Leanne Expands Practice to Include Fertility, Surrogacy Law

I am Chair of the Family Law Group at Mills & Mills LLP and practice exclusively in the area of family law, with a particular focus on cases involving domestic violence and spousal abuse. Every month I send out a newsletter full of helpful tips, advice and insights that will help you navigate through family law challenges.

Leanne’s Divorcing Well podcast: One woman’s journey as a self-represented litigant

More often these days, people are representing themselves in family law litigation cases rather than hiring a lawyer. There are several reasons for this, and a major one is the cost associated with legal services.

On a recent episode of my Divorcing Well podcast, I spoke with Stephanie Plante about her experience as a self-represented litigant in family court. When Stephanie separated from her child’s father in 2015, she retained a lawyer. But after two years, her case still wasn’t settled and she had exhausted her financial resources. 

Tune in to learn the steps Stephanie took in her self-rep journey and for some crucial advice on how to prepare to represent yourself in family court.

Listen on Apple or Spotify.

Leanne expands practice to include fertility, surrogacy law

It is estimated that one in six couples in Canada experience infertility — a number that has doubled since the 1980s.

There are many options for individuals and couples hoping to conceive with treatments conducted in infertility clinics and hospitals, with the assistance of an agency or more informal arrangements.

I recently expanded my practice to include fertility and surrogacy law to help intended parents who want  to create families through assisted reproductive technology or surrogacy.

In my new post, I discuss some of the latest trends and statistics in this area, and the importance of getting advice from a legal professional early in the process.

Read the blog

The Dish on Divorce: The dos and don’ts of divorce

Almost everyone knows someone who has spent years and untold sums of money fighting their ex in divorce court. Divorce sucks and there’s no way around that, but there are ways to minimize the conflict and achieve a more efficient settlement.

On a recent episode of The Dish on Divorce, Jennifer Barkin and I spoke to family law lawyer Ida Mirzadeh to chat about the dos and don’ts of divorce. 

We explored strategies family law litigants can follow to help ensure the process goes as smoothly and conflict-free as possible, including how to make sure children remain happy and cared for through effective co-parenting.

Catch the replay here and drop us a comment on what you would like to see in upcoming episodes.

MEET THE TEAM
Introducing Allie Cuperfain, family law associate

Allie Cuperfain is an associate lawyer who practises in Mills & Mills LLP’s Family Law Group and the Health Law Group.

On the family law side of her practice, Allie assists clients with all of their family law needs, including separation, divorce and issues related to children.

Allie has a passion for fertility law and helps clients in all aspects of the assisted human reproduction process from advising intended parents, sperm donors, egg donors and surrogates to contract drafting, negotiating and reviewing to resolving issues that arise before conception and after childbirth. As well, she can help fertility clinics navigate the many unique legal issues and regulatory challenges they experience.

If you would like to reach out to Allie, you can contact her here.

Highlights from Instagram Live

Every week, I co-host an Instagram Live show with family lawyer Steve Benmor, where we discuss issues on the minds of divorced or divorcing spouses. Here are the topics from a couple of recent shows. Click on the link to check out the full episode.

Should you date during your divorce?

If you’re thinking about dating during or after your divorce, don’t miss our important tips and pitfalls to avoid.

Legal rights for common-law couples

Many people think that common-law spouses have the same rights as married couples when they separate. They don’t.

As we navigate the new normal amid the COVID-19 pandemic,
the safety and well-being of clients is my 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.

Leanne Townsend, Family Lawyer

Partner, Brauti Thorning LLP
Brookfield Place161 Bay Street,
Suite 2900,
Toronto, ON M5J 2S1

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Leanne Townsend Lawyer and Divorce Coach
Leanne Townsend is a multifaceted entrepreneur and attorney experienced in the areas of family law and domestic violence. She provides a full range of family law legal services in addition to running workshops and other programs to support people as they go through divorce.

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