It tends to be used in situations where one or more parties is angry over a transaction that has gone poorly: “I’ll take you to small claims court!” one or more parties announces, usually as a threat. But is Ontario Small Claims Court a good option in specific situations? What is Small Claims Court used […]
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
Fewer married couples, but more common-law ones Just came across this great infographic issued last fall by the Vanier Institute of the Family, based on recent census data. As a lawyer who practices family law, it was particularly interesting to me because while there’s been a decline in the percentage of married couples (from 93%
by Sarah G. Mizrahi, Associate How a child, and their parents, can keep gifted down-payments safe in a separation Let’s start by pointing out the obvious: New homebuyers are facing a very different kind of social and economic landscape when buying their home. The fact is, housing prices in many parts of Canada continue to
Don’t worry so much about that first meeting For most people, engaging a lawyer is a big deal – and not something they do every day. So not only are there concerns about the issue that has brought a person to a law office in the first place, but also concerns about things like costs,
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
From this week’s Lawyer’s Daily: The Ontario government has introduced an amendment to the province’s Family Law Act that would make all children with disabilities eligible for child support regardless of whether their parents were ever married. “Our government believes that everyone is entitled to the financial support they need regardless of the makeup of their family,”
“I had a marriage contract drawn up by my lawyer. My lawyer said my fiance needs to get independent legal advice before she signs it. What does that mean and entail?” First of all, your lawyer is right: Before your fiance signs a marriage contract or cohabitation agreement that has been prepared at your
Divorce proceedings can sometimes get ugly. “I’m in the midst of a messy divorce, and my soon-to-be ex is convinced I had an affair. He says he’s going to subpoena my personal emails to prove it. I’m not having an affair, but I don’t want him to have access to all my personal emails,
Is that Will you wrote on a piece of notebook paper in high school still valid? Okay, we’ve talked before about how important it is to make a Will, and how important it is that your friends, family and/or lawyer can find your will when you’re not around to tell them it’s hidden at the
