Family Law

Adoption

For a child to be placed in a private domestic adoption ( not involving a protection agency), an Adoption Licensee ( being an individual or licensed agency) must obtain the Approval of the Director of the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services.

Assisted Reproductive Technology

Assisted reproduction means conceiving a child, using reproductive technology and means such as surrogacy, sperm, ova or embryo donation. Use of reproductive technology is regulated by both federal law and by provincial law.

Cohabitation & Marriage

The parties may set out clear terms and designate a process for providing support and at times dividing property in the event of a death or a separation in a Cohabitation Agreement or Marriage Contract.

Separation & Divorce

Our family litigation practice includes the representation of clients at all levels of courts and includes all issues relating to parenting, child support, spousal support, property, seperation agreements, variations of agreements and orders.

Parenting

Decision making responsibility can be shared by parents or allocated to one parent. It means the duty to make important decisions about a child’s health, education, culture, language, and extracurricular activities.

Child Support

Children have a right to financial support from their parents. There are two kinds of child support:

• basic or “table” child support
• extraordinary or “section 7” expenses

Spousal Support

In many cases, the law views spousal relationships as partnerships. At separation, a higher-earning spouse may be obliged to pay spousal support depending on the situation. At the same time, the law also expects adults to look after their own needs, to the best of their abilities.

Property

Who gets what when you separate?

In Ontario, the Family Law Act sets out the rules for dividing property. The term “property” may include a variety of items, such as:

• your home
• furniture and other contents of your home
• other real estate
• a business or a share in one (incorporated or not)
• pensions from employment
• stock options
• Canada Pension credits
• RRSPs and investments
• bank accounts
• cash

Collaborative Process

Two Collaborative Lawyers, accredited as collaborative practitioners, represent each party and both parties sign a Participation Agreement at the outset. This is an agreement that reflects everyone’s commitment to negotiate and communicate respectfully without going to court, and to provide full disclosure of all important information.

Mediation

Both parties jointly retain a mediator who engages the parties in a discussion about the important issues and facilitates the negotiation process in order to reach a mutually satisfactory settlement.