Offers To Settle in Court: A Sensible Strategy to Family Law
The majority of family law cases that go to court end up agreeing to a settlement. One mechanism that can help parties get to a settlement more efficiently is the offer to settle itself. Either party to family law litigation can make an offer to settle an ongoing case at any time during the court […]
The Family Pet: What Happens to Fido in a Separation?
The beloved family pet, referred to by some as a fur baby, is often viewed by its owners as being a member of the family; a loyal, loving companion that greets you at the door when you arrive home. But when a couple separates, what happens to poor Fido? How does the law view the […]
Contingency Planning in Business: Are You Prepared for the Unexpected?
When you are busy building a business, planning and preparing for the unexpected may be the last task on your long to-do list. It is a task that is easy to push into the future when there are seemingly more pressing and urgent matters to manage and address. Succession and contingency planning, however, is something […]
New Year, New Beginnings
A quick Google search of the words “January” and “divorce” will lead you to several articles about the spike in separations and divorces in the month of January. Whether or not January is actually the month which sees the most marital breakdowns, it is undoubtedly true that the month following the holidays is a time […]
How Do I Get A Divorce?
A divorce legally ends your marriage and gives you the ability to get re-married. The law to get a divorce is the same across Canada as it falls under the Divorce Act. While the process is not the most complicated, there is criteria that must be met and a number of steps that must be taken. […]
Separated or Divorced: What’s the Difference and Does it Matter?
Yes, there is a difference between being separated and being divorced. Separation To be separated means one person in the relationship has withdrawn from it, you and your spouse have started living ‘separate and apart’ and there is no reasonable prospect of you reconciling. If you are a married couple, you can still be married […]
What is arbitration?
Arbitration is an alternative dispute resolution process available to separated couples. The parties choose an arbitrator, who then acts like a judge to make decisions for the parties. The parties agree in advance what types of decisions the arbitrator can make, and what the arbitration format will look like. In most cases, the arbitration process […]
Mediation: Is it for You?
Throughout life, many people will encounter a family situation that calls for professional help and expertise that they do not possess. For instance, a person may need assistance to resolve a family conflict, help negotiate a workable child-focused parenting arrangement, or conclude other arrangements arising from separation or divorce. There are several options available in these circumstances, […]
Separating with Civility: Alternatives to Battling in Court
As a family law lawyer, I have seen firsthand the toll that expensive, divisive and protracted court battles can take on families who are going through a separation. When separating spouses are involved in the court system, there is often a significant amount of stress and anxiety and this can add to the tension that […]
