Is Your Ex Entitled to Your Severance Package in Ontario?

After years of hard work, your company is laying you off. You’re upset and frustrated, but at least you’ll be getting severance pay. What if you’re going through a divorce around the same time – does your ex get to keep any part of your Ontario severance package? Read on to learn about laws in Ontario regarding severance pay, divorce, and property. Divorce in Ontario: Some Important...

What the New Canada Child Benefits Will Mean for Divorced Parents

Canadian families who have dealt with divorce often experience additional complications with shared custody. In addition to scheduling visits and distributing parental duties, divorced couples have to determine the numbers in terms of child benefits and child support. New programs implemented for families by the government usually results in some sort of change to the way funds are...

Start Your New Life with a Post-Divorce Bucket List

There’s no arguing that the majority of divorces are unhappy events. Rare is the divorce that’s completely mutual and pain-free. Due to the traumatic nature of the dissolution of marriage, it’s always advisable to try to salvage your relationship if you’re not experiencing emotional or physical abuse from your partner. However, when divorce is the option that makes the most sense, it’s...

The Difference Between Canadian and US Divorce Laws

Divorce law in Canada and the United States is similar in terms of the dissolution of marriage and the division of wealth and child custody. How the law is enforced, however, differs greatly. Canada has a federal divorce act while the United States leaves the specifics up to each individual state. Canadian provinces can make only small changes in family law to suit jurisdictional...

Are You Avoiding Divorce Because Your Family “Stays Together?”

Staying together for the sake of the kids is a noble idea. Divorce is never a pleasant situation, and your kids will have to deal with the dissolution of your marriage in spite of your best efforts to shield them from it. Depending on the circumstances, it may indeed be a good idea to remain married. Unfortunately, if the relationship can’t be healed, then staying together for the kids could...

Are Common Law Relationships Pushing the Divorce Rate Down?

It’s likely that they are. To understand how, let’s look at some of the facts around common-law relationships. How common is common law? According to the CBC, as of the 2011 census, 11% of Canadian women were living with a common-law partner. And people of all ages are changing the way they approach relationships. Historica reports that “Today, first unions are more likely...

A Bad Marriage is More Stressful Than a Bad Job

While both these issues are serious and can impact both your psychological and physical health, the distress caused by a bad marriage is ultimately worse. A job is important in terms of our social status and finances; marriage affects these areas and our overall sense of emotional security. Emotional and Physical Harm A bad job can create stress in other areas of your life, but a bad marriage...

Planning Your Fresh Start After Divorce

Divorce isn’t just about the end of a relationship; it also represents a new start for you. Leaving an unhealthy relationship opens up new possibilities. Here are some ways to make the most of this time: 1. Adjust your attitude toward yourself While WebMD admits that this “may sound cheesy and New Age-y” learning “to like yourself” and not holding onto a negative...

4 Things to Avoid Saying When Telling Your Kids About Divorce

It’s no surprise that talking to kids about divorce is hard. You have to manage your own emotions, anticipate theirs, and try to reassure them that you’ll both still be there for them (or, in some cases, face the reality that one of you may not be willing to take on full responsibility). To help guide your discussions, here are 4 things to avoid saying to your children when...