One of the most common financial concerns of parents involved in family law litigation or going through a separation or divorce is what their monthly support obligations will be going forward. It’s helpful for people to know what their monthly child support obligations will be in order to plan the rest of their monthly expenses. The Department of Justice has provided the public with an easy and useful online child support calculator their child support obligation under the Child Support Guidelines. The commonly referred to “child support calculator” is known in family law as the Child Support ..read more

Family Law Rules in Ontario (referred to as “the Rules” hereinafter) are regulations that apply to all family law cases in Ontario’s courts. These rules can also be applied for interpretation, enforcement, and/or variation of domestic contracts, including marriage contracts, cohabitation agreements, separation agreements, paternity agreements, family arbitration agreements, or family arbitration awards.  When read in conjunction with the provincial Family Law Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. F.3, the Children’s Law and Reform Act, as well as the federal Divorce Act, the Rules ..read more

Divorce Requirements in Ontario Depending on the jurisdiction, there are different requirements that need to be met to obtain a divorce. This is definitely something that you should make sure that you are aware of before starting the divorce process in Ontario, as you want to be sure that you don’t waste money by starting divorce proceedings in a situation where you do not meet the requirements. In Canada, the requirements of divorce are set out in a Federal statute known as the Divorce Act, R. S. C. 1985, c. 3 (2nd Supp.). The Divorce Act also deals with, what is known as “corollary rel ..read more

For many people, the end of a marriage is a challenging time characterized by stress and uncertainty. The thought of calling a divorce lawyer to schedule a consultation brings with it a flood of anxiety and questions. This article will address some of the most common worries and questions as well as provide some insight as to what to expect during the consultation so that you can make the most of it. The Purpose of a Divorce Lawyer Consultation The main purpose of the initial consultation is for you to meet with a lawyer and decide together whether it is a fit to start a solicitor-client relat ..read more

“We used to think it was impossible / Now you call me by my new last name / Memories seem like so long ago / Time always kills the pain / Remember Harbor Boulevard / The dreaming days where the mess was made / Look how all the kids have grown, oh / We have changed, but we’re still the same / After all that we’ve been through / I know we’re cool…”  Gwen Stefani, with her platinum blonde hair, alternative sense of fashion, and catchy songs, was an influential figure to millions of teenagers in North America in the 2000s. One of her lesser-known songs in her solo debut album, Love, Ang ..read more

Deciding to end a marriage or a common-law relationship can be a difficult decision for many reasons. In addition to the emotional impact, there are often financial and legal implications of separating that will need to be addressed. Continue reading for our 12 marital separation tips. The Department of Justice in Ontario has provided the public with an easy and useful online child support calculator their child support obligation under the Child Support Guidelines. The following is a list of things to consider when making this critical decision: Safety First: Domestic Violence ..read more

As Ontario is taking careful steps to reopen its economy while protecting the general population from COVID-19 by permitting social circles of up to 10 friends and family (commonly referred to as social “bubbling”); separated families are continuing to struggle to strike the right balance in normalizing ‘life.’ On July 9, 2020 (decision released July 17, 2020), the Honourable Justice Summers in Moncur v. Plante, 2020 ONSC 4391 heard an urgent motion by the mother, Ms. Plante, as to whether or not the parties’ 9-year-old son could safely attend a rented cottage in the Kawar ..read more

According to the 2011 Canada’s Pet Wellness Report prepared by the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association, approximately 35% of Canadian households have a dog, while 38% have a cat. If other less traditional types of pets – such as guinea pigs, rabbits, birds, fish, hedgehogs, and reptiles – were to be accounted for, the number of Canadian families who enjoy the company of their pets would be even more significant.  What happens to these lovable household members when there is a breakdown in a marriage or a relationship? Who gets to keep the family pet? How is that decided? If not you ..read more

In contrast to the traditional nuclear family model of the past, there is no set prototype of a Canadian family in 2020. Today, families come in all shapes and sizes, and as separation and divorce have become more common; so have families of different kinds. In 2016, according to the census data released by Statistics Canada, almost 10% of Canadian children between the ages of 0 to 14 were living with step-families. Also known as blended families, step-families are households in which one or both partners have started a new family after concluding their first marriage. What happens when ..read more