In Ontario, marriages are deemed to be a form of economic partnership. As such, at the end of the marriage, under Ontario law, the spouses have a right to share in the wealth generated during the marriage. This is accomplished by a process called equalization under the Family Law Act (“FLA”). Equalization is a …
Read MoreIn an earlier blog post, I made reference to a November 2016 decision of the Honourable Mr. Justice Pazaratz and his denunciation of the parties’ practice of videoing each other with the child. In re-reading the Reasons in the Whidden and Ellwood case, I discovered commentary by Justice Pazaratz on a wealth of other relevant …
Read MoreHave a look at my piece on access by grandparents to their grandkids on the Lawyer’s Daily website. https://www.thelawyersdaily.ca/articles/2776
Read MoreCellphone videos and photos have become an epidemic in family law cases. Almost every client who comes in the door wants to show me a video of his or her spouse behaving badly. This is particularly so in custody cases. One parent videos (often surreptitiously) the other parent’s interactions with the child, in the hopes …
Read MoreFebruary. Valentine’s Day is around the corner. As is Family Day. For those who are separated or divorced, these two occasions can sometimes be a painful reminder of what once was. So I am penning this post to encourage you to celebrate what you do have, rather than mourning what you don’t. And to remind …
Read More“The dog is man’s best friend.” (Ogden Nash)“ “The better I get to know men, the more I find myself loving dogs.” (Charles de Gaulle) “Once you have had a wonderful dog, a life without one, is a life diminished.”(Dean Koontz) People love their dogs. Dogs are treasured members of the family. Some people even …
Read MoreI just read an excellent paper on retirement and its impact on the payment of spousal support which I thought might be of interest to my readers. The paper is entitled “Can a Support Payor Ever Retire?” by Jodi R Fleishman. I would be happy to provide you with a copy of the paper – …
Read MoreA domestic contract, such as a marriage contract, is simply a way for parties to get what they want rather than what the law might dictate. Free choice and self direction are good things, in my opinion. But the person who proposes such a contract is criticized for wishing the end of the relationship before …
Read MoreI have been on the internet recently, looking at the number of resources available to family law clients. As with anything on the internet, some are good and some are bad. Some contain accurate information and some do not. Some are a neutral explanation of the law and others are a soapbox. Being an informed …
Read MoreBuying property is expensive. Nowadays, many first time buyers are assisted by the kind contribution of parents or in-laws. If someone in your family is generous enough to provide you with funds, make it clear whether these monies are a gift or a loan. It can make a difference down the line if the marriage …
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