heley@shapirofamilylawyers.com

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How to Spot and Handle High-Conflict Personalities Using Bill Eddy’s WEB Method®

High-conflict personalities (HCPs) are individuals who exhibit an ongoing pattern of behaviors that fuel interpersonal conflict rather than resolve it. These behaviors often include all-or-nothing thinking, intense emotional responses, extreme actions, and a fixation on blaming others. Such individuals typically identify a “Target of Blame,” whom they repeatedly criticize, harass, or spread rumors about. Learning how to identify these behaviors early can help you avoid problematic relationships, whether personal, professional, or social. The WEB Method® (Words, Emotions, Behavior) is a Read more…

By Heleysh, ago

Living Together Apart: Ontario Court Awards Spousal Support Despite Separate Residences

In Haughton v. Corner, the Ontario Superior Court delved into the nuanced definition of cohabitation for spousal support claims involving unmarried partners. Virginia Haughton, the applicant, sought temporary spousal support from David Corner, with whom she claimed to have lived in a conjugal relationship for over 10 years. Corner contested the nature and length of their cohabitation, arguing that while they were intimate, they never consistently lived together, and any time spent together was insufficient to Read more…

By Heleysh, ago

Court Awards $100K in Damages for Abuse in High-Conflict Divorce Case

In the case of Mikhail v. Mikhail, the Ontario Superior Court resolved several key financial issues following the separation of Boshra and Eman Mikhail, who were married in 2008 and have three children. The couple separated in 2019, and after a prolonged legal battle, the court granted the mother full relief, addressing child support, spousal support, section 7 expenses, equalization of net family property, and damages for intimate partner violence. The court ordered the father, a Read more…

By Heleysh, ago

Court Prioritizes Stability: Father’s Request to Change School and Summer Schedule Denied

n the case of Tremblay v. Landry, the Ontario Superior Court addressed key parenting and school-related issues. Robert Tremblay, the applicant, sought two changes to the existing parenting arrangement: a week-about summer parenting schedule and moving their 8-year-old son, Ethan, to a new school closer to his new place of employment. Kimberly Landry, the respondent, opposed both requests. Justice S.K. Stothart denied the applicant’s motion. The court found that there was no compelling reason to alter Read more…

By Heleysh, ago

Understanding Post-Separation Income Sharing: Chappel J.’s 15 Principles

In the legal landscape of family law, determining whether a recipient spouse should share in the payor spouse’s post-separation income increases can be complex. Chappel J.’s decision in Kinsella v. Mills outlines 15 key principles guiding such determinations: These principles underscore the importance of a detailed, case-specific approach in family law when dealing with post-separation income increases.

By Heleysh, ago

Court of Appeal Upholds Income Imputation for Support: Free Housing and Financial Benefits Considered

In a recent decision, the Ontario Court of Appeal dismissed a husband’s appeal challenging the imputation of income for support purposes. The case involved a father who claimed his income ranged from $40,000 in 2015 to $127,000 in 2019. However, the mother argued that the father’s income should be imputed at a higher level due to the engineering consulting services he provided to a family-owned real estate development business. At trial, the mother contended that Read more…

By Heleysh, ago

Parenting Time Denied Due to Inappropriate Conduct: Court Prioritizes Child’s Best Interests

In a recent trial addressing issues of parenting and child support, the court made a significant ruling that highlights the importance of prioritizing the best interests of the child. The case involved a 12-year-old child who primarily lived with the mother. The mother, along with counsel from the Office of the Children’s Lawyer, sought an order to deny the father any parenting time, while the father requested a graduated parenting schedule. The legal journey began Read more…

By Heleysh, ago

Adult Children and Parenting Orders – Do They Have a Say?

In a recent family court hearing, the court reviewed a continuation of a motion to assess the applicant’s compliance with court orders and address other parenting issues. The respondent sought make-up parenting time with his two children, aged 18 and 16. The court had earlier determined that the eldest child remained a “child of the marriage” under the Divorce Act due to her inability to withdraw from parental control. Since the initial hearing, the Court Read more…

By Heleysh, ago

Property Disputes and Trusts in Common-Law Relationships

In the recent case of Aghdasi v. Asiyaban, 2024 ONSC 3472, the Ontario Superior Court of Justice addressed a complex property dispute between former common-law partners Halime Khatoun Aghdasi and Vahid Mehdizadeh Asiyaban. Halime and Vahid were in a common-law relationship from 2002 to 2017. They jointly and separately acquired various properties, some in their names and some through their company. The case centers on disputes over two properties: Claims: Court’s Findings: Main Takeaways: Decision: The Read more…

By Heleysh, ago

High-Conflict Parenting Case: Balancing Allegations and Best Interests

A recent ruling from the Ontario Superior Court of Justice in Carey v. Carey, 2024 ONSC 2887 (CanLII) highlights the complexities and challenges in high-conflict parenting disputes. In this case, the father (Applicant) seeks to alter the existing parenting order due to alleged interference by the mother (Respondent) in his relationship with their two children. The mother counters, claiming the children’s resistance to their father is due to his alleged abusive behavior, including an incident Read more…

By Heleysh, ago