In the late 1980s, a new phrase started to pop up in American and then Canadian family courts: parental alienation syndrome (PAS). Originally coined by American psychiatrist Richard Gardner, the term was used to describe situations where one parent intentionally…
“But if you try sometime you find/You get what you need.” Many women leaving abusive relationships would take exception to even the modest optimism expressed by the Rolling Stones in this 1969 hit. Nonetheless, this is very much the tone…
This is the second installment of a two-part series There are many ways a family can organize access even when one parent lives some distance away from the kids. Factors that need to be considered include: Distance The children’s ages…
This is the first installment of a two-part series We are living in an increasingly globalized world, so it is not surprising that families move – often long distances – more than they used to. While this can pose challenges…
Canada’s landscape has been strewn with domestic violence homicides this past year. And, it must be remembered, the number of women killed is only the tip of the iceberg of the number of women subjected to abuse in their relationships.…
More than 80,000 people are unrepresented in family court proceedings in Ontario every year. You see many women who don’t have lawyers and, often, their former partner is also unrepresented. As we have discussed in the past, while the lack…
It is not uncommon for a woman to experience difficulties with her family law lawyer. The lawyer may not understand the unique dynamics in a case involving family violence. They may be good at the legal aspects of their work…
Track the abuse throughout your relationship by thinking about what went on at key points. Write this down; point form is fine. Take some time to organize this information before any meeting where you may have to talk about it;…
As of April 1st, 2019, the Ministry of the Attorney General (MAG) has implemented increases to some of the fees payable in a family court case. Most, but not all, of these fees are related to divorce applications. MAG has…
The family court process can be long and difficult. By the time it is over, many women are often exhausted and sick and tired of dealing with their former partner. Many also assume the battle is over; that the court…
