How to Announce Divorce: A Thoughtful Approach
Divorce is one of life’s most challenging transitions, impacting not only you and your spouse but also your family, friends, and even colleagues. The way you announce your divorce can play a significant role in shaping how others perceive and respond to this change. A poorly handled divorce announcement can strain relationships and create unnecessary stress, especially if children are...
What’s My Legal Date of Separation?
It may seem odd, but in some divorce scenarios, you and your spouse may not agree on the exact date you officially separated from each other. This uncertainty could arise for many reasons. Financial pressures, a poor real estate market, or job losses may have forced you to continue living under the same roof until you can afford separate residences. Or, perhaps you had some brief attempts at...
How to Check Your Divorce Status in Ontario
Divorce is a major life event. It’s a very rule-heavy, document-laden procedure. As with many other aspects of life, the divorce process has been streamlined and enhanced through the use of technology. Divorce records are now online – but that doesn’t mean they are freely accessible. If you’re in Ontario, here are some of the essentials you should know, about getting information about the...
Pros and Cons of Marriage vs. Common-Law: Which is Best for You?
So you’ve found yourself a lifelong partner – someone who you think is “The One”. It looks like happily-ever-after is well within reach for you. Now what? Do you get married? Or do you choose to live together in a common-law relationship? It’s an important decision. That’s because in Ontario, each of these options comes with distinct legal rights and responsibilities. Understanding the...
Text Messages and Harassment in Family Law
If you are in the midst of a contentious separation or divorce, it’s easy to get embroiled in a heated exchange of text messages with your spouse. All it takes is to pick up your phone, type out a few words, and … the shots are fired. It’s one way to vent your frustrations, but these exchanges can escalate rapidly. You may find your spouse texting you dozens of times in a row, or...
Received an Early Inheritance? Learn How to Protect it in a Divorce
Early inheritances are becoming more routine lately, and are coming up for discussion in families more often. Perhaps your aging parents have earmarked some Estate funds for you, and are thinking about putting them in your hands now, before their inevitable passing. That way, you can enjoy it sooner rather than later. This kind of unexpected windfall can provide you with a significant...
Common-Law Relationships in Ontario: The Essentials
Under Canadian Family law, there are two categories of romantic relationships that are recognized: 1) Formal marriages, and 2) Common-law unions. With common-law relationships in particular, there is often a misconception that the two partners – being unmarried – must simply “walk away” from each other, with no string attached. But this is not quite true. In fact, common-law relationships...
My Spouse Died After We Separated. What Happens to All Our Assets & Debts?
If you’re separated but not divorced, and your spouse suddenly dies, it can add an unexpected layer of complexity to the process of divorce, which is already an emotional and challenging situation. You may wonder how your spouse’s death will affect the division of your marital assets and liabilities, particularly if things weren’t fully settled before they passed away. Understanding how...
Divorce Tips: How to Deal with Your Spouse’s False Allegations
Divorce can be a harrowing and emotionally-charged experience. In many Ontario divorces, the embattled spouses often scheme about ways to gain tactical advantages over each other. Although there are many strategies for doing this, a common one is also the simplest: Through falsehood. In your own divorce, you may have learned that your spouse is making false allegations against you. Perhaps...