Surviving the Holidays

The holiday season can look a lot different for kids who may be experiencing their first holiday season since their parents have recently separated or are having relationship difficulties. With so much focus on the “business” of Christmas and on the problems parents are facing themselves, the fact that things are also changing for their […]

I am going through a separation, why do I need to take the Parenting After Separation Course?

There are many good reasons to attend this course. First, it is free and a great opportunity to obtain some helpful legal and practical advice early in the separation process. Second, it helps parents to develop a parenting plan or arrangement and gives parents information and tools they need to work together as parents for […]

Should I do my own divorce?

The answer may well be why not? However, if you have young children, do not have clear or consistent annual incomes, need assistance to determine spousal support, or were married outside of Canada, consider consulting with a lawyer before beginning the process to find out the best way to proceed. If there is a chance […]

What really are the differences between choosing to resolve separation questions outside of the court system using the Collaborative Process?

There are a lot of reasons why so many people are choosing to resolve matters arising on separation outside of the court system. Some of the big ones include: a) privacy – many personal and financial details can otherwise become part of the filed documents; b) creativity – working together offers many more options regarding […]

January is International Child-Centred Divorce Month

A child psychologist wisely said that “children are like wet cement. Everything that falls on them leaves an impression.” This reminds us that while a divorce is an ending of a marriage between two adults, it is not the end of the family relationship, nor is it possible for children to be unaffected. Divorce, like […]

I have a Parenting Order and it says that my ex-spouse has parenting time this weekend. I don’t think COVID-19 mandatory public health measures are being followed. Do I have to send the kids to my ex-spouse’s home?

Michael Good
Dec 12, 2020
Family Law
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Yes. You must comply with the Parenting Order. You can apply to the Court to vary or change the Order, but the onus will be on you to show that the other parent has real plans or behaviors that are inconsistent with the current public health measures. Do not take advantage of the COVID-19 situation […]

What is sole custody and what is shared parenting?

Wendy Phillips-Berard
Nov 18, 2019
Cohabitation, Collaborative Divorce, Family Law
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In making a parenting plan, consider two things: how will the authority to make parenting decisions be shared and how will the children spend time with each parent? Sole custody is rare and refers to one parent having sole authority to make major decisions. Joint custody, the more common scenario, means both parents share that […]

My child’s other parent lives in another province. Which table do I use when calculating child support?

The Federal Child Support Guidelines (pursuant to the Divorce Act, Canada) set out tables for each province and territory. These tables show monthly amounts to be paid for a child’s basic and everyday needs, including things like food and clothes and often (though not always) things like school supplies. When parents live in different provinces, […]