This past year has brought notable changes to the Divorce Act. Specific changes came into force on March 1, 2021 and additional federal support enforcement laws will come into force
Cryptocurrency, such as Bitcoin, is a virtual, modern, and non-governmentally issued take on money. This form of currency poses some highly interesting questions in the realm of estate planning. Take,
Common-law is a compilation of laws that are not written down or put into a body of legislation but rather evolve into a system of rules based on precedent. The
Family violence can include a range of behaviours such as harassment, threats, financial or physical abuse to name a few. None of which are easy to cope with, especially when
This post was originally published on August 21, 2019, and has been updated as of January 3rd, 2023. Adultery can complicate a divorce case and may affect how decisions are
With the exceptional transitions happening in the Canadian market for the average home, it is very important to have the right lawyer assist with the transaction. Both the buyer and
Ontario recognizes common law relationships as a valid form of union between two people. Common law relationships are legally recognized in Ontario and can bring many of the same rights
What skills are transferable for lawyers from other jurisdictions coming to Canada? When a foreign-trained lawyer comes to Canada, they bring with them many important skills that are built while
If you are considering a divorce, you may be wondering whether or not you need a lawyer. The answer to this question depends on the specific circumstances of your situation.
With inflation raising the costs of everyday life, it may be wise to start strategizing for potential lifestyle cost increases in the new year. Every year the Province of Ontario
Starting the legal process on a matter can be overwhelming, especially if it is the first time you are seeking the services of a lawyer. The purpose of a consultation
What is a notable recent case in family law? In the world of family law, an important new case was decided in February 2022 called Ahluwalia v. Ahluwalia, 2022 ONSC
We often get asked whether divorce law is federal or provincial. The answer may surprise you – it’s actually both! While the Divorce Act is a federal law, each province
Getting a divorce is an emotionally challenging experience and is often accompanied by financial strain. In Ontario, the cost of getting divorced can vary significantly depending on a number of
Original Publish Date: April 5, 2016 Revised October 27th, 2022 If you have decided to divorce or separate from your partner, you will need to find a family lawyer who
Original Publish Date: November 10, 2017 Revised October 20th, 2022 Getting a divorce means a lot of things will change. It could mean that you have new financial obligations, or
Original Publish Date: October 28, 2019 Revised October 12th, 2022 Deciding to divorce or separate from your partner is often not an easy thing to do. As hard as the
Original Publish Date: November 21, 2016 Revised October 5th, 2022 There are many myths in landlord/tenant law and one is the view that it is not legal to evict a
Original Publish Date: November 29, 2017 Revised: September 28th, 2022 Making the decision to end a marriage or break off an engagement will inevitably lead to a number of personal,
Original Publish Date: June 26, 2019 Revised: September 21st, 2022 When marriages break down, it’s essential to have a clear understanding of the next steps. The only legal reason you
Original Publish Date: July 15, 2019 Revised: September 15th, 2022 Unfortunately, marriages break down, and in some cases, one spouse may refuse to agree to a divorce. They may not
Original Publish Date: February 15, 2017 Revised September 2022 If a landlord sells a property, it is best if the landlord and tenant can handle it cooperatively. Unfortunately, conflicts often
Children are typically not the ones asking their parents to split up, so divorce can be a scary and very unsettling situation for them if not handled carefully. Parental Alienation;
Social media has become a part of our everyday lives, posting our days, dinners, and even vacations. But as we all know social media can be a dangerous tool as
Wondering how your pension and retirement will be split when you get divorced? Since pensions are property under the Family Law Act, they are included in each partner’s net total
According to Bloomberg, there were an estimated three million new pets who joined Canadian homes over the pandemic. As much as we love our pets, you may be currently faced
For many spouses, the thought of a divorce is a very unsettling experience. In many cases, it may be difficult to get that spouse’s consent to a divorce. So is
You are never too early to make your Will in Ontario. Having said that, according to an Angus Reid Institute poll from 2017, more than half of Canadians don’t have
Have you heard the term “Grey Divorce” buzzing around lately? There’s a reason for that. The pandemic has been hard on everyone, including those who have been married for a
Have you ever wondered what benefits there are to using a lawyer when it comes to your real estate transactions? We have highlighted the top questions we receive on a
It is unfortunate, but business partners do have fall-outs and when they do you want to be ready with the support and legal assistance you may require. But what happens
To put it simply, when it comes to child access, custody or support, according to the laws in Ontario, it does not matter what the sexual orientation is of the
Just got divorced and now you want to change your name? It is actually a lot easier than you think and takes only a couple of steps to complete. We’ve
When a loved one dies, you will have a number of legal responsibilities to deal with… one of the major ones being locating the person’s will and administer the estate
Ever wonder which terms and conditions are related to real estate transactions? A key piece of closing a real estate deal is a purchase and sale agreement, also known as
Thinking about getting a divorce, but unsure of what is legally included as marital property? Learn what happens to your property when you divorce or separate, what you might owe
Have you ever wondered why more couples are opting for divorce as the pandemic continues on? From our experience, there are multiple, complex reasons why the pandemic has caused an
Your business is important and should be kept secured. Therefore, certain cookie-cutter templates for contracts, or legal tutorials you may find online may not be the best solutions for your
The Application of N12 Notices for Landlords Are you a landlord in need of a unit that is currently occupied by a tenant? If you require the unit for your
Thinking about renting but unsure of your rights? The first thing to know is that if you are renting in Ontario, you have legal rights that you should know about
Thinking of relocating for work, but unsure of the impact it would have on your children? We have outlined the steps you are legally required to take to ensure that
The death of a loved one or family member is always difficult. Therefore, disputes over an estate can often be protracted, emotional and complex. We have summed up the most
Thinking about getting a divorce? Don’t want to lose the business you worked so tirelessly to create? No, we’re not advocating for either spouse to deny the other her or
During the divorce process, many assets will be split evenly among each party – as long as they were acquired during the marriage. However, where does that leave a cottage
One of the biggest and sometimes toughest discussions when going through a separation is what is the best route to take to finalize things. Many choose mediation; some because it
Trigger Warning: This case refers to sexual assault and psychological/emotional manipulation. Background Information After the couple moved to Canada in 2002, the man “preyed” on his wife’s vulnerability as a
Background Information A Hamilton family court judge has ruled in favour of a mother who does not want two of her children to be vaccinated against COVID-19, suggesting in his
By law, you aren’t required to hire a divorce lawyer in either contested or uncontested divorces. However, there are certain instances where having professional assistance can be beneficial. A good
Bringing a Motion Forward As all lawyers can attest, taking steps in court takes time. Therefore, if you’re going through a divorce, you may want to ask a judge for
Each person has a unique way of viewing the world, so conflict isn’t necessarily a bad thing. In fact, differences of opinion in relationships often foster open communication and change.
Issues related to the Omicron variant are already making their way into Canada’s family courts, where a judge last week blocked a separated father from taking his daughter overseas for
Effective January 1st, Ontario is enacting new laws which are focused on the validity of wills when it comes to re-married/divorced couples. When someone remarries after a divorce, their Last
The lawyers at Epstein & Associates can provide efficient and result-oriented solutions with respect to resolving the unique issues arising from the cottage and recreational property disputes. Types of Disputes
Ending a marriage is never easy. While your heart may be checked out and ready, there’s a lot to think about when it comes to planning how and when you
In some instances of separation, the couple detaches and goes their separate ways immediately — they divvy up the house, the funds and even their pets. However, in other cases,
In L.S. v. M.A.F., 2021 ONCJ 554, the mother sought an order that the father’s parenting time be supervised. She claims that due to the father’s significant anger management issues,
Ontario is planning to introduce a digital court system that will allow people to access court information from anywhere, and file documents and pay fees online. Attorney General Doug Downey
In a recent court case, an Ontario woman claims her husband said his net worth was zero, while he told the bank it was $21 million. For separated spouses, being
Generally, a child cannot decide which parent they want to live with. But as a child gets closer to the age of majority, which is 18 years old in Ontario,
A restraining order is a civil court order to help protect your health and safety and it can secured in Family Court as well. It can limit: what someone can
Divorce is a hard thing for two people to go through and it is further complicated when there are children involved. A turbulent family unit is something many adopted children
Although Halloween is not considered a “major” holiday, many young children get quite excited to go trick-or-treating with mom and dad. If you share custody of your children, holidays can
If you die without a Will, the law states that you have technically died “intestate,” meaning that you have left no instructions as to how you would like your property
There is a lot of disagreement about vaccination for children and the argument between the parents with differing views is not new. Saskatoon Court has recently ruled that the 13-year-old
“Access” is the legal term for the right of the child and parent to spend time together. Although they may not have a role in making decisions, a parent with
When it comes to divorce records, Ontario presumes that all civil and family litigation matters are public. The only way to seal a court file and take it out of
There is no legal requirement to retain a lawyer to incorporate a company. Any person can incorporate a company, however, there are many benefits in utilizing a lawyer to help
Residential real estate purchases are not always a straightforward process. Sales can take weeks between offer, acceptance and the deal “closing”. During these uncertain times, a lot can change between
‘Back to school’ is just around the corner, and with new regulations being considered around mandatory vaccinations for in-school learning, parents may be at odds over what to do. Whether
Irrespective of how a marriage/relationship ends there can be some mental health issues that may stem from its dissolution. The most important thing to know is that mental health affects
It is important to have legal representation for your small business as they can be a great asset for your business. Don’t be afraid to engage legal counsel at the
Ontario’s Succession Law Reform Act (SLRA) is a respected piece of legislation that was first enacted in 1977. As a result of COVID-19, the SLRA made a large number of
In most circumstances division of family assets in a divorce is split evenly between both parties, but there are some case scenarios that this might not be the case. We
Spousal support is the money paid by one spouse to the other after they separate or divorce. The purpose of spousal support is to: help a spouse become financially stable
When going through a divorce, does it feel like people are talking around you and not with you? Going through a divorce can be stressful. At Epstein & Associates, we
Although the two terms are often used interchangeably, Family Law is an umbrella term covering a broad range of legal topics that stem from family relationships. This includes spousal (i.e.
An uncontested divorce is a court proceeding where the parties are not disputing the claim of a divorce, as compared to a joint divorce application where the parties are mutually
With the stress of the pandemic and homeschooling children rising, many couples are finding it difficult to work on their marriage with calm heads. Living in lockdown for a year
Summer vacation in separated families can be difficult. It is an opportunity to have quality time with your children, without the pressures of a school schedule. However, decisions about how
A British Columbia Court recently ordered a paternity test to determine a child’s parentage, despite the mother’s contention that DNA testing was not in the best interests of the child.
A criminal trial is very different from a civil case. Here are some key differences and similarities between the two. We have outlined the similarities of the criminal vs. civil
Mediation is a process in which disputing parties agree to bring in a neutral third party to assist them in attempting to reach a settlement. Having said that, the neutral
Pregnancy is supposed to be a very exciting and beautiful time for you and your partner. But what if instead of painting your baby’s room and buying baby clothes, you’re
The Supreme Court of British Columbia recently ruled that all three parents in a polyamorous relationship were legal parents of an infant child they had been raising together. This case
How Separation Is Different From Divorce? If someone is considering divorce, it is important to fully understand the different situations and terms that are involved. One question that comes up
If divorce is on your horizon, you do not want to be ill-prepared. There will be a lot of important life decisions that you will need to make, but we
As Canadians, we often find ourselves being compared to the U.S in multiple areas of our lives. While things like recreational activities and sports might be a simple “who’s better”
In some divorces, emotions can run very high and this can lead to unfortunate consequences. A 2017 divorce and custody case between Andrew Berry and Sarah Cotton-Elliot is causing the
0589Divorce is not an easy process to go through. Though it can seem like a large and scary mountain you do not want to climb, here are a couple of
Separation agreements and court orders provide the opportunity to resolve family matters, but they do not legally end your marriage. The only way to do that is by getting a
Although the divorce process can be messy when determining the parenting agreement between you and your child’s parent you want that to go as smoothly as possible for the sake
Thinking of getting a divorce but are scared of the implications that follow? If you are thinking about divorce it is most likely because the negatives about your marriage outweigh
When it comes to divorce there are many ins and outs, government rules and regulations, as well as, overall procedures that are a part of the process. We have put
The unfortunate circumstance of ending a marriage because your spouse is an adulterer can be a painful reality for many people. Whether it ended because of a single affair, multiple
At Epstein and Associates, we know that during a divorce case, one of the main concerns will be protecting your assets. Our goal is to ensure that you leave the
If you’re thinking of buying a house or condo in Ontario, you’ll need a real estate lawyer to help represent you. Overall, a lawyer’s job is to protect your rights
This article is a complete guide to child support laws in Ontario. It covers everything from how child support is calculated to how the Family Responsibility Office (FRO) enforces payments.
A recent Ontario Superior Court of Justice decision, Sussman v. Fabrega 2020 ONSC 5162, highlighted the importance of both parents being involved in a child’s education, even when this objective
A Nova Scotia man who owes a minimum of $250,000 in court-ordered child support has been sentenced to four and a half years in prison. Joseph Power is being heavily
Coordinating Child Custody During Holidays Co-parenting during the holidays can be difficult as holiday celebrations produce some of the most treasured memories your child can have. For this reason, we
