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Find out what your options are, what it will cost, and how long your case might take.
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Facing divorce brings real concerns that keep you up at night. You’re thinking about how assets will be divided, whether you’ll keep the family home, and what parenting arrangements will look like. If you’re worried about affording a lawyer or how long this process will take, those concerns make sense.
You do not have to sort through all of this alone. At Nussbaum Law, we work with people across Toronto who are dealing with the same questions. We explain your options, tell you what to expect at each step, and handle the legal work so you can focus on what comes next.
Any questions? We are here to help!
Need a lawyer for divorce? Your spouse may already be planning their next move. A free consultation gives you the information you need to protect yourself and your family.
When your spouse lives abroad, your marriage happened in another country, or your assets are spread across borders, divorce gets more complex. You need lawyers who know how to divide foreign property, enforce orders internationally, and confirm your divorce is valid in Canada. These cases demand planning and experience. We've handled them dozens of times successfully.
Same-sex couples in Toronto follow the same divorce laws as any other spouse, but may face specific questions about property division, support, or marriages performed outside Canada. A same-sex divorce lawyer who understands these issues can help you work through them. If your marriage began abroad or involves cross-border assets, learn more about same-sex divorce in Ontario and how courts handle your situation.
Canada follows a no fault divorce system, so you do not need to prove misconduct to end a marriage. Most divorces move forward after one year of separation. Many people ask if cheating affects property or support. In Ontario, adultery and cruelty rarely change how assets are divided or support is set. A no fault divorce lawyer in Toronto can explain how this applies to you.
Learn more about a no-fault divorce
A joint divorce lets both spouses file together as co-applicants rather than one party filing against the other. No designated respondent is needed, and separate lawyers may not be required. When both parties agree, a joint application in Ontario typically moves faster, costs less, and remains less adversarial while giving equal input on the final filing.
Learn more about a joint divorce
High-conflict divorce involves more than disagreement. It includes ongoing hostility, manipulation, parental alienation, or situations where one spouse refuses to negotiate entirely. When domestic violence or coercive control is present, the stakes increase significantly. A high-conflict divorce lawyer provides direct, measured representation that protects you and your children from aggressive tactics while pursuing clear outcomes through litigation when negotiation fails.
Learn more about divorce involving conflict
You know what you have built and what it will take to protect it. A high net worth divorce involves trusts, business holdings, and tax consequences that call for careful analysis of valuation dates and after-tax outcomes. When decision fatigue sets in, having lawyers who regularly handle substantial asset division brings the clarity and protection your situation needs.
Learn more about divorce involving significant assets
When one spouse has lived beyond their means, sudden spending appears, or personal debt sits in one name, you need lawyers who know how divorce debt is actually treated. We identify disclosure gaps, separate legal responsibility from equalization, and protect you from lifestyle debt becoming your shared liability.
Get help with divorce debt
Property division raises questions you did not expect. What counts as property? Who is responsible for joint credit cards and lines of credit? Could you be forced to sell? As a property division lawyer in Toronto, we sort through debts, liabilities, and post-separation spending so you know exactly where you stand.
Get help with division of property
Worrying about housing costs, downward mobility, or being judged for time spent raising a family is understandable. These concerns deserve attention, not dismissal. As a spousal support lawyer in Toronto, we examine your finances carefully and consider options like lump sum spousal support when it provides stability. Whether paying or receiving, the details matter.
Get help with spousal support
Family businesses, professional practices, and closely held corporations require careful valuation during divorce. Our family lawyers in Toronto work with qualified valuators to assess ownership interests, review shareholder agreements, and determine what portion qualifies as divisible property. What many business owners do not realize is that the increase in value during the marriage, not necessarily the entire business is often what gets divided. The goal is accurate valuation that respects both the business and each spouse's contributions.
Divorce affects your taxes in ways that are easy to miss. Capital gains on property transfers, RRSP rollovers, and how spousal and child support payments are taxed all change your final outcome. We structure settlements with these tax rules in mind so you keep more of what you have earned.
Learn how taxes affect divorce
When your ex underreports income or disputes Section 7 expenses, you need a child support lawyer who will push back. We dig into the real numbers, apply the Federal Guidelines correctly, and fight for calculations that actually support your children. If support needs to change later, we handle modifications too.
Get help with child support issues
Barry Nussbaum
JD, MBA, Senior Lawyer
Barry Nussbaum fights for clients facing divorce in Ontario and New York, where he is a member of both Bars. He handles spousal support disputes, property division, and separation agreements with the financial insight that comes from his combined JD/MBA from Osgoode Hall and the Schulich School of Business. When complex assets are at stake, Barry advocates for outcomes that protect what his clients have built.
Clear answers from family divorce lawyers to help you understand the fees involved, what happens at each stage, and how long the process typically takes.
Divorce lawyer fees in Toronto typically range from $1,500 to $4,500 for uncontested cases and $5,000 to $15,000+ for contested divorces. Hourly rates run between $250 and $450 depending on lawyer experience. Beyond legal fees, budget for:
The uncontested divorce cost stays lower when both spouses agree and paperwork is straightforward. Contested divorce cost increases with asset complexity, children involved, and how cooperative your spouse is. Knowing these numbers upfront helps you plan and avoid surprises. A free consultation can give you a clearer estimate based on your specific situation.
Yes, hiring a divorce lawyer in Toronto protects your financial interests and legal rights from costly mistakes. Without representation, you risk:
Ontario law allows self-representation, but family law involves Federal Child Support Guidelines, Spousal Support Advisory Guidelines, and equalization rules that are easy to get wrong. The cost to fix errors often exceeds what you would have paid to hire a divorce lawyer from the start. Getting it right the first time gives you one less thing to worry about during an already difficult time.
An uncontested divorce in Toronto typically takes four to six months from filing to receiving your Certificate of Divorce. The divorce timeline includes:
Having a signed separation agreement ready before filing speeds things up. Accurate paperwork prevents rejections that add weeks. If you are ready to start, a free consultation can confirm whether your case qualifies for this faster path.
Ready to Talk About Your Situation?
– Barry Nussbaum, JD, MBA, Senior Lawyer
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