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.
The Manitoba Court of Queen’s Bench declared that the current definition of “parent” and related provisions in Manitoba’s Family Maintenance Act violate the equality rights guaranteed under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
Read full articleOn July 9th, the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, Marco E. L. Mendicino, announced a change in the interpretation of "parent" under the Citizenship Act.
Read full articleBill 205 passed royal assent on March 16th. Although the Act is not yet in force, the changes led to some much-needed updates to Saskatchewan’s Children’s Law Act and fertility law.
Read full article“Unreasonable failure to support a child’s relationship with the other parent is a failure of parenting,” says Ontario Family Court judge.
Read full articleIn two recent Ontario cases, the courts ordered shared parenting amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Read full articleThe Ontario Superior Court of Justice recently released yet another COVID-19 parenting decision. In this case, the mother brought an urgent motion trying to vary a shared parenting order between her and the father.
Read full articleOn Monday, April 20, 2020, the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia (Family Division) issued updates to its Notices dealing with court operations during the COVID-19 pandemic. The following summarizes those updates.
Read full articleThe courts of Nova Scotia are currently operating under an emergency services model.
Read full articleOn April 14, 2020, the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia (Family Division) issued an updated Notice.
Read full articleIn 2010 and 2012, Parliament enacted the Limiting Pardons for Serious Crimes Act, SC 2010, c 5 [LPSCA] and the Safe Streets and Communities Act, SC 2012, c 1 [SSCA], which amended certain provisions of the Criminal Records Act (“CRA”).
Read full articleUnlike Nova Scotia, the Ontario Court of Appeal is allowing parties who had scheduled appeals to request their appeal be heard in writing. In contrast, the Nova Scotia Court of Appeal has adjourned or postponed all hearings that were scheduled for May/June with no option to proceed in writing.
Read full articleIn this case, a wife and husband had been in a long-term relationship and had been married for three years until the husband died suddenly and unexpectedly.
Read full articleThe Assisted Human Reproduction Act is the main law governing surrogacy and the donation of sperm/ ova in Canada. Bill S-216 was given a second reading on March 12, 2020. If the Bill ultimately passes into law, it will make major changes.
Read full articleThe Coronavirus (COVID-19) is affecting more than just toilet paper sales. It is also impacting divorced and separated parents regarding parenting time with their children.
Read full articleInteresting legal and ethical issues have arisen with the development of new reproductive technologies.
Read full articleLast week, a widow from British Columbia was denied access to her late husband’s sperm.
Read full articleWhat should you expect before your pre-sentence report interview? Many people feel unsure. Your interview matters. Here are five things you should know to be prepared.
Read full articleParents wanting to relocate will have to undergo a new legal process to get the Court’s approval. The recent amendments to the federal Divorce Act have replaced the longstanding principles set out by the Supreme Court in 1996.
Read full articleThe federal government’s recent amendments to the Divorce Act, under Bill C-78, bring Canada one step closer to meeting its international commitments on family law.
Read full articleThe recent amendments to the Divorce Act are giving a new meaning to family violence. Before the amendments, the term “family violence” had no legislated definition, leaving courts to decide the best approach to this complex issue.
Read full articleThe federal government is changing the language on parenting, with hopes of changing the conversation. Bill C-78 has introduced a number of amendments to the Divorce Act, which have generally been welcomed by lawyers and scholars across the country.
Read full articleFurther to the blog below that we posted in February, the Bill obtained Royal assent on June 21, 2019. There is no update yet as to when it will come into force, but this is to be decided in the coming months by the Governor in Council.
Read full articleLitigants are not rewarded for bad behaviour. In a recent decision out of the Ontario Superior Court of Justice, a father was ordered to pay $420,000 in costs to his former spouse, after losing the case for custody of their young daughter.
Read full articleA record suspension allows individuals who have been convicted of a criminal offense, but have served their time or demonstrated good behaviour, to have their criminal record kept private.
Read full articleOn March 8, 2019, Justice Minister Mark Furey proposed amendments to the Judicature Act that would expand the unified family court (UFC) system across all regions of Nova Scotia.
Read full articleIn May 2018 the Canadian government introduced a Bill which will change the Divorce Act for the first time in over 20 years.
Read full articleThe Supreme Court of Canada has declared that a Mandatory Victim Surcharge is unconstitutional in that it imposes cruel and unusual punishment on poor defendants, contrary to the protections provided by the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
Read full articleMarriage can have a significant legal impact on a person’s property and assets. Through marriage a spouse may have legal claim to a home,[1] may have a claim to other property and a marriage may give rise to spousal support obligations.[2]
Read full articleThe use of assisted reproductive technologies to create families is becoming increasingly common in Canada. These technologies create opportunities for individuals or couples who otherwise cannot grow their families.
Read full articleTwo 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 articleVoluntary Surrender Day in Halifax is Saturday, October 28 from 8:30 A.M. until 4:30 P.M.
Read full article