Blogs

Lang-Newlands v. Newlands: When $2.8M Costs Eclipse Equalization — Offers, Conduct, and Shinder Collide

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Citations: Lang-Newlands v. Newlands, 2024 ONSC 6285 (trial judgment) Lang-Newlands v. Newlands, 2025 ONSC 2739 (costs decision, Sharma J.) Lang-Newlands v. Newlands, 2025 ONCA 328 (Pepall J.A., motion endorsement) Introduction Family law litigation can be expensive, and Lang-Newlands v. Newlands illustrates the significant financial impact that may result when settlement offers are declined, credibility becomes […]

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Kirby v. Woods: Confidentiality Orders in Family Law

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Introduction The Ontario Court of Appeal’s recent endorsement in Kirby v. Woods, 2025 ONCA 437, provides timely guidance on confidentiality measures in family proceedings involving children. Decided by Madsen J.A. on June 12, 2025, the motion addressed how courts should balance the open court principle with the protection of vulnerable children and the statutory confidentiality

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Kounsil v. Kounsil: When Conflict, Credibility, and Parenting Collide

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Introduction The recent decision in Kounsil v. Kounsil, 2025 ONSC 3338, provides valuable guidance for practitioners on several critical issues, including credibility assessment, decision-making authority in high-conflict cases, substance abuse considerations, and income imputation. Factual Background Parmjot and Harpreet Kounsil married in Ontario in July 2014 and moved to Edmonton, where Harpreet had been living.

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Mullin v. Sherlock: When Equalization Falls Short — Unjust Enrichment and Joint Family Venture Claims For Married Couples

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The Ontario Court of Appeal’s decision in Mullin v. Sherlock (2025 ONCA 510) is a reminder that, while the Family Law Act (“FLA”) equalization regime is intended to be the complete answer to property division for married spouses, there are exceptional cases where it will not achieve fairness and equitable claims warranted. This is one

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Wang v. He: Urgency, Without Notice Motions, and Counsel Conduct Under Scrutiny

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Associate Justice Kamal’s endorsement in Wang v. He, 2025 ONSC 3072, is not merely a gatekeeping decision on urgency — it is a pointed reminder to the bar that strict adherence to procedural rules and professional obligations is non-negotiable. The ruling illustrates three core principles: The high legal threshold for urgency under Rosen and its

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Bayrekdar v. Al Zaher: A Clarifying Framework for Corollary Relief Jurisdiction Under the Divorce Act

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In Bayrekdar v. Al Zaher, 2025 ONSC 2713, Justice Mitrow provided clarifying guidance on a jurisdictional issue that has plagued Ontario family law practitioners: whether a court can make final orders for corollary relief under the Divorce Act before granting a divorce. While the Court of Appeal for Ontario had previously established this principle in

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Ahmed v. Abdelmoaein: Clarifying the Limits of Consent and Acquiescence in Hague Retention Cases

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In Ahmed v. Abdelmoaein, 2025 ONCA 508, the Ontario Court of Appeal delivered an important decision for family law practitioners navigating international child abduction cases. At the heart of the dispute was whether a parent’s general immigration planning—without explicit, time-specific agreement—could amount to consent or acquiescence under Article 13(a) of the Hague Convention. The answer,

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R. v. P.P.: Arranged Marriages, Stereotypes & Intimate Partner Violence

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The recent Ontario Court of Appeal decision in R. v. P.P., 2025 ONCA 2431, while primarily a criminal law case, offers critical insights for family law practitioners navigating cases involving allegations of intimate partner violence (IPV) within the context of family law proceedings. The case, which involved an appeal from convictions for assaults, sexual assault,

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LAKKINENI v. PILLI: Parenting Orders for Special Needs Children

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The Ontario Superior Court of Justice decision in Lakkineni v. Pilli, 2025 ONSC 2896, offers both a cautionary tale and a valuable case study for family law practitioners dealing with parenting motions involving special needs children. Justice Bingham’s judgment delivers a clear, structured application of the Gordon v. Goertz, 1996 CanLII 191 (SCC) framework, while

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