September 18, 2026
People often put off preparing their wills for many reasons. What often brings about a mindset shift is the birth of a child. Suddenly, parents start asking questions they may not have considered before: What happens if I die? Who will take care of my child if my child is still a minor? Who will make important decisions for them?
September 18, 2026
A criminal conviction is not an ordinary judgment. It can take away a person’s liberty for years, and in the most serious cases, for life. That is why there is a strong argument that when reasonable grounds exist to challenge a conviction or sentence, no limitation period should prevent a court from hearing the challenge.
September 17, 2026
There was a time when a family law client needed a parenting schedule, support or the sale of the home, so you typed out a notice of motion and an affidavit. Your client swore it was true. You filed it. A judge read it, heard argument, and it all was sorted out before lunch.
September 17, 2026
A lawsuit brought by Jeffrey Hartman, a partner in the Toronto law firm Lockyer, Zaduk Zeeh, concerns an alleged incident at a federal institution in Ontario and raises an uncomfortable question for the correctional system: how should prisons accommodate transgender inmates while maintaining the safety, security and privacy of everyone in their care?
September 16, 2026
A behind-the-scenes bid by federal chief justices to make future recommendations from the federal independent judicial pay commission process binding on Ottawa is on hold as representatives of Canada’s 1,200 federal judges and Federal Court associate judges sue the Carney government for allegedly not giving “meaningful effect” to the work and non-binding advice of the latest quadrennial Judicial Compensation and Benefits Commission (Giardini Commission.)
September 15, 2026
Rebecca Wakeam has returned to Thomson Rogers LLP as a partner in its family law group in Toronto.
September 15, 2026
I was recently approached by email and asked to be interviewed about my latest book on a Zoom call that would reach more than 800 viewers. What troubled me was that the Zoom call was to originate in Dubai. I checked the company before accepting. The Winnipeg Free Press had reported on the venture and labelled it a scam intent on pushing authors to make sizable donations.
September 15, 2026
Appeal by appellant from order dismissing her appeal from an order requiring her to return the parties’ child to British Columbia from New Brunswick, and application to vary an order dismissing her application for a stay.
September 14, 2026
New rules are coming to the B.C. Supreme Court for civil and family applications, creating more opportunities for disputes to be resolved earlier without going to court. The changes will take effect Oct. 1.
September 14, 2026
Osgoode Professional Development is now offering a program for family lawyers arising from the recent decision in Ahluwalia v. Ahluwalia, 2026 SCC 16. The advertisement trumpets “tort claims are the new frontier in family law.” Does that worry you? It does me.