Family Law Case Conference

Our family lawyers often get contacted by potential clients asking about what a family law case conference is. We acknowledge that family law can be very confusing. There are also several self-represented individuals who do research online to understand the steps of family law. To clarify things we put together this blog.

*ClearWay Law has law firms in Duncan, Toronto, and Ottawa. You can call us toll free at 1-844-466-6529

The purpose of a Family Law Case Conference is to:

• Agree on the key legal issues to be resolved
• Make a list of what issues are not in dispute
• Work on the plan to resolve those issues
• The disclosure needed by both parties

The case conference is often around a one-hour meeting between your lawyer, the other parties’ lawyer, and a judge. Some people attend the case conference without lawyers. The meeting is informal as it is not the trial. You will often get a new judge if the issue goes to a hearing. The judge acts as a mediator during this stage of the family law matter.

Family law can be complicated. Therefore, it’s important to hire the right lawyer.

Sometimes the case conference is held is a private meeting and sometimes in open court. It depends on which court you attend.

It often takes 2-6 months to schedule a case conference depending on where the parents and/or children live. Individuals need to attend the case conference; they should not simply send their lawyers.

The judge won’t make a large order at this stage. A large order can include spousal support or division of assets.

Read more: Separation Agreement, What Is It?

If you need a family lawyer to attend a case conference, please call toll free 1-844-466-6529

The judge is also going to look at the possibility of setting the case without going to trial. Good lawyers should be working towards the goal of a settlement as well. If there is the possibility of a settlement, it is likely that a date will be set for a settlement conference. Multiple conferences can be held with the goal of movies the parties closer to an agreement.

During the case conference, a judge might make some procedural orders. This often is about forcing the parties to  to disclose to each other.

Family Law Case Conference- Disclosure List:

• All your assets (property, vehicles, air miles, bank accounts, mutual funds…etc.)
• Your debts
• How much income both spouses make (income tax returns)
• How many expenses were spent on the child (to determine child support)
• Employment insurance if applicable

Often both parties are given thirty days from the case conference to provide the disclosure.

If you have questions about the Family Law Case Conference, contact us! Our family law firm offers self-represented coaching if you do not want to have a lawyer represent you.

Does Getting Married On Certain Dates Increase Divorce?

Does getting married on certain dates increase divorce? A news article was posted by Global News last fall regarding “Does getting married on certain dates increase divorce?” The study was completed at the University of Melbourne in Australia. It found that spouses that get married on certain wedding dates may be more likely to get divorced.

The study’s report was called “Not Your Lucky Day: Romantically and Numerically Special Wedding Date Divorce Risks.” The study found that couples who got married on “special” dates like Valentine’s Day or numerically special dates (06/06/06 or 11/11/11) were 18-36% more likely to get divorced than those who got married on “regular” dates.

*You can call our family law firm toll free at 1-844-466-6529. Locations in British Columbia, Ottawa and Toronto

The researchers believe that those who get married on “special” dates were possibly influenced by the specific date to get married.  Typically a couple would decide whether to get married first and then determine when.  The researchers believe the wish to get married on a “special” date may influence parties to get married. They skip the step of first figuring out whether they should get married.

Does getting married on certain dates increase divorce?

The divorce study also noted that the higher divorce rates for the “special” date group also showed factors linked to greater chances of divorce, such as:

• Spouses who married on special dates were less alike, in terms of education and ages, than spouses who married on ordinary dates
• People who got married on special dates were more likely to have been married before and more likely to have children already
• Brides who married on Valentine’s Day were more likely to be pregnant on their wedding day than those who married on ordinary dates.

The divorce report also found that divorce was more likely if:

• The wife’s birth and wedding months coincided
• The wedding happened in the winter or mid-summer
• A child was born within nine months of marriage to a couple who wasn’t initially living together
• Remarrying couples didn’t live together for at least a year
• A couple wed on a Monday or Tuesday

Read more: Alternative Billing Law Firm

The study concluded that more research would need to be completed to determine whether these patterns appear in other countries (such as Canada). However, if you are thinking of getting married on a “special” date, maybe consider getting a domestic contract beforehand. Just in case.

Does getting married on certain dates increase divorce? Do you have other questions about getting married such as marriage agreements? 

Call our Toronto Law Firm:

Phone toll free: 844-466-6LAW (529)

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