Laura Barlas

The court determined the final parenting time and decision-making responsibility for the child of Yevgen Mokhov and Nataliya Ratayeva.

The court ordered a 2-2-5-5 parenting schedule during the school year and a week-about schedule in the summer, finding this arrangement in the best interests of the child.

The court also allocated final decision-making responsibility over health, religion, and significant extracurricular activities to the father, and over education to the mother, each after consultation with the other parent.

The decision was based on a detailed review of the statutory best interests factors and the evidence of both parties and the Office of the Children’s Lawyer.

A motion to change a 2014 final custody and access order concerning a child with ADHD, anxiety disorder, and learning disability.

Both parents sought modifications: the father sought increased parenting time from four consecutive days monthly to ten consecutive days monthly plus extended summer access; the mother sought sole custody and reduction of the father's access to two overnights monthly.

The court found material changes in circumstances warranting a fresh inquiry into the child's best interests.

The court awarded sole custody to the mother while significantly increasing the father's access to alternating weekends and midweek visits while residing in Toronto, with strict conditions prohibiting firearm exposure and excessive physical exercise.

The court found the mother had undermined the father's relationship with the child through exaggerated allegations and unsubstantiated child protection complaints, while the father had exercised poor judgment in some parenting decisions but was not abusive.

A custody and access trial involving a 13-year-old child, Tamari McLeod, born to unmarried parents.

The mother sought sole custody and child support; the father sought sole custody.

The Office of the Children's Lawyer supported the father's position based on the child's consistent, strong, and independent wishes to reside primarily with her father.

The court found that while both parents were capable of meeting the child's needs, the child's clear preferences, combined with the father's more stable parenting style and the mother's use of physical discipline and yelling, warranted granting primary custody to the father.

The court also addressed child support arrears and prospective support obligations.

A custody and access application brought by the mother against the father regarding their daughter Emily.

The mother sought sole custody, no access to the father, child support, a restraining order, and permission to travel and obtain identity documents.

The father cross-applied for custody or alternatively reasonable access.

The court found no credible evidence of sexual or physical abuse by the mother's new partner despite the father's allegations.

The court granted sole custody to the mother, denied all access to the father, rescinded child support arrears, and imposed a restraining order.

The decision turned on the father's uncontrolled anger, hostile behavior, and unreliability as a witness.