Step-parents: Will you have a child support obligation?
Families come in all shapes and sizes. Today, blended families are common, and many people find themselves becoming step-parents to their new spouse’s children. Whether they are married or in a common-law relationship, step-parents may be surprised to learn that upon separation they may be t…
View the post titled Step-parents: Will you have a child support obligation?How does a second family impact child support?
After a separation, it is not uncommon for one or both spouses to move on to a new romantic relationship, have new biological children or take on the role of a step-parent. This is sometimes referred to as a “second family”. Having a second family can create new financial obligations, and th…
View the post titled How does a second family impact child support?What is a parenting plan?
Life is not predictable, but it can be made easier when separated parents have the stability of a parenting plan. A parenting plan is one of the most critical legal documents for preventing conflict between you and your ex-partner. The Divorce Act defines a parenting plan as a document that …
View the post titled What is a parenting plan?Divorce Act amendments: duties for parents and lawyers
A number of significant changes were made to the Divorce Act, which impact family law litigants, specifically divorced parents and separated spouses with children. These amendments to the Divorce Act took effect on March 1, 2021. Divorce Act changes explained: Duties for parents The duties t…
View the post titled Divorce Act amendments: duties for parents and lawyersIf we separate, will I get my down payment on the house back?
Let’s assume you and your spouse, whether common-law or married, own your home as joint tenants and you each paid an equal amount towards the down payment. If that’s the case, then if you separate you will each get your half of the down payment back when you sell the home and split the net...
View the post titled If we separate, will I get my down payment on the house back?Who gets the pet during separation or divorce?
So, you’ve just separated from your partner and now face the daunting task of deciding who will get to keep the beloved family pet. In some situations, the matter is resolved without much consideration for family law in Ontario. Sometimes the party that brought a pet into the relationship ca…
View the post titled Who gets the pet during separation or divorce?Does a father have unequal rights to parent?
In family law, there is a long-held misconception that mothers will be favoured over fathers for decision-making responsibility (custody) and parenting time (access). Back in the 1950s, courts firmly held that young children should spend the majority of time with their mother in what was cal…
View the post titled Does a father have unequal rights to parent?So, you want to settle your family law case?
Family law disputes can be especially challenging for the couple involved. They are never easy. Often, the participants are parents who share children. Sometimes, they are shareholders who share a business. The point is that there is a lot at stake. The issues are very personal and there is …
View the post titled So, you want to settle your family law case?Adopting your stepchild
In the course of my practice I have met many stepparents that want to adopt their stepchild. The reasons to want to adopt a stepchild are very personal and diverse to the stepparent, child and their parent. Sometimes the biological parent is unknown or absent, due to death or other reasons. …
View the post titled Adopting your stepchildNew rules for mobility and relocation for parents
Mobility or relocation is an issue that commonly arises for clients. The client may want to move for an employment opportunity, a new relationship, etc. So what are your rights and responsibility’s with respect to the issue of mobility when you have a child? The rules regarding to a parent’s…
View the post titled New rules for mobility and relocation for parentsReceive Blog Posts
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