Terrance G. Sheppard

Terrance G. Sheppard

(902) 460-3401 tsheppard@boyneclarke.ca
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Assistant
Kim Isner
kisner@boyneclarke.ca
Paralegal
Cindy Johnson
cjohnson@boyneclarke.ca
"Working together, we can tackle the issues both unique and familiar to modern families"

About Terrance

Terry’s experiences have taught him that no matter what the circumstance, people want to be treated with respect, be provided with insightful and practical guidance and trust that the person they are listening to is hearing them.

Terry is a multifaceted lawyer with part of his practice being devoted to criminal law. Terry has a wide range of experience in dealing with criminal cases that vary from high profile murder cases to complex fraud issues to everyday motor vehicle charges. Terry is also a highly skilled and experienced family law lawyer with a practice concentrating on issues relating to surrogacy, adoption, divorce, child support, parenting time and spousal support. Terry’s goal is to ensure that the family unit is treated with respect and understanding during a difficult time.

Terry recognizes families come in all shapes and sizes. Parents are divorced, separated, common-law, same-sex and single. The family with one parent and one child is a family. A grandmother raising her step-grandchild is a family. The same-sex couple and their adopted or conceived through surrogacy child is a family. New dimensions in parenting may require a new way of doing things, a pioneering spirit.

Areas of Practice

Terrance's Background

Education
  • 1998: LL.B., Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia
  • 1993: Master of Arts - Political Science, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia
  • 1990: Bachelor of Arts (Honours) - Political Science, University of King's College, Halifax, Nova Scotia
Employment
  • 2017 - Present: Partner, BOYNECLARKE LLP, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia
  • 2012 - 2016: Partner and Executive Committee Member, BOYNECLARKE LLP, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia
  • 2002 - 2005: Associate, BOYNECLARKE LLP, Dartmouth, Nova SCotia
  • 2001: Instructor (Transportation Law), Nova Scotia Community College, Halifax, Nova Scotia
  • 2001: Associate, Reierson Schurman, Halifax, Nova Scotia
  • 2000 - 2001: Staff Lawyer, Nova Scotia Legal Aid, Halifax & Antigonish, Nova Scotia
  • 1999 - 2000: Associate, Blackburn English Barristers & Solicitors, Enfield, Nova Scotia
  • 1998 - 1999: Articled Clerk, Paterson Palmer Hunt Murphy Barristers & Solicitors, Truro, Nova Scotia
Professional Memberships
  • Member at Large - CBA Nova Scotia
  • Member - Canadian Bar Association (Family Law Subsection)
  • Member - Canadian Bar Association Membership and Member Services Committee
  • Member - Nova Scotia Barrister's Society
  • Member - Nova Scotia Barristers Society's' Professional Standards Committee - Family Law
  • Member - Parent Information Program Project Advisory Committee - Department of Justice
  • Member - Nova Scotia Barristers' Society and Department of Justice joint committee to implement amendments to the Children and Family Services Act regarding adoptions
  • Member - Parent Information Program Development Working Group
  • Member - American Academy of Assisted Reproductive Technology Attorneys
  • Trainer for the Parent Information Program at the Family Division
  • Volunteer Facilitator- Parent Information Program, Supreme Court of Nova Scotia (Family Division)
  • Member - Self-Represented Litigants Bench & Bar Committee of the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia (Family Division )
  • Appointed amicus curiae in child protection matters for the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia (Family Division)
  • Appointed amicus curiae in child protection matters in the Nova Scotia Court of Appeal
  • Volunteer Mock Chambers Justice - Nova Scotia Barristers' Society Bar Admissions Course
  • Volunteer Moot Justice - 2nd Year Moot Court at Dalhousie Law School
  • Volunteer Coordinator - joint project of the Dal Pro Bono Student Association and the Canadian Mental Health Association on Human Rights issues
  • Former Board member of the Adoption Appeal Board for the Province of Nova Scotia (March 2007 - March 2010)
Community Activities
  • Director - New Start
  • Volunteer Lawyer - ReachAbility
  • Former Chair - Motor Vehicle Appeal Board
  • Former Director - Work Bridge
  • Former Chair - Halifax Developmental Pre-school
  • Former Board of Directors - Halifax Association for Community Living and a member of the Executive, serving as VIce President
  • Former Director - The North American Chronic Pain Association of North America
  • Former Director - The North American Chronic Pain Association of Canada
Awards & Honours
  • Leonard A. Kitz Prize for Excellence in Mooting, Dalhousie University, 1998
  • Graduate Scholarship and Teach Assistantshiip, Dalhousie University, 1993
  • President's List and University of King's College Scholarship, University of King's College, 1990
  • Included in The Best Lawyers in Canada 2019 published by Best Lawyers®
Publications
  • BOYNECLARKE Lawletters:
  • "Child Support"
  • "Child Support: Special Circumstances"
  • "Adoption"
  • Publication of "The Right to Strike: Liberalism and the Charter" in the Dalhousie Journal of Legal Studies
Presentations
  • Past speaker for the Military Family Resource Centre
  • Preparing and Arguing Cases Involving Contested Shared Custody (Parenting and Child Support Issues)- Nova Scotia Branch of the Canadian Bar Association, January 2011
  • Tax Principles for Family Law - Academy of Financial Divorce Specialists, June 2009
  • Lecture on Surrogacy - Regina Branch of the Saskatchewan Canadian Bar Association, March 2008
  • Uncontested Divorce - NSCC, April 2008
  • Lecture on Surrogacy - Nova Scotia Branch of the Canadian Bar Association, December 2007
  • Human Rights Act- Work Bridge, March 2004
  • Child Protection Proceedings - MISA, October 2002

Recent Blog Posts by Terrance

Blog Post | September 10, 2018

Canada Pension Plan Credits After Separation or Divorce

Terrance G. Sheppard Authored by: Terrance G. Sheppard Posted in: Family Law

Many people wonder how they divide up their Canada Pension Plan Credits after separation or divorce.

Read full article
Blog Post | July 24, 2018

Decriminalizing Surrogate Compensation

Terrance G. Sheppard Authored by: Terrance G. Sheppard Posted in: Family Law

If you’re one of the many couples in Canada exploring paying a surrogate to have a child – there could be some changes to Canadian Law that aims to decriminalize this process.

Read full article
Blog Post | June 18, 2018

Are You Travelling with Children This Summer?

Terrance G. Sheppard Authored by: Terrance G. Sheppard Posted in: Family Law

If you are travelling within Canada with your children, very little documentation is required, although you should be sure that you have current identification for yourself and each child.

Read full article
Blog Post | February 23, 2018

Interjurisdictional Support Order Updates

Terrance G. Sheppard Authored by: Terrance G. Sheppard Posted in: Family Law

Nova Scotia is in the process of updating its Interjurisdictional Support Orders (ISO) legislation, making it easier to claim spousal or child support from an individual living outside the province.

Read full article
Blog Post | January 31, 2018

Upcoming Introduction of the Domestic Violence Court

Terrance G. Sheppard Authored by: Terrance G. Sheppard Posted in: Criminal Law, Family Law

Nova Scotia will soon be introducing the ‘Domestic Violence Court’ (DVC) located in the Halifax Provincial Courthouse.

Read full article
Blog Post | November 8, 2017

Nova Scotia's Cyber-Protection Act

Terrance G. Sheppard Authored by: Terrance G. Sheppard Posted in: Criminal Law

Two years after the Nova Scotia Supreme Court struck down the Cyber Safety Act, the Nova Scotia Government has reintroduced new legislation to deal with cyber bullying.

Read full article
Blog Post | October 18, 2017

Halifax Police Announce Voluntary Surrender Day

Terrance G. Sheppard Authored by: Terrance G. Sheppard Posted in: Criminal Law

Voluntary Surrender Day in Halifax is Saturday, October 28 from 8:30 A.M. until 4:30 P.M.

Read full article
Blog Post | May 23, 2017

Obtaining a Record Suspension

Terrance G. Sheppard Authored by: Terrance G. Sheppard Posted in: Criminal Law

If you are a Canadian citizen with a criminal record and are looking to travel to the United States, it is important that you obtain a record suspension. Canadians charged with a criminal offence will find it more difficult to travel across the border without being cleared of their criminal charge.

Read full article
Blog Post | April 21, 2017

Canadian Court Awards Separate Damages for Future Potential Pregnancies

Terrance G. Sheppard Authored by: Terrance G. Sheppard Posted in: Family Law

For the first time, a court in Canada has awarded separate damages for surrogacy fees for future potential pregnancies.

Read full article
Blog Post | February 15, 2017

The CBA responds to Health Canada's Initiative to Develop Regulations Covering Reimbursement of Expenditures to Surrogates

Terrance G. Sheppard Authored by: Terrance G. Sheppard Posted in: Family Law

This blog post is a follow up from the January 26, 2017 blog post. The CBA has responded to Health Canada's initiative to develop regulations covering the reimbursement of expenditures to surrogates.

Read full article
Blog Post | January 26, 2017

Health Canada Looking to Develop Regulations Governing the Reimbursement of Expenditures to Surrogates

Terrance G. Sheppard Authored by: Terrance G. Sheppard Posted in: Family Law

On September 30, 2016, Health Canada announced they would be making changes to the regulations governing surrogacy under the Assisted Human Reproduction Act. They will controversially be proposing to regulate reimbursable expenses for parties involved in surrogacy arrangements.

Read full article
Blog Post | December 13, 2016

Ontario Introduces All Families Are Equal Act

Terrance G. Sheppard Authored by: Terrance G. Sheppard Posted in: Criminal Law

On September 29, 2016 the Ontario Government introduced legislation to ensure all parents are recognized equally regardless of their sexuality or the manner in which the child was conceived.

Read full article
Blog Post | October 4, 2016

Quebec Planning to Legitimize Surrogacy

Terrance G. Sheppard Authored by: Terrance G. Sheppard Posted in: Family Law

Quebec's Civil Code has long held surrogacy agreements void while other Canadian provinces have moved to legitimize the process. However, all of that may change. Quebec's Minister of Justice has recently announced to take a fresh look at the issue and it's place in today's society.

Read full article
Blog Post | August 29, 2016

Times are Changing in Family Law

Terrance G. Sheppard Authored by: Terrance G. Sheppard Posted in: Family Law

The Matrimonial Property Act no longer reflects the face of the Nova Scotian family. In order to address our evolving society, The Law Reform Commission of Nova Scotia has released a discussion paper regarding proposed changes to the act and how it will affect Nova Scotians.

Read full article
Blog Post | March 10, 2016

Are You Travelling With Children?

Terrance G. Sheppard Authored by: Terrance G. Sheppard Posted in: Family Law

If you are travelling within Canada with your children, very little documentation is required, although you should be sure that you have current identification for yourself and each child. Unless both parents are travelling with the children, you should have a Travel Letter signed.

Read full article
Blog Post | May 11, 2015

Faint Hope for Suspended Drivers

Terrance G. Sheppard Authored by: Terrance G. Sheppard Posted in: Criminal Law

If your license has been permanently suspended because of impaired driving charges, a new amendment, effective April 1, 2015, gives some hope that you may be able to get your license back. You have to have had your license suspended for 10 years, and must be willing to have the alcohol ignition

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Blog Post | June 4, 2014

10 Things Every Teacher/School Administrator Should Know About Family Law

Terrance G. Sheppard Authored by: Terrance G. Sheppard Posted in: Family Law

Custody can often refer to the “physical custody” of the child; that is, in which parent’s care is the child on a given day; however, the more usual use of the word custody refers to the “legal custody” of the child. Legal custody refers to which parent has the responsibility to make the major

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