What Happens at a Case Conference in Ontario Family Law?
If you’re going through a separation or divorce, your first real appearance before a family court judge will often be a Case Conference. It’s not a trial: There are no witnesses, and the judge isn’t there to make findings of fact. Instead, a Case Conference is meant to identify the issues, encourage settlement, confirm that information has been exchanged, and set out what...
What Happens at a Case Conference in Ontario Family Law?
If you’re going through a separation or divorce, your first real appearance before a family court judge will often be a Case Conference. It’s not a trial: There are no witnesses, and the judge isn’t there to make findings of fact. Instead, a Case Conference is meant to identify the issues, encourage settlement, confirm that information has been exchanged, and set out what...
What Happens if There’s a Failure to Obey a Court Order?
Since the court and the parties each have a duty to promote the Rules’ primary objective of dealing with cases justly, it’s not surprising that there are potential sanctions for failing to do so. In particular, if a person fails to follow the Rules, or fails to abide by a court order, then the court can deal with it by making another order to encourage or compel compliance. What Kind of Order...
Deepfakes, Text Messages, and Secret Recordings: A New Era of Digital Evidence in Family Law
Digital evidence is becoming a central issue in family law disputes across Ontario, and the risks are evolving quickly. In a recent article published in Law360 Canada, Lorne J. Fine of Fine & Associates explores how text messages, social media, recordings, and emerging technologies like AI-generated content are reshaping how courts assess evidence in family law matters. Why this matters...
Narcissism and Divorce: Spotting the Early Signs in Legal Proceedings
Even the best divorces are rife with uncertainty: Finances, parenting schedules, and the emotional weight of a relationship ending. But does your former partner seem unusually focused on “winning”? Or on controlling the narrative, punishing you for leaving, or just getting his or her own way? If so, there may be another dynamic at play. We all have unique personalities, and of course not...
Emergency Orders in Family Law: Some Real-Life Examples
Family disputes do not always unfold on a predictable schedule. Especially with the upcoming holidays – and especially if you have kids – there can be many unexpected plot-twists when dealing with your Ex. Sometimes, a dispute will escalate quickly, and will need to be dealt with long before your next scheduled court date. You may need a court to step in quickly, to resolve it. The good news...
Emergency Motions: When and How to File Them
Understand Ontario’s process for filing emergency motions in family court and what situations justify urgent legal intervention. In Canada, if your divorce or other Family Law proceedings are winding their way through the courts, you’ll now that the process takes time. Sometimes quite a bit of time. This can be a problem when there are unexpected situations that must be dealt with imminently...
Narcissism and Divorce: Spotting the Signs Early in Legal Proceedings
You hear the word “narcissist” or “narcissism” a lot these days, on social media, talks shows and podcasts, and in mainstream popular psychology. People are accused of being narcissists for being attention-seeking, self-absorbed, or acutely selfish. If you have a spouse with these traits, and are going through a separation or divorce, then it will likely make an already-challenging process...
10 Family Law Myths That Could Hurt Your Divorce Case
10 family law myths that could hurt you. If you’re going through a separation or divorce, you’re likely relying on what friends, relatives, or the Internet is telling you about “how it works.” The problem is, much of this information is wrong – or at least only half right. Believing in myths and misinformation can seriously damage your divorce case. This can lead to wasted time, unnecessary...