After more than three years of writing blogs, you will note that I am not a big fan of taking matters to trial in family law or child protection cases. So are most lawyers practicing in these areas of law. Only about 3 to 5 % of cases ever reach the trial stage. [...]
Introduction As the world watches the terror unfold in the Ukraine, our hearts ache for those brave citizens who remain in the homeland to fight against the tyranny of evil of the Russian invasion. It is a sad but realistic expectation that some of them will not survive the conflict. This is all too [...]
As the clock struck midnight on a new year, I reflected on that year that was and the hope that a new year always seems to bring. It sparked an idea for a blog, but given the moment, I waited until now to expand on that sparkling thought – I’m sure my wife would [...]
Hi everyone. I normally write a blog each month to provide some information for the public on a pressing aspect of family law, child protection law or wills/powers of attorney. With the end of 2021 nearly upon us, I have decided to keep things a little light, and write a “tongue-in-cheek” poem, using a [...]
With apologies in advance to the 1980’s band OMD, I decided to borrow the opening line from the soundtrack to the hit movie from 1986 “Pretty in Pink” to introduce the topic to this month’s blog - Relocation. It is quite common in today’s society that, following the end of a relationship, one or [...]
In all my years of doing family law, there is no single form that draws the ire of clients as much as the financial statement. It is a dull and painstakingly clumsy form. When I was a staff lawyer at the Hamilton Family Courthouse (about 15-20 years ago), I initially gave clients the blank [...]
I was recently discussing a file with a colleague, a young lawyer. He is having trouble letting a prospective client know that there is no chance he will be successful in what he is seeking in his family law case. But even though the client has sought multiple opinions, the client does not care [...]
In years gone by, if a parent in a child protection case lost at trial, then unless there were a chance of success at an appeal, this would spell the end of the parent-child relationship. The kids would be adopted out or be placed in the care of society indefinitely. But that is no [...]
Upon the end of a marriage or a common-law relationship, the separating parties generally do not like each other any longer. They wish to end their connection to one another. I say “generally” as sometimes, one party wishes to reconcile, but the other party has already “moved on” - whether mentally or physically –from [...]
Family law matters are fraught with so much emotional turmoil. First, the end of any relationship brings pain, sadness, and anger; then you have family and friends who take sides, followed by the practical uncertainties for the children, who are caught in the middle of the dispute. To make it worse, there are serious [...]
