Leanne Townsend is the Chair of the Family Law Group at Mills & Mills LLP, which includes associate lawyers Allie Cuperfain, Alyssa Warias, Alexandra Forsyth-Sells and Sadia Chowdhury, administrative assistant Mia Asido and law clerks Irina Kochkina and Clare Alcorn. Each month our group sends out a newsletter full of helpful tips, advice and insights to help you navigate through family/fertility legal challenges.
Leanne’s Divorcing Well podcast: Tips for navigating a high-conflict divorce
Leanne’s Divorcing Well podcast: Tips for navigating a high-conflict divorceA high-conflict divorce presents unique challenges — for the parties and their lawyers — but adopting the right approach can help you avoid landmines.
People with high-conflict personalities often use stall tactics or they refuse to be civil, badmouth the other parent to the children and withhold child support payments as a negotiation tool.
On a recent episode of Divorcing Well, I spoke with fellow family lawyer, Ayesha Hussain, who frequently works with clients involved in contentious divorces. We talk about the impact of interparental conflict on the children, strategies for de-escalating situations and much more.
Here are two gems from this episode:
- Just because your divorce started out as high-conflict doesn’t mean it can’t transition to a more peaceful dynamic
- Your choice of lawyer matters. Lawyers can either be settlement-focused or they can amplify the conflict by way of their own combative personality.
If you are involved in a high-conflict divorce, you won’t want to miss this one.
Financial disclosure: A taxing but essential step in most family law matters
Financial disclosure: A taxing but essential step in most family law mattersFinancial disclosure is at the heart of many family law matters. Whether you are getting a marriage contract, dividing your assets upon separation or divorce, or trying to determine child or spousal support, exchanging full and complete financial disclosure is essential.
In her new post, Mill & Mills family lawyer Alyssa Warias explains some of the rules around financial disclosure obligations, including the fact that it is an ongoing legal requirement during separation.
“You will be expected to update your disclosure throughout your separation process. Ensuring you have provided full and complete financial disclosure is the best way to protect yourself and your agreement,” she writes.
Find out what happens if you fail to provide full financial disclosure here.
Should family lawyers receive training to provide emotional support to clients?
Most Canadians report that their mental health has taken a serious hit during the pandemic, and the effects are often on display in family law cases.
Since the onset of COVID-19 two years ago, there has been significantly more conflict and higher levels of distress among separating and divorced spouses.
I recently chatted with Yonah Budd on 640 AM’s Road to Recovery radio show about whether family law lawyers should receive training so they can better support clients experiencing emotional challenges as they sort out their legal matters.
My interview is at the 40-minute mark if you would like to listen.
Highlights from Divorce Explained
Every week, Leanne Townsend co-hosts an Instagram Live show with family lawyer Steve Benmor, where they discuss issues on the minds of those who are divorced or divorcing. Here are the topics from a couple of recent shows. Click on the photo to check out the full episode.
Can secret recordings be used as evidence?
Cellphones make it easy to record audio and video files surreptitiously, but can these types of recordings be used as evidence in litigation? On this episode, we explain why these types of recordings are generally inadmissible in family court.
Remedies for victims of domestic violence
Can a spouse who has experienced domestic abuse receive compensation through the legal system? Find out the answer on this episode of Divorce Explained where Steve and I discuss a groundbreaking legal case.
Serving clients during COVID-19
As we continue to navigate the new normal amid the COVID-19 pandemic,
the safety and well-being of clients is our top priority. Social distancing is vital right now to prevent the spread of the virus so I will continue to work with clients through virtual meetings. If you have any questions or concerns about your family law matter or would like to schedule a meeting, please reach out to me by email.
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Looking for more information on what to expect during a divorce, abusive relationships, love and money, life after divorce or other family law topics?
Check out the In the News and Blog sections of my website where there’s a wealth of great content to get you up to speed on everything you need to know.
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