Family
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January 08, 2026
Nova Scotia releases first 2SLGBTQIA+ action plan
Nova Scotia has released its first 2SLGBTQIA+ action plan, which includes addressing that community’s lack of trust in the province’s justice system. A Jan. 8 news release describes the action plan as a “co-ordinated road map to advance equity, improve access to services and supports, and build safer, more inclusive communities.”
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January 08, 2026
Clark Wilson names 3 new partners
Clark Wilson lawyers Dan W. Melnick, David Bowden and Sunny Chiu have joined the firm’s partnership, effective Jan. 1, 2026.
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January 08, 2026
Recognition of an Ontario divorce in Iran: Navigating the legal divide between two systems
Global migration has created families whose legal lives unfold across borders, cultures and legal traditions. One of the most complex examples arises when Iranian nationals divorce in Ontario. While the divorce is fully valid and enforceable under Canadian law, it does not necessarily bring legal finality in Iran. This disconnect often surprises individuals who reasonably assume that a court order ending a marriage in Canada ends it everywhere.
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January 07, 2026
Judge Simmons retires from Nova Scotia Provincial Court
The Honourable Ann Marie Simmons has retired from the Provincial Court of Nova Scotia following a legal career spanning nearly 40 years.
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January 07, 2026
Some new year’s thoughts on family law
“The more things change, the more they stay the same.” This famous saying attributed to the French writer Jean-Baptiste Alphonse Karr has been considered by many. Is it so simple? Does nothing really change or is it more thought-provoking: does superficial change often mask unchanging circumstances?
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January 06, 2026
Green card steps for employees: How to prepare before filing
Filing for a green card is an important step when planning to work in the U.S., and engaging in preparation in advance will help the process progress smoothly and minimize the stress of it.
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January 06, 2026
Ontario Civil Rules Review working group calls for expansion of mandatory mediation
The Civil Rules Review (CRR) was launched in 2024 as a joint initiative of the chief justice of the Ontario Superior Court of Justice and the province’s Attorney General. The CRR’s mandate was to propose wholesale reforms to the Rules of Civil Procedure (the Rules), which were last overhauled in 1985, so that the civil justice system is more accessible and to reduce costs and delays.
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December 24, 2025
Spousal green cards for out-of-status applicants
In the U.S. today, there are thousands and perhaps millions of people currently without status — a situation that is becoming problematic now that the current presidential administration is focusing on enforcement of U.S. immigration laws. The requirement to maintain a valid status while in a foreign country is not unique to the U.S. Every country in the world has immigration laws, and most enforce them.
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December 24, 2025
Law360 Canada is taking a publishing break and will be back Jan. 2
Law360 Canada will be on a publishing hiatus from Dec. 25, 2025, to Jan. 2, 2026. We wish you a happy holiday and all the best for the new year.
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December 23, 2025
When a judge’s effort to appear neutral leads to injustice
Nobody likes conflict. Not lawyers, not mediators and not judges. But day in and day out, we see high-conflict cases in family court. In fact, it has become a fairly regular occurrence for judges’ endorsements to begin with a description of the case as “a high-conflict case” before rendering their analysis and decision.