The new term for custody is decision-making responsibility for most family law cases. If you have a child protection case, the term custody may still be used.
Decision-making responsibility or custody is the right to make important decisions about how to care for and raise a child. It includes the right to make decisions about the child's...
Debts are money that a person owes, for example, a mortgage, line of credit, or car loan.
Direct examination is when one party, or their lawyer if they have one, questions their own witnesses. These are witnesses you ask to testify or speak in support of your court case.
Direct examination is also called examination-in-chief.
Property division is the process of dividing a married couple's assets and debts. This usually happens after they separate or divorce.
Married couples usually share the value of their property. This means that the partner who has more property usually pays money to the partner who has less property. Usually, the property itself is...
Cost consequences are when one party has to pay some or all of the legal costs of the other party. Legal costs usually include lawyer's fees. It might also include other costs paid, such as the fee paid to have a pension valued.
The court decides when to make a court order for cost consequences. For example, it might order you to pay...
A common-law relationship is one where partners of the same or opposite sex live together in a marriage-like relationship, without being married. This is sometimes called "cohabiting". In family law, you don't have to live together for a certain amount of time to be in a common-law relationship. But the law gives different rights to common-law...
Advice counsel are private lawyers or Legal Aid Ontario staff lawyers located in all family courts who give basic information on family law to anyone who wants information. For example, advice counsel can explain legal terms, how to start or respond to a court application, and the court process.
If your income is low enough, advice...
Alternative dispute resolution (ADR) or family dispute resolution processes refers to different ways or processes that try to get people to agree on their legal issues without going to court. Some of these processes are collaborative family law, mediation, and arbitration.
Assets, sometimes called property, are things that you own. For example, assets include cars, real estate, registered retirement savings plans (RRSPs), and any savings you have.
Balance of probabilities is the standard or legal test of proof usually required in a family law case. The judge has to decide who is more believable - you or your partner.