family law can prove to be extremely costly. There’s an old saying that only a fool has himself or herself as a client when going to court, and there is considerable truth in that saying. At the very least, you and your spouse should each have independent legal advice before finalizing any agreement between the two of you. Again, although this is not necessarily a legal requirement under Ontario law, each party getting independent legal advice is the smart thing to do, and it can help avoid mistakes that could cost you upwards of tens of thousands of dollars in the future.

It is impossible for lawyers to quote exactly the total costs of a person’s case early on, although often a ballpark figure can be given. Every case is different, and each case may bring a change in circumstances that would affect an initial quotation. After an initial meeting, your lawyer only has one side of the story and doesn’t know for sure the position of your spouse or the arguments he or she may present. Your case could start off as a simple matter and get more complicated as time goes on. However, you can expect to receive updates on how developments in your case will affect your total costs. Also, Zeidman Law Office provides its clients with guidelines you can use to keep your legal costs to a minimum.

If you are successful in court, the judge may award you costs against your spouse. The extent of the cost award will depend on many things, the most important of which usually is whether you made your spouse an offer to settle early on in the process and whether your success in court exceeds what you would have received had your spouse accepted that offer. The extent of the recover can also depend on whether you took any steps in the proceeding that lengthened or complicated matters.

Under certain circumstances, you are allowed to deduct all or a portion of your legal fees and disbursements from your income taxes. For example, fees associated with pursuing a spousal support award can be tax deductible. Contact one of our lawyers if you have specific questions, or speak to your accountant.

Zeidman Law Office provides its clients with guidelines you can use to keep your legal costs to a minimum. Some useful tips from our guidelines include the following:

  • prepare for telephone calls and meetings with your lawyer by reviewing your file and having all documents and information handy
  • when providing documents to your lawyer, make sure you have organized them first instead of paying for the law clerk to do it
  • focus on the legal issues when you are speaking with your lawyer; although other issues can be discussed, that’s not what you’re really paying for
  • provide your lawyer with the information he or she requests promptly
  • don’t make unnecessary calls to your lawyer or send numerous emails
  • don’t repeat information to your lawyer unless asked to do so

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