April 26, 2013
by Sarah
0 comments
At what point after separation do former spouses truly have economic independence from one another? Child support obligations tie parents together until the children become independent adults. That may be a lengthy period of time after separation but it is … Continue reading
February 20, 2013
by Jennifer Samara Shuber
0 comments
In January 2013, an experienced Ontario family court judge, the Honourable Madam Justice Mesbur, ruled that a British civil union between a same sex couple would be recognized as a marriage in Ontario for the purposes of property division, support … Continue reading
November 20, 2012
by Jennifer Samara Shuber
0 comments
Carrigan v Carrigan Estate is a recent Ontario Court of Appeal case grabbing headlines. For family lawyers, the case underscores the importance of the domestic contracts, particularly the Separation Agreements, over whose drafting we toil. For the general public, the Courts’ … Continue reading
November 9, 2012
by Sarah
0 comments
Good communication is the foundation of a good divorce. If a separated couple can communicate effectively they will be able to parent their children well and likely resolve all their financial issues. The obvious problem is that poor communication is … Continue reading
August 8, 2012
by Jennifer Samara Shuber
0 comments
Many children do not enjoy daily standard face-to-face contact with both of their parents. This is particularly true for separated and divorced families who no longer live together 24/7. In recent years, parents and courts have made frequent use of … Continue reading
July 10, 2012
by Jennifer Samara Shuber
0 comments
The May 31, 2012 Ontario Court of Appeal’s decision in Dovigi v Razi 2012 ONCA 361 has attracted a lot of attention. The family law bar and the general public are divided on whether the appeal court got it right. The … Continue reading
June 19, 2012
by Jennifer Samara Shuber
0 comments
This is the second of two blog posts on the Spousal Support Advisory Guidelines (“SSAGs”), their applications and shortcomings. Today, I comment on the use and abuse of the SSAGs in cases of payors in Ontario who earn more than … Continue reading
June 5, 2012
by Jennifer Samara Shuber
0 comments
The Spousal Support Advisory Guidelines (“SSAGs”) were finalized in 2008. They have been widely accepted in Ontario and endorsed by our Court of Appeal. As evidenced by a recently released January 2012 Department of Justice survey, the SSAGs are working … Continue reading
May 29, 2012
by Sarah
0 comments
Spousal support law seems to change with each generation. The last major transformation occurred in the early 1990s when the courts changed the approach from treating spousal support obligations as transitional and usually for a limited number of years to … Continue reading
April 24, 2012
by Jennifer Samara Shuber
0 comments
A matrimonial home has special treatment under Ontario law. Parties should be aware of the many ways in which a matrimonial home is treated differently from other assets, so that they can plan accordingly. Since only married spouses can have … Continue reading