How the COVID-19 Pandemic Affected Family Life — and Family Law

A stress test for families

Lockdowns compressed work, school and family life into one address, and the strain showed. Our office saw a sharp rise in calls about separation and divorce during 2020 — a pattern reported across the profession. Financial pressure, health anxiety and lost routines exposed cracks in many relationships.

Parenting arrangements under disruption

Existing parenting schedules met a world of closed schools and quarantine rules. Ontario courts made one principle clear early: existing orders remain presumptively in force, and a public health crisis is not a reason to withhold a child from the other parent absent genuine, evidence-based risk.

The lasting lesson for separation agreements is to build in how parents will handle disruptions — illness protocols, remote-schooling decisions and make-up time — rather than assuming calm conditions forever.

Support when incomes changed overnight

Layoffs and business closures pushed many payers to seek changes to child and spousal support. The framework did not change: a material change in circumstances must be shown, temporary dips rarely justify permanent changes, and obligations continue until a new order or agreement replaces them. Documenting income honestly — including government benefits — proved decisive in these cases.

What changed permanently in Ontario family courts

• Virtual and hybrid hearings became a normal part of family procedure, cutting travel and waiting time for routine steps
• Electronic filing and electronic document exchange replaced counter filing for most documents
• Remote commissioning and virtual witnessing options matured, making agreements and affidavits faster to complete
• Consultations by video became standard — our office continues to offer Google Meet consultations to this day