Child Support	About Child Support Child Support Look Up
Divorce	About Divorce Ordering a Marriage Certificate About Name Change
Government Offices	Family Responsibility Office Office of the Children’s Lawyer Office of the Public Guardian and Trustee
Income	Ordering Notice of Assessment or Reassessment Canadian Insitute of Chartered Business Valuators
Pensions	About Canada Pension Plan Credit Splitting Canada Pension Plan Forms About Ontario Pension FSCO Forms
Spousal Support	About Spousal Support Spousal Support Advisory Guideline CRA Request to Reduce Tax Deductions at Source

Family Law has commonly used words (legal and other). The following is a quick definition of commonly used words in family law to assist you in navigating through the process. These are intended as quick references only and should not be construed as legal advice.

AUTHORIZATION AND DIRECTION: A form signed by a client permitting a third party to speak with someone or send documents to someone. ARBITRATOR: A neutral third party retained by the parties to conduct an arbitration. ARBITRATION: A dispute resolution process entered into voluntarily by the parties as an alternative to court. AWARD: A decision rendered by an arbitrator. CHARTERED BUSINESS VALUATOR: Financials professionals retained for the purposes of assisting in giving a value for someone income and/or business. CHILD SUPPORT: A payment from one parent to the other parent for the benefit of a child. COHABITATION AGREEMENT: An agreement entered into by two people who are about to live together or who are already living together to address issues such as property and spousal support if the relationship breakdown. FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE: Information about a person’s financial circumstances on particular dates and/or for a particular time period. FINANCIAL STATEMENT: A standard form setting out someone’s financial position on particular dates and/or for a particular time period. ENDORSEMENT: A decision and/or comments and/or reasons written by a judge after an appearance in court. EQUALIZATION: The payment made from one party to the other party to equalize the parties’ respective net family properties. FILED: Means a document has been filed with the court. FRO: The Family Responsibility Office. MARRIAGE CONTRACT: An agreement entered into by two people who are are planning to marry or who are already married to address issues such as property and spousal support if the relationship breakdown.

MEDIATOR: A neutral third party retained by the parties to conduct a mediation. MEDIATION: An alternative dispute resolution process entered into by the parties in an attempt to resolve their disputes. MINUTES OF SETTLEMENT: A document signed by both parties to indicate that they have come to an agreement. NET FAMILY PROPERTY: Your net worth for the purposes of calculating the equalization payment. ORDER: An endorsement that has been issued and entered by the court. PARENTING AGREEMENT: An agreement setting out the parenting terms agreed to by the parties. PARENTING COORDINATOR: Professionals who assist parents in implementing issues arising from a parenting plan. PARTY: A term used to refer to a client or their spouse. SERVED: When a document has been delivered to the other party in a formal manner according to the family law rules. SELF-REP: A party who is not represented by a lawyer. SEPARATION AGREEMENT: An agreement finalizing issues arising from the breakdown of the relationship usually addressing issues such as child support spousal support and equalization (property division). SPOUSAL SUPPORT: Support paid from one spouse to another for contractual needs based or compensatory reasons. TRAVEL CONSENT: A letter authorizing one party to travel with the children.

Goldhart Kenet LLP is providing hybrid services such that we are available both in person and via zoom. This means our lawyers and support team are working both in the office and virtually to meet the needs of our clients.

If you have a preference for an in-person or virtual meeting with us, please let us know and your preference will be accommodated.

We do require that any in-person attendances at our office be scheduled in advance, so please don't drop by without checking with us first. And please do not attend at our office if you have, or believe that you have been exposed to Covid-19.

If you're opposing counsel, we are accepting electronic service of all materials.

Please let us know if you have any questions about our Covid-19 policies.