Residency should be flexible in adoption of adult child Judicial discretion should be exercised if someone wants to adopt an adult child from another jurisdiction, says Ottawa family lawyer and civil litigator Timothy N. Sullivan. So when Justice Bruce E. Pugsley said he could not grant an adoption order of a step-daughter because the intended step-father, a 71-year-old […]
by Timothy Sullivan, lawyer Custody battles can be costly. Family lawyers see this kind of situation all too often: A protracted custody and access battle between divorcing parents goes on far longer than it should, typically because one or both parties escalate situations restrict access or bring motions when a conversation should have sufficed. The
Avoid family conflict over disinheritance by being upfront There are circumstances in which disinheriting a child may be reasonable, and something that the other family members may support. However, disinheriting children is one of those things that can tear a family apart if it comes as a surprise, revealed only after the parent in
Even highly-educated professionals should see independent legal advice In some ways, getting a divorce is a pretty straightforward proposition: There’s well-established case law, mostly-clear standards, and generally accepted principles for dividing property and establishing spousal and child support. And there’s a fear that ‘bringing lawyers into it’ can turn what may otherwise be an
by Timothy Sullivan, lawyer “Love and marriage go together like a horse and carriage…” When’s the last time you’ve seen a horse or been in a carriage? You meet, date, decide to share expenses and rent, maybe buy a house, have kids. Seems normal. And it is. Common law coupling is less about a decision
What you need to know about your responsibilities by Emily Murray, Litigation Associate As part of SullivanLaw’s love of family pets, including our support of SafePet Ottawa, we have written another article about animals and the law. The first was about pet ownership in family law. Learn about your liability as a dog owners. Ontario’s
by Timothy Sullivan, Lawyer What is probate? Canadians are in the fortunate position that there are no succession duties or death taxes. However, some institutions or agencies require authentication of the last Will. This process is traditionally called “probate” so a “fee” based on the value of the Estate is payable. The probate fee is
When fighting over furry friends, consider what it’s (really) worth by Timothy Sullivan, Lawyer We’re talking about pets more than usual this month because of our support for SafePet Ottawa and their gala event at the beginning of November, but the issue of ‘pet custody’ as it relates to separation and divorce has been increasingly
by Timothy Sullivan, Lawyer As some of you know, a few weeks ago our beautiful 12-year-old Golden Retriever, Kiltie, died. We’re all still feeling the loss – we still expect to be greeted enthusiastically when we come through the front door – but as with all grief, every day seems a little better. Partly
This piece originally appeared in AdvocateDaily. Should lawyers charge a fee for an initial meeting with a potential client? Charging for initial consultations may actually boost the number of new clients coming through the door, our own Timothy N. Sullivan tells AdvocateDaily.com. According to a recent Canadian Lawyer magazine survey on legal fees, lawyers are almost evenly split on the issue, with
