Business Details
30 Years
experience
Your Trusted Family Law Partner in Ottawa
Ottawa Family Law has been dedicated to resolving family law matters for over 25 years, prioritizing process-driven solutions to achieve efficient outcomes. Our approach emphasizes clarity, cost-effectiveness, and client empowerment, ensuring individuals navigate separation and related legal challenges with confidence. We offer a free 30-minute consultation to guide clients through options such as mediation, collaborative law, and court proceedings. With extensive experience in divorce, parenting arrangements, child and spousal support, and property division, we provide tailored advice grounded in practicality.Our team values transparency, avoiding aggressive upselling while maintaining zealous advocacy. Client testimonials highlight our ability to simplify complex legal processes, foster comfort during emotional times, and deliver fair, straightforward agreements. We serve Ottawa and surrounding areas, committed to minimizing conflict and promoting amicable resolutions.
Services
Divorce
Parenting Arrangements
Child Support
Spousal Support
Property Division
Domestic Contracts
Annulments
Tax Issues
Details
- Year established: 1996
Highlights and features
- We have over 25 years of experience in family law.
- We implement a process-driven approach to minimize conflict.
- We provide free 30-minute consultations for initial guidance.
- Our team avoids aggressive upselling and prioritizes client needs.
- We offer transparent fee breakdowns and practical solutions.
What people say
Very helpful and took the time to listen
The firm is amazing
Fair prices
Keep things as simple
Clear, detailed and easy to understand
Services
Divorce
We guide clients through uncontested and contested divorce proceedings, focusing on minimizing conflict and costs. Our services include filing applications, negotiating terms, and addressing related issues like property division. With expertise in Canadian family law, we ensure compliance with legal requirements while prioritizing client well-being.
Parenting Arrangements
We help parents establish fair parenting schedules and decision-making responsibilities. Our approach emphasizes children's best interests, offering solutions for joint or sole custody, visitation rights, and dispute resolution. We draft agreements aligned with evolving legal standards and client needs.
Child Support
We calculate and negotiate child support payments using federal guidelines, considering income, custody arrangements, and special expenses. Our services include modifying existing orders and addressing retroactive claims, ensuring equitable outcomes for both parents and children.
Spousal Support
We advise on spousal support entitlement, duration, and amounts, applying legal frameworks like the Spousal Support Advisory Guidelines. Our services include mediation, court representation, and adjustments for changing circumstances, balancing fairness with client financial stability.
Property Division
We assist in equitable division of marital assets and debts, excluding pre-marriage property. Our services include valuing assets, calculating equalization payments, and resolving disputes, ensuring compliance with Ontario's Family Law Act while minimizing adversarial outcomes.
People
Darrin Clayton
Lawyer
Darrin Clayton has practiced family law for over 27 years, specializing in divorce, child support, and property division. He prioritizes process-driven solutions to reduce conflict and costs, offering transparent, client-focused representation.
Rachel Clayton
Senior Legal Assistant
Rachel Clayton manages office operations and client coordination, ensuring seamless support for legal processes. With extensive experience in family law administration, she provides efficient, detail-oriented assistance to clients and the legal team.
Lauren Rodger
Law Clerk
Lauren Rodger supports legal documentation and client communication, ensuring accuracy and compliance in family law cases. Her role includes preparing court filings and assisting with case management to streamline client services.
Erin Skinner
Administrative Assistant
Erin Skinner provides part-time administrative support, managing appointments, correspondence, and client inquiries. Her organizational skills ensure smooth day-to-day operations for the legal team and client interactions.
Questions
What is your approach to family law cases?
We prioritize process-driven solutions to minimize conflict, focusing on mediation and collaboration while ensuring zealous advocacy when needed.
Do you offer free consultations?
Yes, we provide a free 30-minute phone consultation to discuss your case and outline potential steps.
How are child support payments calculated?
We use federal child support guidelines based on income, custody arrangements, and special expenses to ensure fair calculations.
Can you help with spousal support disputes?
Yes, we advise on entitlement, duration, and amounts using legal frameworks like the Spousal Support Advisory Guidelines.
What areas do you serve?
We primarily serve Ottawa and surrounding regions, offering tailored family law services to local clients.
How do you handle property division?
We ensure equitable division of marital assets under Ontario law, excluding pre-marriage property while minimizing adversarial outcomes.
