Is Tracking Your Spouse’s Phone, or Hacking Their Computer, Illegal?
If you’re going through a separation or divorce, you might be tempted to track your spouse’s phone. These days, it’s easier than ever; plenty of apps can be installed surreptitiously with a few clicks of an “install” button. They run unobtrusively in the background, and can reveal all kinds of information, including: Where your spouse has been, and where they are going in real-time Who they...
Understanding “Retroactive Child Support” in Ontario Family Law
Under Ontario Family law, the concept of child support is a key part of ensuring a child’s needs are met when his or her parents separate or divorce. Most parents in this situation will be familiar with the concept of ongoing child support – which is future-facing. However, the concept of “retroactive” child support is less commonly understood. This Blog will touch on the answers to some of...
What is the Child Support Amount for One Kid in Ontario?
We get this question in our office all the time: “How much child support will I have to pay for my kid?” Unfortunately, the question defies an easy answer. There are a lot of “moving parts” to the equation. With this in mind, we’ll first untangle the legal foundation for answering that query, and then look at how the support numbers are calculated. Then, we’ll give a fact-specific example....
Your First Meeting with a Divorce Lawyer: How to Prepare
Are you gearing up for your first meeting with a divorce lawyer? If so, you might have some concerns about what to expect, and how you should prepare. After all, it’s a crucial initial step that can significantly impact the outcome of your divorce proceedings. 1. What’s the Objective? The initial consultation with your lawyer has three main goals: To convey the needed background facts and...
Online Security Tips During Your Divorce
Divorce is a challenging time. It’s filled with emotional and logistical hurdles. One aspect that can easily be overlooked is online security. In Canada – as in many parts of the world – people increasingly rely on digital communication, and on online services. This means it’s become crucial to protect your personal information at all times, but especially during your divorce. Here are some...
Ontario Family Law: Forgiveness (a.k.a. “Rescission”) of Child Support Arrears
Child support is a crucial aspect of Family Law in Ontario. If you are one of the parents of a child, it’s a mutual obligation that each of you has, regardless of your marital status. And it’s a stringent obligation, since the law makes it clear that your child is entitled to benefit from the financial support that each of you owe. If you are separated or divorced, you may be subject to a...
Criminal Charges in High-Conflict Canadian Divorces
Divorce is hard at the best of times. A high-conflict divorce is always extra challenging. But if one of the spouses has been charged with a criminal offence, then the stakes are higher and the complexities, greater. Here are some points to consider: Divorce Act Provisions on Family Violence We will assume that the criminal charges against one spouse stem from an incident of domestic...
What is the Office of the Children’s Lawyer?
For those of you who are parents and are involved in Family Litigation in Ontario, you may have heard about the Office of the Children’s Lawyer (OCL). This brief blog will touch upon the basics points you need to know about this provincial government entity. What is the OCL? The Office of the Children’s Lawyer (OCL) operates as a specialized Ontario government agency,...
What is the Legal Age at Which a Child Can Decide Which Parent to Live With?
At our firm, there is one common question we routinely field from clients and potential clients going through a separation and divorce: “At what age can my child decide which parent they are going to live with?” In Canada, there is no defined age. Neither the federal nor provincial laws address this specifically. But that doesn’t mean the question is entirely up in the air. Both the...