The Family Law Act provides a framework for how assets and debt can get divided during a separation and/or divorce and is intended to make way for an equitable division of assets as well as… Read More

Today more than ever, couples are choosing to cohabitate before getting married or opting not to marry at all.  What is cohabitation?  Cohabitation is when two unmarried individual… Read More

Establishing a parenting plan can help you avoid conflict and go the extra mile for your child after a separation or divorce. You and your partner may use a parenting plan to determine more… Read More

Private pensions are a valuable component of retirement planning for many Canadians as they offer predictable income and financial security beyond the Canada Pension Plan CPP. In Ontario, pr… Read More

The well-being of a child can be as important to a grandparent as it is to a mother or father. Although most cases dealing with access and decision-making responsibility (formerly custody) a… Read More

In Ontario, parental alienation is recognized as a serious concern that can negatively impact the parent-child relationship as well as the wellbeing of the child.  Alienating actions ma… Read More

Financial abuse is a serious matter and is recognized in Ontario as a form of family violence. Because it is not talked about as often as other forms of abuse, it can be hard to determine wh… Read More

The Collaborative Divorce Process Collaborative divorce refers to the process of spouses working together to settle the terms of their divorce outside of court. Collaborative divorce is volu… Read More

Not only can the stress of settling a divorce, separation, or parenting time negatively affect mental health, but pre-existing mental health conditions can play a critical role in family law… Read More

There is a common misconception among separating parties that, when their children are “old enough,” they will be able to decide which parent to live with. Well – this is n… Read More

Grandparents play an integral role in the lives of their grandchildren. They provide care, guidance, and are often important support systems for their grandchildren. When parent’s sepa… Read More

By Jeffrey Mammon, B.A. J.D., Family Law Lawyer What is the FRO? The Family Responsibility and Support Arrears Enforcement Act is the Statutory Authority that provides the FRO the legislativ… Read More

Navigating a separation or divorce can be emotionally and mentally difficult for all involved. Dividing assets is challenging enough before you consider the added complexities related to dig… Read More

Summary Every case requires a unique and personalized approach to minimizing conflict during a separation or divorce. Some matters have a conflict that derives from differing parenting style… Read More

With the passing of The Civil Marriages Act in 2005, same sex marriage was finally legalized in Canada. The laws with respect to same-sex (married) couples who are in the process of a separa… Read More

Discussions surrounding mental health have become increasingly common and while this has helped to reduce stigma, it has not gone away completely. However, it is an important topic for many… Read More

Undergoing a separation or divorce can impact all areas of your life. From your mental health to your family’s day-to-day activities, the process has the potential to cause a lot of st… Read More

If you believe your ex-spouse may be trying to alienate your child or children from you, you are likely very stressed and you might be wondering how to address it without creating even more… Read More

Many parents do not realize that the community that your child(ren) are born into and are raised to be a part of, whether geographical or social, can play a significant role in parenting iss… Read More

By Jeffrey Mammon, B.A. J.D., Family Law Lawyer Often when parents separate they are more focused on the immediate  “regular” day to day parenting schedule with their childr… Read More

The Parallels: The Enforceability and Application of Religious Marriage Contracts Upon Dissolution of Marriage in Ontario By: Samah Rahman and Jeffrey Mammon At Gelman & Associates, our… Read More

Among couples that undergo a divorce or separation, the division of property varies case to case. While some couples may decide on an equal 50/50 division of property, others may create a mo… Read More

Divorce is a complex and emotionally charged process that can be significantly more challenging when one of the parties involved exhibits narcissistic traits. Narcissists often engage in man… Read More

What Is Narcissism? ‘Narcissism’ has become somewhat of a catch-all vogue term casually thrown around, particularly in the realm of family law. In our social-media frenzied cultu… Read More

Family Day is a time to celebrate and cherish the bonds that make our lives richer. For many, this includes the unique relationships children have with their grandparents and extended family… Read More

In a ruling that stirs debate about balancing child safety and parental rights, the Ontario Superior Court of Justice granted unsupervised parenting time to Christopher Hunt, a father previo… Read More

What You Should Know about the Equalization of Property in a Divorce We spoke with Claire McDowell, a family lawyer with Gelman & Associates, about what you should know about the equaliz… Read More

Pet Ownership During a Separation or Divorce in Ontario The emotional turmoil that comes with a separation or divorce can be heightened when one’s cherished pets are involved. This is… Read More

Safety Planning for Survivors of Domestic Violence We asked Evan Clemence, family lawyer at Gelman & Associates, some commonly asked questions about safety planning for survivors of… Read More

We spoke with Claire McDowell, a family lawyer with Gelman & Associates, about the impact of divorce on children.  Please note that this article is intended as an overview on a subj… Read More

Many parents do not realize that the community that your child(ren) are born into and are raised to be a part of, whether geographical or social, can play a significant role in parenting iss… Read More

We asked Evan Clemence, family lawyer at Gelman & Associates, some commonly asked questions about how religious differences impact family law proceedings in Ontario. Please be advis… Read More

We spoke with Gabrielle Pop-Lazic, a Senior Lawyer with Gelman & Associates, on the subject of how to modify existing decision-making responsibility or support Orders in Ontario.  P… Read More

The following is meant as an introductory legal overview of a topic and is not legal advice. For legal advice about your particular circumstances, please contact our office to book a consult… Read More

The following is meant as an introductory overview with legal information, not legal advice. If you are in Ontario and are seeking legal advice with respect to your matter, please contact us… Read More

We spoke with family lawyer Claire McDowell about some commonly-asked questions on family mediation in Ontario. Please be advised that these answers are not intended as legal advice, but rat… Read More

By: Claire McDowell The following is not intended as legal advice, but rather as an introductory overview on a legal subject. For legal advice regarding your own separation, we recommend con… Read More

By: Claire McDowell The following contains legal information and not legal advice. Should you need legal advice pertaining to your matter and are within Ontario, please contact our office fo… Read More

We spoke with Gabrielle Pop-Lazic, a lawyer with Gelman & Associates, on the subject of what to do if your ex-spouse is not following a custody or access order.  Please note that th… Read More

A divorce brings forth many questions and challenges, and one of the most critical aspects to consider is how decision-making responsibility and parenting time will be allocated for your chi… Read More

Halloween, with its costumes, candy, and spooky fun, is a much-anticipated holiday for kids. If you’re co-parenting, ensuring that your children have a fantastic and stress-free Hallow… Read More

We asked Evan Clemence, a family law lawyer at Gelman & Associates, what happens when you go to Court during a divorce in Ontario. Please be advised that these answers are not inten… Read More

By: Claire McDowell The following blog post is meant for information purposes only. It is not legal advice. To discuss your particular matter with a family law lawyer, please contact us to b… Read More

We spoke with Gabrielle Pop-Lazic, a lawyer with Gelman & Associates, on the subject of what to do if your ex-spouse is not complying with Court Orders regarding the children.  Plea… Read More

We asked Evan Clemence, family law specialist lawyer at Gelman & Associates, some commonly asked questions about the divorce process in Ontario. Please be advised that these answers… Read More

By: Claire McDowell  There is a common misunderstanding of the process for divorce in Ontario family Courts. In order to properly understand which of the available options in ending you… Read More

We asked Paul Slan, a lawyer and the Director of Professional Development at Gelman & Associates, some commonly asked questions about collaborative divorce in Ontario. Please be adv… Read More

Intimate partner violence is an enduring societal concern that encompasses a range of abuses, from physical violence to psychological manipulation. Acknowledging the significance of addressi… Read More

We asked Evan Clemence, family law lawyer at Gelman & Associates, some commonly asked questions about family law proceedings in Ontario. Please be advised that these answers are not… Read More

Summer is here, and parents often find themselves planning various enriching activities and camps for their children. However, when co-parenting is involved, the decision-making process can… Read More

We asked Paul Slan, a lawyer and the Director of Professional Development at Gelman & Associates, some commonly asked questions about creating a parenting plan during a divorce or s… Read More

We asked Evan Clemence, family law lawyer at Gelman & Associates, some commonly asked questions about procedural fairness in family law cases in Ontario. Please be advised that thes… Read More

We asked Paul Slan, a lawyer & the Director of Professional Development at Gelman & Associates, some commonly asked questions about alternative dispute resolution services in Ontario… Read More

Travelling with children can be an exciting and enriching experience, allowing families to create lasting memories and explore new horizons together. However, amidst the excitement, it is cr… Read More

We asked Gabrielle Pop-Lazic, a lawyer with Gelman & Associates, some commonly-asked questions about changes surrounding decision-making responsibility and parenting time in Ontario. Ple… Read More

When going through a separation or divorce in Ontario, it’s crucial to prioritize the well-being of your children and establish a parenting plan that promotes their best interests. The… Read More

We spoke with Gabrielle Pop-Lazic, a Toronto family lawyer with Gelman & Associates, on the subject of the child’s best interests in family law in Ontario.  Please note that t… Read More

We spoke with Paul Slan, family lawyer and Director of Professional Development at Gelman & Associates, about spousal support in Ontario. Please note that the following is not intended t… Read More

We asked Paul Slan, lawyer and Director of Professional Development at Gelman & Associates, some commonly-asked questions about family adoptions in Ontario. Please be advised that these… Read More

By Lisa Gelman Trying to navigate the world of co-parenting can be challenging – especially if you and your former spouse or common-law partner are not on good terms. Sometimes, one pa… Read More

We asked Lisa Gelman, founder of Gelman & Associates, some commonly asked questions with regards to the separation process in Ontario. Please note that the answers are not intended to ac… Read More

Gelman & Associates has been proudly assisting Ontarians with child support matters for over 20 years. We sat down with family lawyer Paul Slan and interviewed him on commonly asked ques… Read More

We spoke with Lisa Gelman, founder of Gelman & Associates, about the process of dividing a business during a divorce in Ontario. For over 20 years, Gelman & Associates have been help… Read More

It’s becoming more common for couples to explore the idea of entering into a pre-nuptial agreement: a domestic contract that is entered into prior to the marriage. However, many couple… Read More

When you’re going through a separation, having the right mediator can make all the difference in the experience you have and how conflict is resolved between you and your soon-to-be fo… Read More

Any divorce can be stressful and emotionally draining. But they can be especially difficult and even intimidating if one of the partners refuses to let go of the marriage. If you are in a ma… Read More

 Some people come to us and think that being financially well-off could make the process for filing for divorce and wanting a separation much more straightforward. In reality, that&rsq… Read More

How to start the divorce process in Ontario We often hear from our clients that ending their relationship and/or a marriage is one of the hardest challenging times that they have ever face… Read More

Written by: Carolyn Chambers  The following article is legal information and not legal advice. Should you require legal advice on your family law issue, please contact us to book a free… Read More

Written by: Galia Amoils  Treating your pet as if they were part of the family has become the status quo in North American homes. However, in the context of divorce, what do the Courts… Read More

Written by: Annette Nyland  The short answer is yes, but the decision allowing spouses to be awarded damages for abuse and/or domestic violence is being appealed. The Divorce Act was am… Read More

Written by: Jessica Lipton  DISCLAIMER – This article contains legal information, not legal advice. If you are looking for advice about your particular matter, please contact our… Read More

Relocating with or without your child is not as simple as packing your bags and leaving. Relocation cases are some of the most difficult cases to predict how a Court will decide, as ultimate… Read More

The holidays can be difficult for separated families. It may be impossible for children to celebrate the holidays with both parents. Splitting these special times for the children with your… Read More

In Canada, the breakdown of a marriage as a basis for divorce can be established in 3 different ways according to the Divorce Act. First, it can be proven by establishing that the spouses ha… Read More

In Ontario, a separation is when two people who have been living together as either married or common-law decide to end their relationship and live apart. However, in some instances the two… Read More

Divorce is a taxing process – emotionally, physically, financially, and socially.   No matter the reason for the divorce or the state of your relationship with your ex, your entir… Read More

Divorce and the division of assets are anything but simple.  While Ontario law requires that assets be distributed equitably, there are cases in which one spouse is the legal title hold… Read More

All parents are required to provide financial support to their children.  This obligation applies to all parents whether they are married, in a relationship or not.  Similarly, you… Read More

Child support is an obligation of every parent.  Choosing to marry your child’s other parent is a personal choice, but you are required to provide financial support to your childr… Read More

Decision-making responsibility (formerly referred to as “custody”) is the right to make important decisions about how your child is raised and cared for.  These decisions in… Read More

You may have gone into your divorce believing that you would be free of your narcissistic partner.  Unfortunately, that is not always the way things happen, and your ex’s behavio… Read More

Spousal support is a monetary payment that one spouse may be ordered to pay the other for their financial support at the end of a marriage or relationship involving long-term cohabitation.&n… Read More

If there is one thing that divorcing parties can usually agree on, it’s that divorce is expensive.  This unfortunate truth is well known to family law lawyers and their clients, b… Read More

Divorce is a part of life in the 21st century.  In fact, 1 in 5 Canadians reported that their parents are divorced or separated.  Divorce is so common in today’s world that a… Read More

Parents typically have the final say over what is best for their children. This parental authority includes the decision-making power over with whom their children connect and spend time and… Read More

Divorce is notorious for being one of the most difficult times in a person’s life.  The process is emotionally taxing and rarely simple.  Unfortunately, the division of asset… Read More

Divorce is often a distressing and emotionally taxing experience.  Unfortunately, when children are involved, divorcing parties cannot simply walk away from one another and never look b… Read More

Family violence has not historically been recognized as a civil tort, but recently in the matter of Ahluwalia v. Ahluwalia, 2022 ONSC 1303 [Ahluwalia], Justice Mandhane of the Ontario Superi… Read More

If you are a parent and find yourself going through a divorce, we understand that the most challenging thing you’re facing is learning to co-parent your children under your new circum… Read More

Children of divorced or divorcing parties may be exposed to some form of Parental Alienation. One parent (or sometimes a third party in a child’s life) may attempt to undermine an in… Read More

Whether you’re getting married or planning on moving in with your partner, having a contract in place can save you stress and hardship in the future should your relationship end. Plan… Read More

A prenuptial agreement, also known as a domestic contract, marriage contract or cohabitation agreement depending on the nature of the relationship, is a contract that sets out how a couple… Read More

Divorcing From a Narcissist: What You Need to Know The process of a divorce is never easy. Not on you, not on your spouse, and of course, not on your children. This is true even with the si… Read More

If you’re in a common-law relationship, you’ll need to protect your rights during the relationship and even after it ends. This is especially important since common-law partners… Read More

Children undergo many changes in their lives that can have a profound impact on their development and psyche. Events such as going to school for the first time, the death of a pet, moving t… Read More

The family is the rock on which you build your life. You do everything you can to protect your family, and it seems nothing else can be more important. When everything is going well, your f… Read More

Some family law cases proceed without a hitch. The court expects all parties to complete their case before the decision-making process.  All parties should be able to present their case… Read More

A prenup is always a controversial topic to bring up when discussing marriage. It typically puts a damper on the excitement. It also brings forth issues of trust that might make your future… Read More

Each year, thousands of children are told their parents are going to divorce. Of course, no one goes into a marriage thinking that it will end, and no one willingly has children just to put… Read More