Bragging on social media spells trouble for some parents

The popularity of social media sites such as Facebook may be the undoing of some parents, especially those who are delinquent in their child support payments. In dealing with support problems in Ontario, custodial parents may find that a former partner’s online posts provide help for area officials responsible for enforcement of support orders. This […]

Considerations when deciding quantum and duration of spousal support

In Meidell v Meidell at issue was the quantum and duration of spousal support that the husband must pay to the wife.  The parties were married for eleven years. The husband has two children from a previous marriage and the children live with him half of the time.  He does not pay any child support […]

Domestic contracts are not always held up by the court

Section 56(4) of the Family Law Act (FLA) sets out the circumstances under which a court may set aside a domestic contract or a provision in it.  In Cramer v Cramer the court set aside two provisions of the parties’ domestic contract that they had made together at their kitchen table. The first provision concerned […]

The financial picture for divorcing couples

Couples in Ontario whose marriages are ending in divorce need to prepare themselves for the financial ramifications of the process. This includes both the cost of the divorce and the impact of the loss of assets that were jointly shared.   The Federal Divorce Act governs divorce in Canada, and asset division is governed provincially. […]

Child placed with the mother to avoid another custody change

In Children’s Aid Society of Ottawa v T the court considered who should have custody of the child.  The child has been subject to a number of custody changes since the parent’s separation. The relationship between the parents is highly conflictual and violent. A Family Court Clinic Assessment (FCC) raised concerns about each of the […]

Options for disposing of a house in divorce

Ontario residents might be interested in a recent article discussing some of the difficulties a divorcing couple might face when considering the family home. When attempting to determine ownership during the property division, determining liability for a mortgage can be confusing. This is especially important if one party is planning to purchase another home because […]

Help for women during divorce

While divorce is often difficult for most Ontario individuals, it can be harder on women. Women may have financial difficulty during the divorce process because they may not have their own income, but their household itself may have too much income to qualify for free legal assistance.   There are several steps that women can […]