by Howard Nightingale | Aug 13, 2019 | Mediation |
Mediation is becoming the legal equivalent of “the next big thing.” It probably is all ready. We are long familiar with it as a means of settling labour strikes by resolving union/government disputes peacefully when strikes have failed to bring about an agreement. Now...
by Howard Nightingale | Jun 18, 2019 | Family Law |
Our previous blog (May 2019) examined the issue of separated and divorced parental alienation – the attempt by parents to gain their children’s love by turning them against the other parent. Sometimes both parents are guilty of some form of parental alienation,...
by Howard Nightingale | May 17, 2019 | Family Law, Federal Court Legislation |
Who is most guilty of parental alienation, the custodial parent, usually the mother, or the access parent, usually the father?Answer: In his Globe and Mail essay, Judge Harvey Brownstone writes, “We judges often see high conflict-cases where both parents badmouth each...
by Howard Nightingale | Mar 27, 2019 | Real Estate Law |
Commercial tenants and their residential counterparts have different needs and accordingly are governed by different legislation. Landlords, whether residential or commercial, have a similar objective, that being a sound investment, part of which is determined by...
by Howard Nightingale | Feb 6, 2019 | Family Law |
Yes, it’s the law! Pot addiction – or to use more precise language – addiction to cannabis – can indeed be grounds for divorce. As we adjust to a new aspect of societal order in which using “pot” is legal, this connection of cannabis to divorce likely...
by Howard Nightingale | Oct 12, 2018 | Family Law, Federal Court Legislation, Ontario Legislation |
In Ontario, what many people casually refer to as a “prenup’ is legally termed a marriage contract. Its purpose is to allow either or both of the partners, prior to the marriage, to set aside and protect specific wealth assets that would otherwise be subject to the...
by Howard Nightingale | Aug 9, 2018 | Wills & Estates |
Once known as probate fees, the official name is now the Estate Administration Tax Public interest in wills and estates seems to be on the increase. Maybe that’s because we’re still grappling with Ontario’s new legislation which came into effect January 1, 2015 and...
by Howard Nightingale | Jul 3, 2018 | Family Law, Federal Court Legislation |
Two decades old now, the Canadian Divorce Act is out of date according to the federal government; Bill C-78 is their attempt to modernize it. The bill is promoted as being “child centric:” specifically, the law uses the phrase, Best interests of the child, and directs...
by Howard Nightingale | Apr 25, 2018 | Family Law, Legal Coaching |
What is legal coaching? The concept of legal coaching is best understood by redefining – at least to an extent – the relationship between lawyer and client. The lawyer does not represent you; you represent yourself. The lawyer now becomes a coach or tutor whose...
by Howard Nightingale | Apr 5, 2018 | Family Law |
Family Court has developed new terminology reflecting its attempt to develop alternative arrangements for the children of divorced and separated parents. These include: primary and secondary parents; shared and split custody, and parallel parenting. Exactly what are...
