3 Precautions When Buying a House After Separating
One of the first talks that separating couples have is whether or not either party is moving out of the house. Kids or one’s own finances oftentimes make it clear that one can’t afford to leave. Some people, however, will move out, whether it’s to a family member’s home or to a rental. Sometimes, people […]
What Is a Travel Consent and Do I Need One to Travel with My Child after Separation?
Planning a trip is an exciting activity for a family. It does, however, include a number of logistics and can become more complex than just booking a flight and hotel. This is even more so the case for a family after separation. If you are separated or divorced, there are a number of things to […]
Marriage Contracts: Have You Signed Under Duress or Undue Influence?
Many couples who are getting married talk about having a marriage contract. These contracts allow a couple to outline what happens to each of their property should they ever separate, even when that separation is due to death. A marriage contract also lets couples address the issue of spousal support, a claim that could be […]
The Dos and Don’ts of Access Exchanges
The pick-up and drop-off process can be a difficult time for children. It is important that parents make this as smooth as possible for a child so that the child feels at ease, rather than guilty, hurt, and distressed. Here are some things to keep in mind as you work on access exchanges. What to […]
Mediation – Do I Really Need a Mediator AND a Lawyer?
The short answer to this question is: yes, you do still need a lawyer when participating in mediation. What is Mediation? Mediation is a common process used by separating couples. Mediation involves a neutral third party who helps you and your spouse or common law partner talk through the issues of separation. It is a […]
Do-It-Yourself Separation Agreements – A Cautionary Tale
Nowadays, it is common for family lawyers to meet with people who have prepared their own separation agreement and signed it, or plan to sign it. In an age of online templates, kits, and Google, it isn’t uncommon for people to want to sit down with their partner or spouse and do it on their […]
The Family Responsibility Office and Support Payments
The Family Responsibility Office (“FRO”) is a government agency that enforces child support and spousal support payments. FRO collects support from the support payor directly or from the payor’s employer through automatic deductions. These monthly amounts are then paid by FRO to the support recipient. FRO is typically able to do this if there is […]
Ongoing Child Support for Children 18 and Over
Many people believe child support ends when a child turns 18. To many people’s surprise, this is often not the case. Legislation states that child support may be payable for an adult child where that child remains a “child of the marriage.” This is defined by the Divorce Act as (1) a child under age […]
“I Want the T.V.” — Dividing Household Items and Personal Belongings after a Separation
Separating from your partner or spouse is hard. There are a number of issues that have to be worked through and one area that can be incredibly difficult is dividing household items and personal belongings after a separation. Stuff is Piling Up — Literally Perhaps not surprisingly, divvying things up can take time. It can […]
