In many instances, if a couple gets divorced in one country, that divorce is likely to apply in other countries they may live in. But it’s not always so cut and dry. In a recent decision from the Ontario Superior Court of Justice, the court had to determine whether an old divorce obtained by a …
Read MoreIn today’s world, families are becoming more diverse than ever before. What happens when a stepparent wants access to a child? In a recent case, an Ontario court considered this interesting question when it heard a stepmother’s request for access to a nine-year-old boy. The Parties’ Story The mother and father had one child together. …
Read MoreFollowing a separation a couple might avoid a costly trial by coming to agreement on a number of items, possibly negating the need for a trial at all. However, sometimes an agreement might ultimately lead to further confusion or litigation. Such was the case in an decision recently issued by the Court of Appeal for …
Read MoreIn a recent decision, an Ontario court grappled with the interesting question of when it may be appropriate to find a party in contempt in the context of family law proceedings. The Parties’ Story The parties separated in January 2016. They had two children together, ages seven and three. Since separation, the parties had been …
Read MoreOne of the more difficult issues to solve when it comes to matters of child custody and access is what to do when one of the parents of a child wishes to move, with the child, to a location further away than they already are from the other parent. A recent decision from the Superior …
Read MoreSometimes a party will seek access to a child even when that party is not the child’s biological parent. In a recent case, an Ontario court considered a man’s request for access to a child that he had not seen for over a year. Interestingly, that child was also not the man’s biological son. The …
Read MoreIt’s natural for divorced or separated parents to disagree over how certain elements of raising their children are handled. Some issues may seem small in nature, but others can be larger and come with long-lasting impacts. In an example of the later, an Ontario mother recently wanted to change the name of the children she …
Read MoreWhat happens to a payor’s child support obligations once his or her children are adults pursuing higher education? Does child support terminate, or does it remain payable? An Ontario court grappled with this interesting question in Makdissi v. Masson. The Parties’ Story The parties were married in June 1993, separated in September 2001, and divorced …
Read MoreFollowing a divorce or separation, parents may find themselves with a new set of responsibilities and obligations. Many times these are established through a court order, which sets out, amongst other things, parenting schedules. It goes without saying that most divorced couples don’t see eye-to-eye on some things, and these disagreements can continue to be …
Read MoreIn a recent case, the court considered a father’s request to set aside a restraining order that prevented him from having access to his six-year-old son. The Parties’ Story The parties, who never lived together, had one child. The father was in jail for almost the first two years of the child’s life. In June …
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