Parenting can be an incredibly challenging and rewarding experience. But it can also be a financial burden, particularly if you’re the one who has to financially support your child. That’s where child support comes in – a government-mandated system of financial support designed to help parents who have dependent children. Child support is money paid by one parent to the other to equalize the financial burden of childrearing between households of divorced families. It is determined based on a number of factors, including the gross income of the parents involved, the number of children involved ..read more

If you’re in a long term relationship where you haven’t been living together, but your finances have become entwined, there’s a good chance you’ll need spousal support if the relationship breaks down. Spousal support is financial support given to a less financially stable partner by the other partner in order to help them while they’re going through the financially difficult period of rebuilding a separate life. It can be tricky to determine if a person qualifies for spousal support as it depends on a number of factors, such as the length of the relationship, the income of the parties, and whe ..read more

Once again, the Christmas season is upon us. Being separated or divorced can present a lot of challenges around the holidays, especially when children are involved. While every separation and divorce are unique, there are some ways to help you – and your ex – get through the holiday season. If you share custody of your children, the best way to get through the holiday season is to make a written plan that you can easily refer to. Hopefully, you and your ex can create a plan you can agree on, that is easy to implement, and fair to all involved. While it’s best if you can do this amicably, in my ..read more

Everybody knows separating from your partner can be difficult, but it doesn’t have to be a legal nightmare. By following these simple steps, you can create an effective separation agreement that will protect your interests. Here are the basics of what needs to be in a separation agreement: What is a separation agreement? Separation agreements are the predominant way to clarify the rights and responsibilities of two people who are ending their relationship. A written agreement can help to prevent any misunderstandings or conflicts during the separation process. If you are considering entering ..read more

There are a few things that can make a separation agreement invalid, but the most common reason is if one of the parties involved didn’t actually agree to it. If one party was forced or coerced into signing the agreement, or if they were misled about what it said, then it can be overturned in court. Additionally, if the agreement doesn’t address all aspects of the separation, then it may not be legally binding. Other things that can make a separation agreement invalid are if either party was not nearly as sophisticated as the other about the family finances (as in the case where there’s a fami ..read more

The property of a divorcing couple is generally divided evenly between the two spouses. This includes both marital property (property acquired during the marriage) and separate property (property owned by one spouse before the marriage). However, there are some exceptions to this rule, and couples are free to negotiate their own division of property if they can agree on it. If they can’t agree, the court will make a decision based on what it determines to be fair. When dividing property, the court considers a variety of factors, including: * The length of the marriage; * The financial contribu ..read more

Divorce law in Canada is a complex topic, and there is a lot of misinformation floating around out there. In this article, we will dispel some of the myths about divorce law in Canada, and provide you with the facts. Myth: If you are married, you have to get divorced through the courts Fact: This is not true. You can get a divorce without going to court. You can negotiate the terms of your divorce with your spouse and submit a separation agreement to the court for approval. If you do not want to negotiate the terms of your divorce yourself, you can hire a lawyer to do it for you. Myth: You hav ..read more

The court decides how much child support you have to pay by looking at many factors. Some of these factors include how much money each parent makes, how much money the child needs, and who pays for what expenses related to the child. The court uses a formula to determine the amount of child support you have to pay. This formula is based on the Canadian Child Support Guidelines. The Guidelines provide for an expected minimum level of financial support for children living apart from their parents. In addition to calculating basic child support, courts may also look at other types of payments tha ..read more

It’s no secret that getting a divorce is one of the most stressful experiences a person can go through. In addition to the emotional rollercoaster, there’s also the daunting task of untangling your life from your spouse’s. If you’re lucky enough to have an uncontested divorce, you may find the process less complicated—but that doesn’t mean it will be easy. Here are the five stages of grief you can expect to experience during your uncontested divorce. Stage One: Denial  This is the stage where you tell yourself things like “It’s not happening” or “We’ll work it out.” You may even find you ..read more

A restraining order is a legal order issued by a judge to protect someone from being physically or sexually abused, threatened, stalked, or harassed. If you are the victim of any of these things, you may consider getting a restraining order. Here are five great reasons why you should:  1. You get to feel like a victim! 2. The paperwork is fun and easy! 3. You get to relive the trauma over and over again! 4. You get to have your life turned upside down! 5. You might be able to stop the abuse! 1. You get to feel like a victim!  When you are the victim of abuse, it can be challenging t ..read more