Category Archives for "Family Law"

There’s no sugar-coating how painful it is to end a marriage or long-term partnership. When I tell clients going through divorce that I understand their stress and anxiety, I’m speaking from experience.

In 2005, with two children under the age of four, my husband and I separated, and in the fall of 2008, our divorce was finalized. Our marriage hadn’t been going well for a while and we both knew it was the right decision, even though at the time it felt like I had somehow failed.

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.

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.

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.

There?s no denying that divorce sucks, but it doesn?t have to be all bad. In fact, it can mark the beginning of a brilliant second act where you are truly living your best life. This is why I am starting the Divorcing Well podcast; to go through the journey with you.

In light of the global Covid-19 pandemic, the federal government has extended the deadline for filing personal income tax returns to June 1, giving newly separated people a bit more time to think about how recent changes in their marital status will impact their tax situations.

Gender parity has a fundamental bearing on a society?s ability to thrive and prosper. Ensuring that half of the world?s talent has the opportunity to participate in the workforce has a huge impact on the growth and competitiveness of economies around the world.

Over the holidays, I had a chance to watch the popular movie Marriage Story, starring Scarlett Johansson and Adam Driver as Nicole and Charlie Barber.

If you haven?t seen it, I encourage you to add it to your watchlist: Marriage Story is essential viewing for anyone considering or in the midst of a separation or divorce, as it highlights several important issues.

Here are my key takeaways:

January has the dubious distinction of being branded ?Divorce month,? and for a good reason. In the first month of each new year, I?m inundated with calls from clients who want to start the process of legally ending their marriages.