Why the Separation Date Matters
In a recent Article titled Can You Be Separated While Still Living Together in Ontario? we provided a “how to” on Where spouses continue living together, disputes about the separation date are common — and often consequential. The separation date affects: When the one-year divorce period begins • The valuation date for equalization of net family property under the Family Law Act • The...
Divorce After Age 50 in Ontario: What’s Different About It?
Divorce later in life—often called a “gray divorce”—is becoming increasingly common. Married couples are separating after many decades, after the children are grown or retirement is approaching. While the basic legal framework for divorce in Ontario remains the same regardless of age, couples who divorce after age 50 often face a different set of financial and practical considerations. If you...
Divorce and Your Business: How to Protect What You’ve Built
If you own a business and are going through a separation or divorce, it’s natural to feel especially concerned. You may be wondering about what will happen to the venture you’ve spent years – or perhaps decades – building. For many business owners, their company is more than just an asset – it represents their identity, their livelihood, and their source of future income. But the good news...
Financial Abuse: The Hidden Factor in Many Divorces
If you are going through a divorce, you may be focused on pressing day-to-day matters – like parenting schedules, property division, and how best to move forward. But for some people, there is undercurrent that also shapes the breakdown of the relationship: Financial abuse. It’s a kind of abusive conduct can develop gradually, and be difficult to recognize. It might also be obscured by other...
Ontario Family Law: What Are the Rights of a Divorcing Dad?
It’s a longstanding pre-conception: When it comes to parenting arrangements involving kids, the Canadian legal system favours the mother. And perhaps this was the case decades ago. But unlike many persistent stereotypes, under the modern-day legal system, this is simply not true. In fact, Ontario family law does not grant automatic preference to either parent. Instead, the focus is always on...
Understanding Parental Alienation – And What You Can Do About It
Separation and divorce are rarely easy, particularly if there are children involved. In some families, conflict can escalate to the point where one parent believes the other is undermining their relationship with the child. This situation is often described as “parental alienation.” The term is frequently used, but it’s not always well-understood. Plus, courts approach these kinds of...
Thinking of Divorce in 2026? Here’s How to Get Ready
The start of a new year often brings a period of reflection. For many people, January and February are when unresolved questions about their shaky marriage feel harder to ignore. If you are finding yourself thinking more seriously about separation or divorce, you are not alone. As experienced Ontario Family Lawyers in Ontario, we frequently see an increase in inquiries early in the year. After...
What Happens to Inherited Money in a Divorce?
If you’re lucky to have inherited money lately, but unlucky in your relationship, you might be wondering what your rights are. It’s one of the most common questions we get from people who are in the midst of a separation or divorce: What happens to inherited money in divorce that’s been inherited during the marriage? The answer under Ontario Family Law often surprises people: Inherited money...
When Work Stress Turns Personal: The Impact on Divorce
Most people think of divorce as arising from problems inside the relationship itself. It might look like communication breakdowns, financial strain, or growing apart. But for many couples, the tipping point begins somewhere else entirely: At work. It’s really no surprise: Times are tough everywhere. The economy is faltering. Job losses might be looming. Even if both spouses are employed,...