Sure, ‘without prejudice’ seems like a real legal term. But what is it, exactly? The traditional meaning of ‘without prejudice’ it is to allow communications between parties without worrying that those communications, like letters or emails, will be used in court against the writer. However, it’s a term often misused by lawyers. It should be […]
A topic that many people just don’t consider A recent Ontario Court of Appeal (OCA) ruling that allows a second wife and child to claim support from a deceased common-law husband’s life insurance policy raises some important questions and issues. The ruling overturned a Divisional Court decision that found the second wife was not a “creditor”
“I’m still married, but now I have a live-in girlfriend. We both have kids. What does this mean, legally speaking?” Whenever a married couple separates – especially if there are young children involved – it’s best to document any custody and parenting arrangements, even if they’re only to be used on an interim basis.
by Timothy Sullivan, Principal We hear it all the time: “I don’t have much, so I don’t need a Will.” Preparing a Will is a conscious effort. From deciding to have one, discussing with your intended heirs, finding the lawyer you’re comfortable with and going through the appointments with a lawyer and the decision-making about
“I paid a contractor $35,000 to renovate the kitchen. It’s been 6 months, it’s only half-done, and I’m pretty sure he’s not going to finish it. What are my remedies in civil court?” Before we consider suing, we have to understand the reasons for the delay. The desire of the homeowner is to have the
Non-competes are increasingly common – but they have to be reasonable Employees may be required to sign an employment contract as a term of employment. Typical employment agreements include the employee’s start date, payment terms, details of future increases or changes in remuneration, duties, the term of employment and the terms of dismissal. As
As with most things in law, the answer is “It depends.” Mediation is one way of resolving a dispute. It’s not the only way. It can be a great way to solve differences in family disputes – but isn’t always the best approach. It’s complicated. Lawyers typically have very little to do with mediation, so
Engaging legal counsel shouldn’t be intimidating. We provide smart, candid, appropriate and thoughtful legal advice. Our approach is to help our client make informed decisions and find the best way to a resolution. As part of this approach, we’re part of the Collaborative Practice Ottawa network. What is collaborative law? “Collaborative Practice, also known
What are the rights and responsibilities of executors? “My cousin wants a car from the estate of our recently-deceased, not-wealthy uncle. One of the executors of our uncle’s will is willing to give him a pretty good price for the car, just to get rid of it, but the other executor says they should sell
Thanks to television and some of the more drama-filled divorces most of us see in the media from time to time, most people think they have a good idea about child support rules. The truth is that in Ontario, child support is largely dictated by the courts. Most of the time, it isn’t complicated
