Welcome to LegalNest Family Law Services

 A "separation" is when a couple decides to live apart from each other because the relationship has broken down. The couple may be married, or they may be unmarried but living together like a married couple in a common-law relationship. A "divorce" is when a court officially ends a marriage. Only legally married couples can divorce. Under Canada's Constitution, the federal, provincial and territorial governments share responsibility for family law. 

 " More than 1 million children each year experience their parents’ divorce. For these children and their parents, this process can be emotionally traumatic from the beginning of parental disagreement and rancor, through the divorce, and often for many years thereafter. Pediatricians are encouraged to be aware of behavioral changes in their patients that might be signals of family dysfunction so they can help parents and children understand and deal more positively with the issue." 

  "When a marriage ends, the equal contribution of each person to the marriage is recognized. The law provides that the value of any kind of property that was acquired by a spouse during the marriage and still exists at separation must be divided equally between the spouses. Also, any increase in the value of property owned by a spouse at the date of marriage must be shared. The payment that may be owed to one of the spouses in order to effect this sharing is called an equalization payment, or an equalization of net family property." "There are some possible exceptions to these rules, which are called excluded property, and may include gifts or inheritances received during the marriage from someone other than a spouse, provided that the gifts or inheritances were not used towards a matrimonial home." 

 " The law views spousal relationships as financial partnerships. When the partnership breaks down, the person with more income or assets may have to pay support to the other. At the same time, the law expects adults to look after their own needs to the best of their abilities." 

  "FRO is a program of the Government of Ontario that helps families get the support they are entitled to by collecting, distributing and enforcing child and spousal support payments." 

  "When concerns are raised about a family's ability to care for a child, a child protection agency may take steps to investigate the care the child is receiving. If the child protection worker determines that the child is in need of protection, the children's aid society may start a court application against the child's parents or caregivers, and the child may be removed from their care. This area of law is referred to as child protection."