Toronto Family Law Blog

There are many Ontarians who go into a divorce knowing that there will be a myriad of issues to address, but who are still surprised at how complex these cases can become. Sure, one knows more about their family, spouse and personal finances than anyone else, but once they become involved in the family law process, they will be exposed to other people -- judges and attorneys, for starters -- who oftentimes have decades of experience with divorce cases and the associated issues. During the divorce process, one area in which many people are somewhat surprised is when they learn the full extent of their assets and debts.

It can help to have a checklist of assets considering what all needs to be split during the property division process. For example, one category would be real estate. Sure, families probably own a family home, but is there other real estate as well; a vacation home or rental property, perhaps?

We all know that spousal support paid by a Canadian resident to a Canadian resident is tax deductible to the payor and must be included in the income of the recipient.

But what happens now where the support payor resides in the U.S.A. and the support recipient resides in Canada?

Toronto family law issues are some of the most difficult legal problems. While most people enter a relationship and have children with someone else thinking that their bond will only grow with time, the unfortunate reality is that this is not always the case. Relationships fray and people can grow apart. However, if there are children from the relationship, certain legal realities need to be established. Paternity is one.

When we talk about, "paternity," we are talking about establishing the identity of the biological father. These days, the most common way to establish paternity is through DNA testing. And, there is a science behind this methodology that is important for anyone facing this family law issue to understand.

When parents separate or divorce, it can be challenging for the children involved to adjust to their new circumstances. Children will already be trying to understand and accept any new living arrangements, visitation schedules, and the idea that their parents are no longer together.

By itself, this can be difficult for children of all ages to accept, from toddlers to teenagers. Parents will also be dealing with this new arrangement as well, which they may find just as challenging as their children do.