Vaughan Parental Rights Lawyer 

Protecting Your Relationship With Your Children

When parenting breaks down after separation or divorce, it can feel like everything is at risk, especially your time with your children and your say in their lives. If you are facing a parenting dispute in Vaughan, you do not have to navigate Ontario family law on your own.

Feldstein Family Law Group P.C. is a family law firm that has helped parents across Ontario since 1994. Our team focuses on family law, including parenting time, decision making responsibility, child support, spousal support, division of property, separation agreements, and parental child abduction. We work with mothers and fathers who want to understand their rights and make thoughtful decisions for their children.

From our Vaughan office and other locations in the region, we strive to provide clear guidance and practical strategies. Our goal is to help you protect your parenting role and move forward with arrangements that are fair, realistic, and focused on your children’s best interests.

To speak with our experienced Vaughan parental rights lawyers, call us at (905) 581-7222 or contact us online today. 

How We Support Parents’ Rights

Parents usually contact us when something significant has changed, or is about to change, in their children’s lives. You might be worried about a proposed new parenting schedule, a co-parent who is suddenly limiting your time, or important decisions about school, health care, or activities being made without you. Some parents reach out because conflict has been growing for months and they feel stuck.

When you meet with our team, we take time to understand your family’s history and your children’s needs. We look at who has been caring for the children, how decisions have been made in the past, and what is happening now. This helps us identify realistic options that respect your rights as a parent and reflect how your family actually functions.

Our lawyers work with parents in Vaughan and throughout Ontario in several ways. We help negotiate and draft parenting plans and separation agreements, we advise on your options before you make big decisions, and we represent clients in court when that becomes necessary. Our approach is to seek solutions that support your children’s stability and safety, while also giving you a meaningful role in their lives.

Feldstein Family Law Group P.C. has focused on family law since 1994, so parenting disputes are familiar territory for us. Led by founder Andrew Feldstein and a dedicated group of family law lawyers, we draw on many years of experience with Ontario parenting cases. Our commitment to public education through the Ask Andrew Show reflects how we explain complex family law issues in clear, understandable language for our clients as well.

Understanding Your Rights As A Parent

Knowing your rights is an important first step when you are facing a parenting dispute. In Ontario, the law focuses on the best interests of the child, not on labels like “custody” that many parents may remember from the past. Today, courts and agreements usually address two key concepts, decision making responsibility and parenting time.

Decision making responsibility refers to who has legal authority to make major decisions about a child’s health, education, religion, and significant activities. Parenting time refers to when a child is in the care of each parent, including overnights, holidays, and regular weekly routines. These arrangements can take many forms, from one parent having most of the time, to more equal schedules where children spend significant time in both homes.

Ontario courts generally encourage children to have a close relationship with both parents, where that is safe and appropriate. When judges or decision makers consider proposed parenting arrangements, they typically look at the child’s needs, the history of care, the ability of each parent to meet those needs, and the level of conflict between the parents. No single factor decides the outcome in every case, and each family’s situation is assessed on its own facts.

Informal patterns can also influence future arrangements. For example, if one parent has been making most of the decisions or providing most of the care for a long period, that history may be taken into account. This is one reason why getting legal advice early can be so important. Our team can walk you through how Ontario family law applies to your circumstances so you can make informed choices rather than reacting in the moment.

Steps To Protect Your Parenting Role

When conflict with a co-parent increases, it is common to feel overwhelmed or pressured to make quick decisions just to stop the arguing. Acting on impulse can sometimes harm your legal position or set a pattern that is difficult to change later. Taking some practical steps now can help you protect your parenting role while you seek legal advice.

Helpful steps you can take right away:

• Keep a simple record of your involvement with your children, such as time spent, activities you attend, and important decisions you discuss or make.
• Save key written communications with the other parent, especially messages about parenting schedules, missed time, or disagreements about major decisions.
• Try to keep conversations about the children focused and calm, and avoid making threats or statements in anger that could be used out of context later.
• Continue to meet your existing responsibilities, such as support payments or agreed schedules, as much as you reasonably can.
• Speak with a family law lawyer before agreeing to significant permanent changes to parenting time or decision making, especially if those changes seem unfair or rushed.

These steps are not about “building a case” in a negative way. They help create a clear picture of what life with your children looks like, which can be important if disagreements continue. Our lawyers work with parents to review these details and discuss how they might affect possible parenting plans or court outcomes.

Early advice does not mean you are committing to a long legal battle. It means you understand your options and the possible impact of any decisions you are thinking about. We can help you prepare for discussions with the other parent, participate in negotiation or mediation, or, if needed, bring your concerns before the court that serves Vaughan and the surrounding communities.

Complex Parenting Issues We Handle

Some parenting disputes go beyond everyday schedule changes and become much more complex. You might be facing serious allegations that could affect your time with your children, or you may have concerns about the other parent’s ability to provide safe care. In other situations, one parent might want to move to another community, which can drastically change what parenting time looks like.

Relocation cases can be particularly challenging. A proposed move from Vaughan to another part of Ontario, or beyond, often raises questions about how children can maintain meaningful relationships with both parents. Courts look closely at the reasons for the move, the impact on the children, and whether alternative arrangements can preserve strong connections. Our team helps parents understand what information is relevant and what options might exist in these situations.

We also assist in matters involving parental child abduction, where a child is moved or kept in a way that is not permitted by an agreement or order. These cases can feel especially frightening and urgent. While the specific legal steps depend on whether the move is within Ontario, elsewhere in Canada, or international, our firm’s long history in family law means we have worked with these issues before and can explain potential paths forward.

High conflict parenting disputes may involve repeated breaches of agreements, serious communication problems, or ongoing disputes about many aspects of a child’s life. In these cases, structure and clarity can be very important. We work to develop detailed parenting plans and, when necessary, seek court orders that provide more certainty about schedules and decision making. Because Feldstein Family Law Group P.C. has multiple offices across Ontario, including Vaughan, we are well placed to assist parents whose matters involve more than one community or require ongoing attention over time.

To speak with our experienced Vaughan parental rights lawyers, call us at (905) 581-7222 or contact us online today. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Do mothers or fathers have stronger rights in Ontario?

Court decisions in Ontario do not give automatic preference to mothers or fathers. Parenting decisions are based on the best interests of the child, including needs, history of care, and each parent’s ability to meet those needs. Our team can help you understand how these factors may apply to your family.

What should I do if my ex limits my parenting time?

If your parenting time is being reduced or refused, try to stay calm and keep clear records of what is happening. Avoid confrontations in front of the children. It is usually wise to get legal advice promptly so you can understand your options and respond in a measured way.

How quickly can you help in an urgent parenting dispute?

When parenting issues become urgent, such as sudden withheld access or an unexpected move, we work to speak with you as soon as reasonably possible. The legal steps available depend on your situation, but early contact helps us assess whether urgent court relief or other action should be considered.

What happens at my first meeting with your firm?

At an initial meeting, we usually ask you to describe your family, your children’s routines, and what has led to the current dispute. We explain the main legal concepts that apply and discuss possible paths forward. You have the chance to ask questions and consider your next steps.

Can you help if the other parent wants to move away?

We regularly advise parents dealing with proposed moves that would significantly change parenting time. We review the history, the reasons for the move, and the impact on the children. Then we explain your options under Ontario law and work with you on a plan to address the relocation request.

Talk To Our Vaughan Family Law Team

Parenting disputes affect your daily life and your relationship with your children. You do not have to make important decisions about your parental rights in isolation. Speaking with a parental rights lawyer Vaughan can give you a clearer picture of where you stand and what steps may best support your children.

Since 1994, Feldstein Family Law Group P.C. has focused on family law across Ontario, including serving parents in Vaughan. Our team works to understand your family’s unique circumstances, explain your options in plain language, and pursue fair, practical outcomes. When you are ready to talk about your situation, we are here to listen and help you plan a way forward.

To speak with our experienced Vaughan parental rights lawyers, call us at (905) 581-7222 or contact us online today.