Custody &
Access Rights in Toronto
Protecting Your Relationship With Your Children.
Decision-making responsibility and parenting time arrangements should reflect what is genuinely best for your children — and protect your role as a parent. Legal Solutions Law Firm builds practical parenting plans and fights for fair custody and access outcomes.
Children's Law Reform Act & Divorce Act
Best Interests of the Child — The Only Standard That Matters
Ontario no longer uses the terms "custody" and "access." Under the amended federal Divorce Act (2021) and Ontario's Children's Law Reform Act, courts now speak in terms of "decision-making responsibility" (who makes major decisions about a child's health, education, and religion) and "parenting time" (the schedule of when a child is in each parent's care).
Every decision — whether negotiated between parents or decided by a judge — is governed by a single standard: the best interests of the child. Courts weigh the child's relationship with each parent, each parent's ability to provide stability and safety, any history of family violence, and the child's own views depending on their age and maturity.
Legal Solutions Law Firm helps parents secure parenting arrangements that genuinely reflect what is best for their children — while firmly protecting each parent's legitimate role in their children's lives.
We draft detailed, realistic parenting plans covering schedules, holidays, decision-making, and communication protocols.
When agreement isn't possible, we advocate firmly in court for arrangements that protect your relationship with your children.
We act quickly on urgent parenting issues, including safety concerns and unauthorized relocation attempts.
We handle motions to change existing parenting arrangements when circumstances materially change.
Real-World Scenarios
Common Parenting Time Scenarios
Every family's situation is different. These are some of the parenting arrangements we regularly help Toronto parents work through.
Shift-Work Parents Building a Custom Schedule
Where one or both parents work rotating or irregular shifts, a standard week-on/week-off schedule often doesn't fit. We draft custom schedules built around actual work rotations.
One Parent Wants to Relocate for a New Job
A parenting plan is renegotiated — or litigated — when a job opportunity requires a move that would affect the other parent's time with the children.
Grandparent Seeking Ongoing Contact
Where a relationship breakdown between parents has cut off a grandparent's contact with a grandchild, we help grandparents apply for parenting time in appropriate circumstances.
High-Conflict Co-Parents Needing Structure
Where communication between parents has broken down, a highly detailed parenting plan with a defined communication protocol reduces the need for repeated court involvement.
What We Handle
Custody & Access Matters We Handle
From cooperative parenting plans to high-conflict litigation, we handle every type of Toronto custody and access matter.
Our Approach
How We Handle Your Case
We discuss your parenting goals, your children's needs, and any urgent concerns — at no charge and no obligation.
We evaluate the current parenting arrangement, each parent's role, and any safety or stability concerns that apply.
We draft a detailed, realistic parenting plan addressing schedules, decision-making, holidays, and communication.
We negotiate directly with the other parent or their lawyer, using mediation where appropriate to reduce conflict.
Where agreement isn't possible, we bring or defend a parenting application, including urgent motions where required.
We remain available for future variations, enforcement, or new disputes as your children's needs evolve.
Plain Language Legal Guide
Custody & Access Rights — What You Need to Know
Decision-Making vs. Parenting Time
Decision-making responsibility covers major decisions — health care, education, religion, and significant extracurricular choices. It can be held solely by one parent or shared jointly, depending on the parents' ability to communicate and cooperate.
Parenting time is separate — it is the actual schedule of when a child is in each parent's care, including day-to-day decisions made while the child is with them. A parent can have equal decision-making authority without having equal parenting time, and vice versa.
How Courts Decide Best Interests
Courts consider the nature and strength of the child's relationship with each parent, each parent's ability to care for and meet the child's needs, the child's own views (weighted by age and maturity), any history of family violence, and each parent's willingness to support the child's relationship with the other parent.
No single factor is automatically decisive — courts weigh the full picture of the child's circumstances and each parent's capacity to provide stability.
Why a Detailed Parenting Plan Matters
A comprehensive parenting plan addresses far more than a basic weekly schedule — holidays, school breaks, birthdays, medical decisions, extracurricular enrollment, travel consent, and how disputes will be resolved going forward.
The more detailed and realistic the plan, the less likely it is to generate future conflict — which protects both parents and, most importantly, the children.
Relocation and Mobility Issues
A parent wishing to relocate with a child — whether across the province, the country, or internationally — generally must provide notice to the other parent and, if contested, obtain court approval or the other parent's consent.
Relocation disputes are among the most legally complex parenting matters, involving a specific best-interests test under the Divorce Act that weighs the reasons for the move against the impact on the child's relationship with the other parent.
Urgent Situations
Where a child's safety is genuinely at risk, or a parent is attempting to relocate a child without consent, urgent motions can be brought on an expedited basis to protect the child and preserve the status quo.
These situations require immediate legal action — do not wait to seek advice if you believe your child is at risk.
Grandparent & Third-Party Access
Ontario law also allows non-parents — including grandparents — to apply for contact or parenting time with a child in appropriate circumstances, though the best-interests standard applies equally to these applications.
We assist grandparents and other family members seeking to maintain meaningful relationships with children, as well as parents responding to such applications.
Know the Process
Where Your Case Is Heard — Toronto Courts
Custody and parenting matters can be heard at either the Ontario Court of Justice or the Superior Court of Justice, depending on whether other relief — such as a divorce or property division — is also being sought.
Ontario Court of Justice — Family Court
Child protection, custody, access, and child support matters may be heard at the Ontario Court of Justice. Since September 2024, new Toronto family cases are filed at the courthouse assigned to your provincial electoral district — either 47 Sheppard Avenue East or 311 Jarvis Street.
Superior Court of Justice (Family Branch) — 361 University Avenue
Divorce and property division (equalization of net family property) require the Superior Court of Justice, located at 361 University Avenue, which also houses the Criminal branch. The Superior Court can also hear custody, access, and support matters.
Protect Your Relationship With Your Children
Whether you are building a parenting plan or facing a contested custody dispute, your relationship with your children is worth fighting for properly. Free consultation — call today.
Why Legal Solutions
Why Choose Our Focused on Your Children
Custody and access matters are the most personally significant cases we handle — and the ones where careful strategy matters most. Ryan Manilla has represented parents in the Ontario Court of Justice and Superior Court of Justice for over 15 years.
We build parenting plans and litigation strategies designed to actually reflect your children's best interests, not just win an argument.
Client Testimonials
What Our Clients Say
I had a very positive experience with Legal Solutions Law Firm. Ryan represented me in a family court matter and provided excellent guidance and support throughout the entire process. He was professional, knowledgeable, and always took the time to answer my questions and explain everything clearly. Family court matters can be stressful, but Ryan helped make the process much easier and gave me confidence every step of the way. I truly appreciated his dedication, responsiveness, and commitment to achieving the best possible outcome. I highly recommend Legal Solutions Law Firm and Ryan to anyone looking for a compassionate and experienced family lawyer.
We tried to defend ourselves in civil court, but ultimately decided to hire Ryan — and it was the wisest decision we have made in the last two years of hell with our condo managers. Ryan and his team have been exceptional: swift, sharp, on the ball, and always asking the right questions while making the right arguments to move our case forward to the Superior Court.
Ryan did an outstanding job on my case. He was clear, professional, and always kept me informed. Thanks to his hard work, my charges were dropped. I’m very grateful and highly recommend him.
I wish I could add five more stars to show how happy we are with the legal services of Ryan J. Manilla and his team. They took charge of our legal matters, worked tirelessly on short notice, and delivered outstanding legal documents on time. Their teamwork, professionalism, patience, and understanding of our situation gave us tremendous peace of mind. Most importantly, we sleep better at night knowing that we are in good hands, with a legal team that has the expertise and compassion to handle sensitive matters with care.
I had a great experience working with Ryan at Legal Solutions. He is professional, responsive, and very knowledgeable. Any time I had questions, he got back to me quickly and provided practical advice. I wouldn’t hesitate to use him again.
I was going through anxiety not knowing what to expect with my case. Ryan explained everything simply and stood up for me at my hearing. I’m really thankful for his help!
I had such a stressful time trying to find legal help. I felt lost and hopeless when I got a notice to appear at the LTB. When I found Ryan, he stepped up and defended me. He’s knowledgeable about both the LTB and criminal law, and most importantly he’s tough! Exactly what I was looking for. I’m so glad I found him.
Ryan is a tough lawyer who defended us during a very difficult time. He helped me with a Landlord and Tenant Board issue. People told me to get a paralegal, but the ones I contacted either wouldn’t help or couldn’t communicate well in English. When I found Ryan, he explained the situation clearly and told me what to do. He showed up to the hearing tough and ready to go. I’m so glad I found him!
One of the best. Well poised, smart articulate. Know his stuff and one of the best lawyer out there to work with.
Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Serving Families Across Toronto and the GTA
From My Experience: The Best Plans Are the Detailed Ones
Over many years of custody and access work, I've seen the same pattern repeatedly: parenting plans that are vague on the details end up back in front of a judge within a year or two. Plans that address the specifics — who picks up on which holidays, how decisions get made when parents disagree — hold up far better.
What Surprises Clients Most
Clients are often surprised that "winning" custody isn't really the right way to think about it anymore. The legal framework is built entirely around the child's best interests, and the strongest cases are the ones that genuinely reflect a parent's capacity to support their child's relationship with both parents.
My advice to every parent going through this is the same: keep the focus on your children, document your involvement in their lives, and build a plan that is specific enough to actually work day-to-day. Call 416-274-2222 to discuss your situation.
Tools & Guides
Trying to work out a parenting schedule or whether you can vary an existing order? These free tools and guides can help:
Speak With a Custody & Access Lawyer Today
Whether you need a parenting plan or are facing a contested custody dispute, contact Legal Solutions Law Firm for a free, confidential consultation.