Toronto Family Law Blog

Ontarians who have ever faced a complicated family law issue know how emotional and trying the process can be. From high asset divorce cases to child custody issues, to fighting for a father's rights, the range of family law issues that might come up in any given person's life is expansive. When dealing with these issues, some people may feel compelled to take the, "stick your head in the sand" approach because they do not want to deal with the emotions involved. However, being dedicated to addressing the issues head-on, getting the best result possible and then moving on with life can be a better approach for most people.

Divorce cases, for example, are, in essence, the division of a relationship or even an entire family. In many cases, years of animosity have led to the split or perhaps, even a single, explosive incident led to the divorce. Either way, people have hurt feelings and face uncertainty about what their lives will look like post-divorce. This is understandable at the very least, but also something to be expected.

Child custody can be one of the most contentious issues that comes up in a divorce case. For our readers, that is probably understandable, since parents only want what is best for their children. The problem that arises in child custody disputes is that sometimes, parents disagree on what, exactly, is in their child's best interests. Understanding the basics of child custody can help parents come to terms with how their specific legal arrangement will turn out.

For starters, there are two parts of the child custody puzzle: "legal" custody and "physical" custody. Legal custody refers to which of the parents -- or both -- has the right to make important decisions about how the child will be raised, such as where the child will go to school, where the child will receive medical care and what type of medical care will be given and how the child will spend time in extracurricular activities. In essence, the parent with "legal" custody of the child gets to make the decisions that will have the biggest effect on the child's life. Most family law judges though, prefer that both parents have legal custody, thereby, having the ability to give input on these important decisions.

We have had the benefit of some recent post retirement spousal support cases. For some support payors, the landscape may not be quite as bleak as my previous blog post might indicate.

An Ontario divorce is such a life-altering event for most people that they spend quite a bit of time, both before and during the divorce process, looking for answers to the many questions they have. From the decision to get divorced, to how to get the case started, to how to get a fair result -- the questions that can come up in any given case can seem endless.

So, like with so many other issues in our lives, there is an application or "app" that might help with a divorce case? A recent news article noted a number of online sources that might provide support or information for those who are either contemplating a divorce or who are in the middle of the divorce process.