After the breakdown of a relationship in which Partner A has children from a previous relationship for whom they receive child support, many might be surprised to learn that Partner B (step-parents and those who are found to be “standing […]
Following a family law trial, a lawyer has the opportunity to make submissions with respect to costs. A costs award is a court order for one party to pay the other party a prescribed amount of money, usually to account […]
Once you and your family have made the important decision that you are ready to adopt your stepchild, what comes next? If you are considering adopting your spouse’s child, you will no doubt have many questions about the process and […]
Solicitor-client privilege is a principle of fundamental justice – individuals must be able to communicate with their lawyers candidly and with the understanding that their lawyer may not disclose that information to anyone. Privilege attaches to all communications […]
The Federal Child Support Guidelines (FCSG) establishes the financial disclosure required by parties to determine monthly child support payments after separation. Under the FCSG, additional disclosure is mandated for an individual who is self-employed. Specifically, section 21(d) states a self-employed […]
Simply put, separating or divorcing from a spouse or partner – no matter what the circumstances may be – sucks. When an intimate relationship breaks down, it’s always a difficult and emotional time for everyone involved. However, in the context […]
Often separated parents will hear from lawyers, judges, mediators and arbitrators that you cannot force a teenager to see one parent or the other. “Teenagers talk with their feet,” is a phrase that is used to describe the level of […]
What is Alternative Dispute Resolution (“ADR”)?
For a great summary of the various methods of dispute resolution, read Kasey Anderson’s blog post here.
ADR in the Context of Domestic Violence
There is often an assumption in the legal community that ADR methods […]
Clients may sometimes reach a point in their matter where they feel that communication with their counsel is a concern. They may feel that their objective is not being heard by their lawyer, or that their counsel is […]
The law of attornment and jurisdiction in family law can be complex and tricky to assess. Attornment, jurisdiction and forum non coveniens all have separate legal definitions, and although they can overlap, it is important to distinguish them and be […]