Family
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March 18, 2026
The mask of professionalism: Stress of maintaining the ‘good lawyer’ image
In the first part of this two-part series (see link below), I wrote that in addition to actual legal work, most lawyers are also expected to act, speak and dress in certain ways. This added layer of effort can feel like a performance. It requires constantly monitoring yourself to maintain the image of a “good lawyer,” and it is exhausting. Here, I turn to what can be done to reduce the stress associated with all this extra labour.
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March 18, 2026
Distinct, complementary roles of section 3 counsel and litigation guardians in Ontario capacity proceedings
When a party is incapable of instructing counsel, or their capacity is in question in a proceeding, two distinct safeguards exist under Ontario law to protect that party’s interests.
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March 17, 2026
SCC heard more cases in 2025 but still fewer than pre-pandemic; number expected to rise in 2026
The Supreme Court of Canada heard more appeals last year than in 2024 and delivered its reserved judgments more quickly, but its hearings and output in 2025 were not yet up to pre-pandemic levels, according to the top court, which states it “expects to hear even more cases in 2026.”
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March 16, 2026
Family reunification: Understanding family class sponsorship applications
At its core, Canadian immigration policy recognizes that relationships and family bonds should be prioritized and protected. Family reunification has long stood as one of the central pillars of Canada’s immigration framework, shaping both legislation and policy. A family class application is not simply an administrative process; it is an affirmation of commitment and an essential step towards a family building a future together in Canada.
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March 13, 2026
Malamas v. Wey: The impact of intimate partner violence on summary judgment motions
In the recent decision of the Ontario Court of Appeal in Malamas v. Wey, 2026 ONCA 133, Chief Justice Michael Tulloch addresses how intimate partner violence impacts the application of the Limitations Act, 2002 and the doctrines of res judicata and abuse of process in the context of motions for summary judgment.
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March 13, 2026
More on the politics of parental alienation
The recent article by Rina Groeneveld in Law360 Canada is an articulate summary of her position in support of Bill C-223, the Keeping Children Safe Act. Described by the writer as a “more nuanced” approach to the issue, my view is that, with significant respect, the article misses the point entirely. She writes from one vantage point, a former abused woman who provides support to other women who have shared her lived experience.
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March 12, 2026
Ontario Superior Court of Justice abolishes Zoom hearings for Toronto family law cases
In a sweeping policy shift poised to dramatically increase the cost of separation and divorce for thousands of Toronto families, the Family Branch of the Ontario Superior Court of Justice has announced that, effective April 2, 2026, all family law motions at the Toronto courthouse will presumptively proceed in person — and no longer by Zoom.
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March 12, 2026
Patel v. Bhatt: A model for child abduction under the Hague Convention
International child abduction cases are a matter of great concern to Canadian and international courts alike. The Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction (the Convention) was designed to secure the prompt return of children who were wrongfully removed to or retained in any contracting state, and to ensure that the rights of custody and access under the law of one contracting state are effectively respected in the other contracting states.
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March 11, 2026
When the language of protection becomes a weapon: Bill C-223 and parental alienation
Canada’s Bill C-223, the Keeping Children Safe Act, would mark a real shift in how federal family law handles parental alienation allegations, by requiring courts to evaluate them within the coercive control context in which they arise. That’s a meaningful change. It targets one of the most reliably effective tactics used by abusive former partners in custody litigation.
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March 11, 2026
The billable hour is running out of time
Early in my career, I noticed a pattern I could not ignore. I would build rapport with clients, earn their trust and then watch everything fall apart the moment the invoice was sent. They were not upset with me personally, even though sometimes it felt that way. They were blindsided by a system that charged them in a way they found unfair. Even worse, I would get penalized if I found strategies to be fast and efficient to make it more fair.