Explaining complex family law concepts and procedures in a jargon-free style, this resource includes detailed information on how family court works, offers easily understandable case examples, and describes alternatives to litigation that are designed to help prevent families with children from entering the legal system to resolve disputes. Exploring subjects that apply to all parties involved in resolving separation, divorce, and custody conflictsjudges, lawyers, mediators, parenting coaches, psychologists, family counselors, and social workersthis reference demystifies the role of lawyers and judges, debunks the myth that parents can represent themselves in court, and examines each parents responsibility to ensure that post-separation conflicts are resolved with minimal emotional stress to children.

For ten years, and through four editions, people have relied on the best selling Guide to the Basics of Ontario Family Law for straightforward advice on important decisions. Whether you are getting married, separating, divorcing, changing a family law agreement or court order, or involved with a children's aid society, knowing how the Ontario Family Law System works and how to avoid some of its dangers really helps. The expanded and updated fourth edition of the Guide to the Basics of Ontario Family Law, Certified Specialist in Family Law, John Schuman, provides clear explanations about the important family law issues that people face every day. A reference for anyone who needs to understand Ontario family law, the Guide to the Basics of Ontario Family Law helps answer questions, clarify the issues, and lessen the stress that is often associated with family law matters. Almost 600 citations show the laws and court decisions that judges, and lawyers used everyday in Family Law. John Schuman presents the basics of Ontario family law from start to finish. He reviews marriage contracts and cohabitation agreements: what they are, why you need one, and how to do them properly. He also explains what happens when couples separate, including information on getting divorced, custody, access, parenting concerns, child and spousal support and division of assets and debts. John Schuman explains all options - from negotiation to mediation to collaborative practice, to the government child support calculation service to going to court - and what to expect with each one. He even explains what to do when a Children's Aid Society calls and what to do at each step in to court.

A CANADIAN BESTSELLER FULLY REVISED AND UPDATED For more than 30 years, Canadian Family Law has helped us to understand the legal issues surrounding marriage, separation and divorce, child custody and support. Now in its tenth edition, Canadian Family Law provides information on recent developments in family law, such as same-sex marriage, alternative dispute resolution and child support. Among the topics covered are: The rights and obligations of marriage The components of a separation agreement Spousal support Child support and the new guidelines Guiding principles regarding custody of children Property rights and division of property The divorce procedure Domestic contracts The enforcement of agreements Mediation and arbitration A comparative analysis of family law statutes. Illustrated with case studies, Canadian Family Law is the standard reference guide that people who are contemplating marriage, or separation and divorce, turn to for informative, readable and authoritative commentary.

"This text gives students a detailed foundation of family law in Ontario and presents a comprehensive overview of both substantive law and practice and procedure in the area and offers a special focus on the practical skills that law clerks require in a family law practice."--