My child is transgender. How will the court treat my custody case and which name and pronoun will they use?

 My child is transgender. How will the court treat my custody case and which name and pronoun will they use?

Courts in Canada have repeatedly recognized the right of a child to have the name, gender expression and gender identity of their choosing. Even if you have not legally changed your child’s name and gender marker, a Nova Scotia court will use the name and pronouns indicated by parents in the application.

Read More

My partner and I are in a same-sex relationship and are separating. How will this affect getting a divorce or separation agreement in Nova Scotia?

My partner and I are in a same-sex relationship and are separating. How will this affect getting a divorce or separation agreement in Nova Scotia?

In Nova Scotia, same-sex couples have had the legal right to get married since 2005. Just like heterosexual marriages, some of these marriages will unfortunately break down. However, those in same sex relationship can be assured that they will be treated just like opposite-sex relationships by the legal system.

Read More

Do Nova Scotia courts favour mothers in custody battles?

Do Nova Scotia courts favour mothers in custody battles?

Many people believe that the court favours mothers in custody battles. However, this is not necessarily true. The court must do what is in the best interests of the child. In Nova Scotia, the court will try to keep the “status quo” for children whose parents are separating, as much as is possible.

Read More

My husband had an affair. Does this change the amount of support I can receive or the way we divide our property in Nova Scotia.

My husband had an affair. Does this change the amount of support I can receive or the way we divide our property in Nova Scotia.

In Nova Scotia, we have what we call “no fault” divorce. This means that we do not take into consideration the “why” of the breakdown of the marriage, at least when it comes to the financial aspects, such as spousal support or division of property. In short, in Nova Scotia you will not be entitled to more or less support or other property because your ex-spouse had an affair or was abusive.

Read More

My partner is physically and emotionally abusive and I want to leave. Can I still get custody of my children and support in Nova Scotia?

My partner is physically and emotionally abusive and I want to leave. Can I still get custody of my children and support in Nova Scotia?

If you are experiencing any form of abuse from a partner, you should know that it is not your fault. If you wish to leave an abusive relationship, it’s important to know that your ability to have custody of your children and your entitlement to spousal and/or child support are not affected in Nova Scotia by the fact that you have experienced abuse.

Read More

Spousal buyout? What is it – how does it work in Nova Scotia?

Spousal buyout? What is it – how does it work in Nova Scotia?

So, you and your spouse (legal or common law) have agreed that one of you will “buy out” the other from the home you share ownership of.  What does that mean?

 Generally speaking each party is presumptively entitled to 50% of the equity in a jointly owned home. In order to switch it to a single spouse there are several steps.

Read More

How to create a legally binding co-habitation agreement in Nova Scotia

How to create a legally binding co-habitation agreement in Nova Scotia

What is a co-habitation agreement?

A co-habitation agreement is a legally binding contract between unmarried couples who live together. In Nova Scotia, a co-habitation agreement establishes legal rights and responsibilities towards each other, similar to how marriage provides certain legal protections for couples who tie the knot.

Read More

Cohabitation agreements for non-romantic relationships in Nova Scotia

Cohabitation agreements for non-romantic relationships in Nova Scotia

Sharing works best when everyone is on the same page …… or preferably a few pages. Cohabitation agreements are not just for couples.

 With the changing real estate market and housing shortage it is becoming more and more common for people who are not in romantic relationships, and various family members to be sharing ownership of homes.

Read More

Nova Scotia Family Law Court Orders Aren’t Set in Stone

Nova Scotia Family Law Court Orders Aren’t Set in Stone

So you’ve been to Family Court Nova Scotia, negotiated a settlement, or received a judgment, and you are now have a Court Order setting out terms like parenting time, and child or spousal support. Hopefully that’s the end of it and you can carry on with your life. Unfortunately, life can change in ways your Court Order can’t predict. Maybe you or your children’s other parent has an amazing career opportunity in Australia. This would be great but your Court Order says you have 50/50 parenting time with the kids and they started high school in Halifax. If you have a good relationship with your ex you can probably work things out without involving lawyers or the courts. If not, well that’s what Variation Applications are for.

Read More

Spousal Support: Taking (some of) the mystery out of entitlement to support in Nova Scotia.

 Spousal Support: Taking (some of) the mystery out of entitlement to support in Nova Scotia.

Trying to determine whether or not you, or your spouse is entitled to spousal support upon separation can be confusing. That is because spousal support is a complicated subject that takes many different factors into account, so the answer may be very different depending on your circumstances.

Read More

Changes to the Eligible Dependent Tax Credit with Shared Custody in Nova Scotia.

Changes to the Eligible Dependent Tax Credit with Shared Custody in Nova Scotia.

In shared custody arrangements child support is often calculated using the simple set off approach. This is a straight forward way of calculating child support and involves the following:

·         Parent A’s income corresponds with a child support payment of $500.

·         Parent B’s income corresponds with a child support payment of $100.

Read More