I Am in a Common Law Relationship: What Are My Property Rights?
Property Rights and Common Law Marriage in Ontario Common-law standing for couples in Ontario stipulates that the couple must have been living together in a “conjugal relationship” for no less than three years. But that timeline changes to just one year if the couple serves a parental role or is birth parents of a child. There is a long list of common law property rights guaranteed to...
Parental Alienation and My Child
Parental alienation describes a behaviour in which one parent acts to undermine an otherwise solid parent-child relationship. It consists of turning a child or children against their other parent via manipulation causing a child to reject one parent. What is Parental Alienation in Custody Disputes? Parental alienation is a common negative factor in many custody disputes, and the forms of such...
Common Law Ontario: Requirements, Property Rights, Child Support Obligations
Common law in Ontario means the couple must have been living together in a “conjugal relationship” for at least three years. That duration changes to one year if the couple are the parents of a child. There are some misconceptions about the legal implications of the common law marriage in Ontario. As a legal matter, “common-law” relationships fall under the jurisdiction of courts in the...
Effects of Divorce on Children – From a Family Lawyer’s Perspective
Separation and divorce can be a brutally painful and ongoing source of disruption to your life – and the lives of your children and to the lives of many Canadian families. What does divorce do to a child? The body of research is clear: common reactions to divorce can be limited over the short term and as parents come to terms with the changes divorce brings, their children often regain their...
These Myths About Divorce Just Aren’t True
As it is with all human endeavors, the ways a situation appears to proceed – and how it actually does proceed – can be radically different experiences. The same dichotomy holds true of divorce. There are the things we believe are true, and there are times those assumptions fall flat. When it comes to divorce, here are the top 5 myths that aren’t true: 1) Confidentiality clauses are ironclad...
Applying for Divorce in Another Province
Divorce may sometimes be complicated by geographic location. Divorces are Possible in Any Canadian Province or Territory When a marriage ends, many years and kilometers may have passed. Sometimes couples find themselves on the other side of the country in a new home. A last road trip together to return to the site of the marriage is not always a viable plan. In addition, in Canada’s more...
First Family Principles and Divorce
All Children Are Not Equal Under First Family Practices Subsequent marriages may often lead to new siblings. Blended Families: The New Norm A previous marriage or relationship leaves a lasting impression on the future, especially when a child may be involved as a product of the former marriage. Beyond parental duties, there are financial obligations like child support that remain until a child...
Divorce Affects Pension Plans
Hard earned pension plans may be subject to division during a divorce. Dividing Assets is Tedious Building a life with another person is both rewarding and beneficial. However, when a relationship turns sour, it can also spoil years of combined progress and efforts towards a common goal. Couples frequently fight and argue over assets and property because of the perceived imbalance that leads...
Bankruptcy and Spousal Support
Spousal Support: A Debt that Cannot be Erased Following a divorce, many debtor spouses find themselves pinching pennies to make support payments. When Divorce Costs as Much as the Marriage Ceremony Divorce is expensive. It can often leave long-lasting financial problems for one or both parties. After a court grants a divorce and dissolves the legal bonds of marriage, debt obligations,...