One of the most challenging aspects of being a family law lawyer is managing clients’ expectations as they go through a divorce. Often, it’s their first time dealing with a legal matter, and they need guidance and direction from their lawyer on costs, timelines and potential outcomes.
Did you watch HBO’s psychological thriller The Undoing starring Nicole Kidman and Hugh Grant? The six-part miniseries features Manhattan power couple Grace and Jonathan Fraser, whose picture-perfect life comes crashing down when Jonathan is arrested for the murder of his mistress Elena Alvez.
I was on the edge of my seat for this nail-biter series and had some thoughts. For the uninitiated, here’s a quick synopsis: Kidman plays Grace Fraser, a successful psychologist married to esteemed pediatric oncologist Jonathan (played by Grant). The couple seems to be living a charmed life with their 12-year-old son Henry –– until Jonathan’s web of lies starts to unravel.
Stop me if you?ve heard this one: divorce is often messy and can bring out the negative traits in people. Couples frequently disagree on issues like custody, parenting schedules and what to do with the matrimonial home, among other issues.
In my practice, I see the divorce process frequently transform otherwise reasonable people into the worst versions of themselves. They?re hurt, angry, unwilling to compromise and are intent on making their former partner pay for causing such a drastic change in their lives.
Everyone deserves access to justice, whether they have the means to hire a lawyer or not. It?s an increasingly important issue in family law, where the growing number of self-represented litigants (SRLs) is a clear indicator that the legal system is not working as it should.
In this column, I?ll unpack the reasons behind the surge of people opting to represent themselves and offer some tips and guidance on how to be successful if you choose that route.
If you think a vaccine for COVID-19 will alleviate all the problems the virus is causing, think again.
As I recently discussed, many parents are having disagreements about whether it is safe to send their kids back to school. As the number of cases in schools continues to climb ? there were 342 cases in Ontario schools on the day I wrote this column ? the possibility of a second lockdown keeps growing.
But a vaccine will fix everything, right? Sadly no.
I have a confession: I?m a sucker for trashy reality television.
After a long day of lawyering, I sometimes need to escape the busyness of the day with some brain candy. 90 Day Fianc?? Check. Married at First Sight? Yep. Real Housewives? Sign me up!
Ontario has laid out its education plan for the upcoming school year, confirming that schools will reopen in September for both elementary and high-school students.
But many parents are still unsure if it?s safe to send their children back to class in the middle of a pandemic.
Divorce is one of the most stressful events a person will ever experience. It impacts the most critical aspect of life: your children, where you live, your financial health and your sense of security in the world.
It?s been widely reported that the stress associated with a marital breakup can have a negative impact on your physical health and mental well-being. A new study from the University of British Columbia, suggests that divorce also poses an increased risk of death.
It seems ambitious but the Ministry of the Attorney General plans to reopen a limited number of courthouses on July 6.
I?m not sure if that will happen since I can?t even see a hairdresser in Toronto right now. Still, I realize everyone wants to see our judicial system operating again, so let?s have faith that things will work out.
Everyone is feeling stress and anxiety during this COVID-19 pandemic, and that strain is heightened for many former couples arguing over parenting time with children and support payments.
As tough as this situation is, ex-spouses must do everything they can to resolve their disputes before escalating matters through the courts.
