Family
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March 24, 2026
The joint expert playbook: Why courts rarely let you walk away
The first part of this series examined what Rules 20.1 and 20.2 of the Family Law Rules require, when joint expert retainers make sense, and what Numair v. Numair and Zantingh v. Zantingh tell us about how courts respond when the process breaks down. This part picks up from that foundation: once a joint retainer is in place, courts set a high threshold before permitting competing expert evidence — and several well-worn failure modes can derail the engagement before the report is ever finalized.
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March 24, 2026
Generative AI not immune from potential legal action
The use of AI chatbots by self-represented litigants and lawyers has raised alarms in the justice system because the chatbots are prone either to hallucinate cases or to cite a legitimate case for a proposition which simply cannot be found in that case. With respect to lawyers, in general, the courts have awarded personal costs sanctions against them and are beginning to refer them for potential disciplinary penalties. A lawyer has a duty to not mislead a court.
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March 24, 2026
ABORIGINAL STATUS AND RIGHTS - Aboriginal persons - Indians - Registration - Indian Register - Entitlement to status
Appeal by Attorney General of Canada (Canada) from a decision allowing the respondents’ statutory appeal from the registrar’s refusal to register them under the Indian Act, 1985.
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March 23, 2026
Deepfakes, texts and secret recordings: Growing role of digital evidence in Ontario family law disputes
Digital communications are everywhere: text messages, emails, social media posts and recorded conversations. They are an entrenched part of modern daily life.
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March 23, 2026
The joint expert playbook: What you need to know about Rules 20.1 and 20.2
Most family lawyers have used a joint expert at some point. Fewer have a clear sense of when joint retainers advance a file and when they create more problems than they solve. The difference matters. A well-managed joint retainer saves money, narrows issues and moves files toward settlement. A poorly managed one generates motion after motion, escalates costs and poisons settlement prospects.
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March 23, 2026
N.B. moves to end limitation period for victims of intimate partner violence dependent on assailant
New Brunswick is proposing legislation that would remove the limitation period for civil claims by victims of intimate partner violence who were dependent on their assailant. A March 18 news release notes there is no civil limitation period to file claims for damages in cases of assault or battery “for acts of a sexual nature” or for “trespass to the person.”
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March 23, 2026
Seismic Bill 21 case draws record counsel & intervener presence at this week’s four-day SCC hearing
This week’s blockbuster Bill 21 appeal at the Supreme Court involves 140 counsel of record — with 64 of them slated to make oral argument over four days on behalf of the 10 main party groups and the record 51 interveners.
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March 20, 2026
B.C. boosts compensation for intimate-image abuse victims
British Columbia is increasing compensation limits for people who have had their intimate images shared without their consent. Victims can now seek as much as $75,000 in compensation through the Civil Resolution Tribunal (CRT) with amendments to the Intimate Images Protection Act now in effect.
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March 20, 2026
MARITAL OR FAMILY PROPERTY - Practice and procedure
Appeal by the wife and the family company, 1225046 Ontario Inc. (122) from a partial determination of competing applications. The husband and the parties’ two adult sons asserted that 122 was incorporated in 1997 with the husband as sole shareholder and that in 2000 the wife and sons were each issued 1,000 common shares. The wife maintained that she and the husband had always been the only shareholders.
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March 19, 2026
The real issue behind parental alienation claims: A response to Gary Joseph
Gary S. Joseph’s response to my opinion piece on Bill C-223 (“More on the politics of parental alienation”) describes my position as articulate. I appreciate the generous compliment. As someone who holds an MA in Advanced Language Skills, has a long career as a translator and speaks five languages fluently, I have had some practice.