Family
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January 30, 2026
Werbeski v. Werbeski: ONCA decision a reminder of principles of property division and child support
There are certain fundamental principles of family law practice in Ontario that are enshrined in the consciousness of family law practitioners. Two of these principles are set out in Werbeski v. Werbeski, 2026 ONSC 57. These are: (i) family property will be equalized between spouses at the time of separation absent unconscionable circumstances as set out in s. 5(6) of the Family Law Act and (ii) parents must pay support for their dependent children; no excuses.
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January 30, 2026
Pet project: What to do about furry friends in family court
Pets. Are the courts in a divorce action where both parties seek custody to treat them like children or property? The law in this area is all over the zoo. An Alberta judge, Douglas Mah, recently held in a case dealing with four cats that pets are to be treated like property, not kids. However, next door in B.C., the Family Law Act considers pets as family members, and the courts must determine who would best care for the pet.
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January 30, 2026
Ontario court orders new law licence review for man who admitted to sexually abusing children
Ontario’s top court has ordered a new law licence assessment for a man who admitted to the sexual abuse of children, saying a fresh look is required to determine whether he is of the “good character” required of a lawyer.
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January 29, 2026
A wake‑up call on Case Center and counsel accountability
The increasing reliance on digital platforms has fundamentally altered the practice of family law in Ontario. Case Center, now mandatory in the Superior Court of Justice, was introduced to promote efficiency, accessibility and clarity in court proceedings. While the platform has delivered on many of those goals, recent jurisprudence confirms that improper use can undermine, rather than enhance, the administration of justice.
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January 28, 2026
Court ignores Arbitration Act Regulation, endorses process with unenforceable outcome
A Superior Court decision has struck a blow to the effectiveness of family arbitration in Ontario by endorsing an arbitral process that failed to comply with mandatory regulatory requirements, resulting in an award that is unenforceable.
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January 28, 2026
Reasons to decriminalize sex work
It is not a secret that I live in Toronto. I did not move to Toronto for leisure or lifestyle reasons. I moved because remaining where I was had become unsafe.
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January 28, 2026
MAINTENANCE AND SUPPORT - Child support - Calculation or attribution of income - Retroactive awards
Appeal by respondent and cross-appeal by petitioner of trial judge’s variation of the child support order. The parties were married for nine years and separated in 2008. A final order set child support based on the respondent’s imputed income of $40,000 without requiring life insurance to secure his obligation.
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January 26, 2026
CBSA announces 2025 achievements in border security, public safety
As Jan. 26 marks International Customs Day, the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) is highlighting the work it did in 2025 to match this year’s theme of “Customs Protecting Society Through Vigilance and Commitment.”
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January 26, 2026
B.C. appoints 3 provincial court judges
The British Columbia government has appointed Micah Rankin, Charles Hutchinson and Jodi Michaels as judges of the Provincial Court of B.C., according to the province.
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January 26, 2026
The blame hierarchy in family law revisited
My loyal readers will recall that I practise family law under the belief that there is a hierarchy of blame that exists in almost all high-conflict family disputes. To repeat, the client begins by blaming the opposite party, thereafter the anger is often directed at opposing counsel followed by the same anger directed at the presiding justice if he/she dares to rule against the client.