Even the most seasoned litigators can be brought to their knees by Word formatting. You’ve mastered cross-examinations and complex motions— but aligning (a), (i), and (A) in Word? That’s a whole other level of advocacy.

In a costs appeal, ONCA declined leave finding no error in trial judge's discretionary decision.  Stringent test for leave to appeal costs orders under s. 133(b) of the Courts of Justice Act. Ghahsareh v. Ehsani, 2025 ONCA 795 www.canlii.org/en/on/onca/d...

Not family law but local goods and services to get public procurement priority through new Buy Ontario Act www.lawtimesnews.com/news/general...

Div Court: “While the AFCC-O Guidelines are not binding law, Ontario courts have accepted the social science behind the Guidelines.” If a judge departs from the established social science research, reasons are needed to depart from same (para. 40). www.canlii.org/en/on/onscdc...

When you’re a lawyer, your family asks free legal questions at every dinner.

ONSC found mother fraudulently failed to disclose significant income, doubling her imputed earnings. Court set aside prior support orders, recalculated arrears and imposed ongoing income disclosure obligations. Francis v. Ventura-Francis, 2025 ONSC 6437 www.canlii.org/en/on/onsc/d...

Ontario Court of Appeal remits child relocation issue based on error in applying burden of proof www.canadianlawyermag.com/practice-are...

New Artificial Intelligence (AI) practice directions have been posted for both civil and family law proceedings. www.ontariocourts.ca/scj/news/165...

Court orders third-party disclosure of financials from family corporations & trust in support/property case—rejects confidentiality & timing objections. Good review of 3rd party disclosure in family law. www.canlii.org/en/on/onsc/d...

Take it from an already busy family law lawyer …. If you have a secret cell phone, turn it off tomorrow www.cp24.com/local/toront...?

Ontario government proposes forcing impaired drivers to pay child support for victim's families www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

ONSC awarded $32,000 plus HST to the successful party, reducing excessive hourly rates claimed by Toronto-based counsel to align with Ottawa standards. Claims for family violence damages were dismissed as procedurally inappropriate. www.canlii.org/en/on/onsc/d...

Proposed reforms of civil procedure: Refreshing reboot or more of the same? www.law360.ca/ca/family/ar...

🎄 Our Mann Lawyers team traded briefs for ornaments to decorate a tree for Trees of Hope at the Fairmont Château Laurier! Proud to support CHEO and spread some sparkle for a great cause. Vote for your favourite and help us bring home “Best in Branches”! 🌟

Appeal court weighs pro bono aspects when fixing costs in international child abduction case - Mother who successfully appealed order to return child gets $80,000 in total costs www.lawtimesnews.com/practice-are...

ONSC imputes income to both parties, orders interim support and flags deficient disclosure. Where business income is in play, the onus is on the owner to provide clarity—not the other party to chase it. Franzese v. Franzese, 2025 ONSC 6015 www.canlii.org/en/on/onsc/d...

Sometimes the universe taps us on the shoulder just to remind us how small our worries really are.

In family court, there’s a difference between “emergency” and “urgent”.  Now that we have an Emergency Motion Request Form, an incisive decision from Justice Pazaratz on the contrast between “emergency” and “urgent” motions. Essential reading—see p. 32. www.canlii.org/en/on/onsc/d...

Recommendations for ethical, effective AI use in family law online dispute resolution www.law360.ca/ca/accesstoj...

Judicial vacancies hit 5%, threatening more trial delays and backlogs www.law360.ca/ca/family/ar...

SCC dismisses application for leave to appeal in family law case dealing with fairness of marriage agreement #SCC decisions.scc-csc.ca/scc-csc/scc-...

A must-read for family law counsel - BC Court provides a deep dive on income determination for majority shareholders in child support cases.  S.D.N. v E.G.N., 2025 BCSC 1994 canliiconnects.org/en/summaries...

The Family Orders and Agreements Enforcement Assistance Act helped mother secure key financial disclosure in uncontested child support case. With no response from the father, ONCJ used the Act to access tax records and assess support for their two teens. www.canlii.org/en/on/oncj/d...

ONSC awarded $99,000 in costs against a self-represented litigant for unreasonable conduct, including failure to disclose financial information, inadequate trial preparation, and refusal to engage with settlement offers. Sud v. Sud, 2025 ONSC 5979 www.canlii.org/en/on/onsc/d...

Bill C-223 and parental alienation: Trust the judges, not the politicians www.law360.ca/ca/articles/...

In an uncontested trial, the Court refused to recognize a Spanish divorce, citing fraud, forum shopping and lack of notice. It granted a Canadian divorce, ordered significant financial remedies and maintained a Mareva injunction to preserve assets. www.canlii.org/en/on/onsc/d...

Very sorry to hear of the passing of Dr. Tim Cook, preeminent military historian and Chief Historian at the Canadian War Museum. His work illuminated our past with clarity and compassion. A huge loss.

Very sorry to hear of the passing of Dr. Tim Cook, preeminent military historian and Chief Historian at the Canadian War Museum. His work illuminated our past with clarity and compassion. A huge loss.

ONCA quashes appeal in high-conflict family law case. Appellant’s persistent defiance of support and parenting orders, coupled with vexatious litigation, justified dismissal. Court: “This is an egregious case.” Full indemnity costs of $20K ordered. coadecisions.ontariocourts.ca/coa/coa/en/i...

Motion to add non-parent as a party was dismissed. The Court found no legal interest or necessity for the non-parent's involvement, emphasizing that emotional connections alone do not justify party status in family law proceedings. Berkovich v. Salz, 2025 ONSC 5702

Appeals: Can parties “consent” to them? www.torkin.com/docs/default...

“I Googled it” is not a legal argument. But every lawyer has a client who insists otherwise.

Fraudulent conveyance, imputed income & AI misuse collide in a complex family law case. Good discussion on AI-generated submissions with fake case law flagged as abuse of process (see para 91). X.L. v. Z.L. et al, 2025 ONSC 5880 www.canlii.org/en/on/onsc/d...

Does Bankruptcy Preclude Standing to Assert a Resulting Trust Claim? A 31-year relationship, disputed ownership and 2 prior bankruptcies led Court to stay the claim. Alleged interests had vested in the trustee—and fraudulent conduct sealed the outcome. www.canlii.org/en/on/onsc/d...

Joint ownership, unjust enrichment & spousal support collide in this Mississauga townhouse dispute. Court relied on expert analysis and oral evidence to confirm a verbal agreement—awarding $155K each to 3 siblings and $3K/month spousal support until 2032. www.canlii.org/en/on/onsc/d...

“I Googled it” is not a legal argument. But every lawyer has a client who insists otherwise.

Ontario Superior Court confirms: love and goodwill don’t create legal parenthood. Without a settled intention to parent, claims for child support fail. Sentiment alone doesn’t meet the threshold under the Family Law Act. www.lawtimesnews.com/practice-are...

Risks and challenges of AI in online dispute resolution for family law www.law360.ca/ca/family/ar...

A recent BC Court of Appeal decision underscores a key principle in family law: potential future taxes, including capital gains, may impact how property is divided. Dignard v. Dignard, 2025 BCCA 43 www.canlii.org/en/bc/bcca/d...

Not family law but Ontario consumer protection laws don't apply to federal claims, so man must arbitrate with Uber: FCA www.lawtimesnews.com/news/general...

The horrors of homemade wills - When good intentions go bad www.law360.ca/ca/family/ar...

Ontario Court of Appeal clarifies how post-separation inheritance affects equalization. A partially allowed appeal addresses treatment of forgiven family loans and net property valuation at separation. Robson v. Pellerin, 2025 ONCA 680 www.lawtimesnews.com/practice-are...

Using artificial intelligence safely in family law www.canadianlawyermag.com/practice-are...

ONCA partially allowed an appeal, adjusting post-separation credits for inheritance funds but upheld findings on loan forgiveness and spousal support. It ruled that loans forgiven before the valuation date cannot reduce net family property. www.canlii.org/en/on/onca/d...

Chief Justice Wagner, lawyers talk rule of law at SCC ceremony marking start of judicial year www.canadianlawyermag.com/news/general...

B.C. and Bulgarian courts clash over child’s habitual residence under the Hague Convention - B.C. courts found the child habitually resident in Canada — despite a Bulgarian appeal court ruling the opposite. Zahariev v. Zaharieva, 2025 BCCA 35 www.canlii.org/en/bc/bcca/d...

Alberta Court of Appeal decision may mark the first time a Canadian court has ruled on ‘lawyer’s liability for contractors’ AI use www.canadianlawyermag.com/resources/le...

SCC dismisses application for leave to appeal in family law case dealing with whether unpaid caregiving and labour created an equitable interest in a family business—and whether that business was a joint venture. I.R. v. G.D. #SCC decisions.scc-csc.ca/scc-csc/scc-...

In a parental alienation case, ONSC declined to reverse custody of two teens citing their opposition to reunification therapy. Court declared mother responsible for the estrangement and imposed a monetary penalty for her non-compliance with prior orders. www.canlii.org/en/on/onsc/d...

ONSC addresses conflicting separation dates: Husband claims date wife learned of affair and their pact to stay together for the children. Wife claims date she uncovered his secret family. She alleges he wants to reduce equalization tied to asset growth. www.canlii.org/en/on/onsc/d...