Category: Child Custody and Access (Parenting Time and Decision Making Responsibility)

When parents separate or divorce, they normally begin living apart while children move back and forth between their new homes. But what if you want your children to continue living in one family home while you and your former partner switch out? This arrangement is called “bird’s nest parenting”, and has been a growing trend …

Creating a parenting plan that works well for parents and children can be challenging, especially during the holiday season. Balancing traditions, special occasions, and the unique needs of each family often requires careful thought and attention to detail. There are many important factors to consider when deciding your holiday parenting schedule. In doing so, you …

Establishing a parenting plan can help you avoid conflict and go the extra mile for your child after a separation or divorce. You and your partner may use a parenting plan to determine more exact details regarding timing, location, and contact than a typical decision-making responsibility or parenting time agreement may provide. We spoke with …

In Ontario, parental alienation is recognized as a serious concern that can negatively impact the parent-child relationship as well as the wellbeing of the child.  Alienating actions may be subject to legal consequences in Ontario, whether they have occurred deliberately or unintentionally in family law proceedings. Speaking to a family lawyer can help clarify what …

There is a common misconception among separating parties that, when their children are “old enough,” they will be able to decide which parent to live with. Well – this is not exactly how it works. In short: a child’s views and preferences are one of several factors the courts will consider and weigh in determining …

If you believe your ex-spouse may be trying to alienate your child or children from you, you are likely very stressed and you might be wondering how to address it without creating even more conflict. The severity of parental alienation and the impact varies widely as do the approaches required depending on the circumstances and …

Many parents do not realize that the community that your child(ren) are born into and are raised to be a part of, whether geographical or social, can play a significant role in parenting issues following the separation and/or divorce of parties, particularly when one party makes the decision to move with the children in tow. …

In a ruling that stirs debate about balancing child safety and parental rights, the Ontario Superior Court of Justice granted unsupervised parenting time to Christopher Hunt, a father previously convicted of assaulting his daughter. This decision, stemming from the case Hunt v. Hunt (2023 ONSC 5411), highlights the complexities and challenges inherent in family law, …

Many parents do not realize that the community that your child(ren) are born into and are raised to be a part of, whether geographical or social, can play a significant role in parenting issues upon the separation and/or divorce of parties, particularly when one party makes the decision to move with the children in tow.  …

We spoke with Gabrielle Pop-Lazic, a Senior Lawyer with Gelman & Associates, on the subject of how to modify existing decision-making responsibility or support Orders in Ontario.  Please note that this article is intended as an overview on the subject of family law, and is not intended as legal advice. For legal advice regarding decision-making …