Tricia Ryan

This is an interim parenting motion concerning a ten-year-old daughter following the parents' separation in January 2022.

The case involves complex family dynamics including allegations of physical abuse by the father towards the seventeen-year-old son in April 2024, and the daughter's disclosure in August 2024 of sibling sexual abuse.

The mother sought sole decision-making authority and primary parenting time with a 90-day "black-out period" while the father sought sole decision-making authority and continuation of restricted parenting time for the mother.

The court rejected both proposals as contrary to the daughter's best interests and adopted a middle-ground approach, ordering joint decision-making with parenting coach support, expanded overnight parenting time for the mother, and therapeutic interventions including SAFE-T programming and family therapy.

The parties engaged in a high-conflict family law trial to determine a final parenting plan, child support, and spousal support.

The mother sought to maintain the status quo of limited parenting time for the father, while the father sought equal parenting time.

The court found a history of family violence primarily by the father, but noted he had taken steps to improve his parenting.

Applying the best interests of the child test under the Divorce Act, the court ordered the children to reside primarily with the mother while granting the father increased, but not equal, parenting time.

The father was ordered to pay child support, and while the mother was found entitled to spousal support, the quantum was set to zero due to the primacy of child support.

A motion for summary judgment regarding custody and access of two children whose mother died.

The maternal grandparents and maternal uncle and aunt sought joint custody with limited access for the biological father.

The father opposed the motion and sought sole custody with the children relocating to Ottawa.

The court granted summary judgment in favour of the respondents, finding that the unchallenged evidence established no genuine issue requiring trial.

The children had resided with the maternal grandparents for ten years in a stable environment.

The father had minimal involvement post-separation, failed to pay child support, and presented an unstructured care plan.

The children's preferences were to remain in Oakville with their maternal family.

Joint custody was awarded to the grandparents and uncle/aunt with limited monthly access for the father.

A parenting trial concerning custody and access following separation of the parties.

The applicant mother sought sole custody and exclusive decision‑making authority, while the respondent father sought joint custody and opposed the children travelling abroad with the mother.

The court found evidence that the applicant displayed hostility toward the father and had engaged in conduct that risked marginalizing his role in the children’s lives.

Joint custody was ordered to preserve the father’s relationship with the children, with primary residence remaining with the mother and structured access granted to the father.

The court also refused permission for the mother to travel with the children to Saudi Arabia due to concerns about unilateral decision‑making and potential flight risk.