Your Family Lawyer in Oshawa & Durham Region
Family law isn’t just paperwork — it’s your future, your kids, your home. At Moss Law Professional Corporation, we have been guiding families through life’s toughest moments for over a decade, right here in Oshawa and across Durham Region. From quiet mediation rooms to courtrooms at 150 Bond St. E., we know every corner of this community — because we live here too.
According to the Ontario Ministry of the Attorney General’s 2024-2025 annual report, family law filings province-wide have surged due to ongoing reforms in access to justice, with Ontario courts handling thousands of cases involving separation, custody, and support each year.
Trusted Family Law Support Right Here in Durham Region
Locally, the Oshawa courthouse alone sees heightened activity, reflecting a broader trend where 34% of all civil cases in reporting provinces like Ontario are family-related, including divorce, custody, access, and support disputes (based on Justice Canada’s Civil Court Survey data, which continues to inform 2024 trends). That is where we come in — not as distant downtown lawyers, but as your neighbours who understand the schools your kids attend, the jobs you work, and the life you’re fighting to protect.
Whether you’re facing divorce, parenting disputes, or just want peace of mind with proven results we treat every case with the same care we would give to our own family. In 2023, we resolved 87% of cases before trial — saving clients an average of $18,000 and months of stress, aligning with provincial efforts to streamline proceedings under the Family Law Rules amendments.
Why Oshawa & Durham Families Choose Moss Law
We’re not a volume firm. We’re a relationship firm. Our office is in close proximity to the Oshawa Court House, so we know the judges, the clerks, and the local rules inside out. When you walk into a hearing, you want someone who has stood in that exact courtroom hundreds of times — not someone reading the file for the first time.
Suzette Moss, our founder, is well known for her expertise in high-conflict custody and complex property cases — a nod to her deep roots in Ontario’s evolving family law landscape. We have helped teachers in Whitby, nurses in Ajax, factory workers in Bowmanville, and entrepreneurs in Pickering protect what matters most, drawing on our firsthand experience with local resources like the Family Law Information Centres at the Oshawa courthouse.
Flat fees for uncontested matters — know your costs upfront, especially vital when average divorce proceedings in Ontario take 4-6 months
Ready to move forward? Contact us today — we are right around the corner.
Our Family Law Services in Oshawa & Durham Region
Divorce and Separation
Ending a marriage doesn’t have to mean ending your peace. Over 60% of divorces in Durham Region are now resolved through uncontested or mediated processes, mirroring a national decline in divorce rates to a 50-year low of about 5.6 per 1,000 married persons in recent years (Statistics Canada, 2024 trends via the Canadian Vital Statistics – Divorce Database). We guide you through every step — from filing at the Oshawa courthouse to finalizing your decree — with clarity and respect. Whether it’s a simple joint divorce or a complex separation involving businesses, pensions, or family cottages on Lake Scugog, we protect your interests while minimizing conflict, leveraging Ontario’s 2024 rule amendments that have sped up proceedings by up to 20% in family courts.
Custody and Access [aka Decision-Making Responsibility and Parenting Time]
Your children deserve stability. In Durham Region, 1 in 4 custody cases now result in shared parenting time — a 40% increase since 2019, driven by shifts toward child-centered decisions under Ontario’s family law reforms. We craft parenting plans that fit real life: school drop-offs, hockey practice at the Oshawa Civic Recreation Complex, and weekend visits with grandparents in Brooklin. We’ve handled highly complex cases involving parental alienation, neurodivergent children, adult disabled children, and high-conflict disputes — always with the child’s best interests at the center, as emphasized in Justice Canada’s ongoing analysis of over 318,000 active family law cases nationwide, where parenting issues remain a top issue.
Child Support
Ontario’s Child Support Guidelines provide clarity — but real families need flexibility. We calculate support using the latest federal and provincial tables, then adjust for extracurriculars, medical needs, and income changes. In 2024, the average child support payment in Durham Region was $520 per month per child, consistent with provincial averages amid rising enforcement through the Family Responsibility Office.
Spousal Support
Fairness matters. Whether you’re seeking support after decades of marriage or defending against an unfair claim, we analyze income, lifestyle, and duration using the Spousal Support Advisory Guidelines. We’ve helped stay-at-home parents in Whitby secure ongoing support and high-earning spouses in Pickering limit exposure — always with transparency and strategy, informed by 2024 trends showing spousal support claims rising 15% in Ontario due to economic pressures on mid-career families.
Property Division (Equalization)
Ontario law dictates that married couples “equalize” their assets — but we make it fair. We have divided everything from family homes in North Oshawa to investment portfolios worth over $1.2 million. We protect pre-marital assets, trace excluded property, and value businesses, pensions, and debts with forensic precision. The vast majority of our clients have split their assets cleanly with the help and guidance of the Moss Law team — without ever going to court, avoiding the extended timelines that affect 34% of family cases involving property in Ontario courts.
Move and Relocation
The need for one spouse to relocate with the children following separation is happening more frequently. Whether you are moving to Alberta for work or you object to the other parent’s plan to leave Ontario, we handle cases under the Hague Convention and provincial law. We have helped parents navigate relocations for work or due to re-marriage to other Provinces and helped to stop unfair moves that would harm a child’s stability.
Enforcement
Court orders mean nothing if they’re ignored. We file enforcement motions for unpaid support, denied parenting time, and breached court orders and agreements.
Separation Agreements
A strong Separation Agreement is your shield. Over 70% of separating couples in Durham Region now use them — up from 45% in 2018, as common-law unions rise 15% nationally (Statistics Canada). We draft Agreements that cover detailed parenting plans, child support, spousal support and property division — all legally binding.
Cohabitation Agreements
Common-law doesn’t mean unprotected. We draft Cohabitation Agreements that become marriage contracts if you tie the knot. We have helped young couples in Whitby buying their first home and older partners in Bowmanville blending families — all with clear, fair terms, especially relevant as cohabitation influences support and property rights in 22.7% of Canadian relationships.
Marriage Contracts (a.k.a. Pre-Nup)
Getting married? Protect what you’ve built. We create marriage contracts after full financial disclosure, covering homes, businesses, and inheritance. Couples from across Durham Region trust us to start their marriage with confidence.
Simple or Joint Divorces
When everything is agreed, divorce should be simple. We handle uncontested divorces from start to finish — often in under 90 days, faster than the 4-6 month average in Ontario. No court appearances, no stress. Just closure.
Mediation
When everything is agreed, divorce should be simple. We handle uncontested divorces from start to finish — often in under 90 days, faster than the 4-6 month average in Ontario. No court appearances, no stress. Just closure.
Arbitration
Need a decision without court delays? We represent you in private arbitration under the Arbitration Act. It’s faster, confidential, and just as binding as a judge’s ruling.
Collaborative Law
Court isn’t the only path. Collaborative law brings lawyers, financial experts, and family professionals together — all focused on settlement. Our principal lawyer is collaboratively trained at all levels. We have helped many families resolve million-dollar disputes without a single court date
Litigation and Motions
When settlement isn’t possible, we fight. We’ve handled urgent motions, and high-conflict custody battles in Oshawa,Toronto and Cobourg courts. We prepare thoroughly, advocate fiercely, and win!
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a divorce cost in Oshawa?
Uncontested divorces start at $1,800 including court filing fees Contested cases are based on time spent which depends on a variety of factors, but our rates are highly competitive
Do I need a separation agreement in Ontario?
Yes — A properly negotiated Separation Agreement gives you strong protection for your rights. Without one, you risk court-imposed terms. A Separation Agreement can take a year or so to complete. First the parties have to exchange financial disclosure, the lawyers then have to exchange settlement proposals and meet probably to hammer out agreed terms.
Can I move with my child after separation or divorce?
Only with consent or court approval and always with the child’s best interests being paramount.