Gage Family Law Blog
Is Collaborative Practice the Right Choice?
Collaborative Practice can be an ideal process for separating families looking to negotiate their Separation Agreements. Lawyers have an obligation to discuss the different ways
T’is the Darn Season…for Holiday Parenting Schedules
The holiday season is an often-dreaded time for parents who have recently separated. It’s advertised as a time for families and togetherness and tradition…and every
Meet our People: Zeba Haider (Family & Estates Lawyer)
Zeba obtained her LLB from the London School of Economics in 1997. She is a licenced legal practitioner in both the UK and Canada, having
Can 12-Year-Olds Decide their own Schedules?
Our clients often ask us when their children can decide the parenting schedule for themselves. There is a rumour out there that children can make
Meet our People: Suzanne Stolz (Collaborative Family Lawyer)
Suzanne Stolz, Family Lawyer and Family Mediator at MGPC Suzanne graduated cum laude from Harvard Law School in 2002, where she served as co-Editor-in-Chief for the Harvard Women’s Law Journal.
Meet our People: Bethany Anderson (Wills and Estate Planning Lawyer)
Bethany Anderson Associate Lawyer- Wills & Estates Bethany graduated from the University of Western Ontario in 2000, and was called to the bar in February,
Meet Our People: Marian Gage (Principal at MGPC)
Marian Gage, Principal, Collaborative Family Lawyer & Mediator, Certified Specialist in Family Law Marian started her career as a family lawyer in Toronto in 2003. At
Representing Yourself? A Legal Coach can help
The traditional lawyer-client model in family law, where clients retain a lawyer or law firm to handle every aspect of their case (and charge accordingly)
Common Questions Answered: Wills & Estates
An Interview with Bethany Anderson We get a lot of questions about wills and estate planning. We decided to ask Bethany Anderson, who heads up
Representing Yourself? Consider a Virtual Law Clerk…
Many people are representing themselves in their family matters in court, in mediation and in traditional negotiations. Hiring a lawyer can be cost-prohibitive. We understand.
Will Artificial Intelligence Replace Family Lawyers?
We've heard a lot about artificial intelligence ("AI") lately. Will it replace us? Is it time to start looking for a new career? I decided
Marriage Contracts and Cohabitation Agreements: Protecting Your Future
At Marian Gage Professional Corporation, we understand the value of understanding your rights and obligations and protecting your rights and assets in your relationship, whether
Part I: Financial Friday Five, Money and Relationships by Michele James
- by Michele James So glad you are here. Friday Five is all about being intentional about our mental health. 5 ideas, questions, tools, and resources to
Saving Money on Legal Fees: Unbundled Services
There’s more than one way to work with a family lawyer. Separating spouses have some significant expenses in that first year of separation (moving from
Co-Parenting Post-Separation? There’s an App for That
Co-parenting apps aren’t new and they are becoming popular among separated parents experiencing all levels of conflict. For the “low conflict” families the apps can
To Zoom or not to Zoom?
To Zoom or not to Zoom? That seems to be the question now that we’re in 2023. Gone are the days of lockdowns and states
“How Long Will all of this Take???”
“How Long Will All of this Take?” This is a very, very common question we hear from people who are separating. As with most questions
When Should I Update My Will?
Every year (in pre-Covid times) when school ends and summer begins, before families hop on planes or pack up the car for road trips, I
Live your best life at every age
Bethany Anderson runs the Wills & Estates Practice Group at MGPC Estate planning for today’s seniors must take into consideration the realities and complexities of
“Intergenerational Mediation” – What does an Accredited “Intergenerational Mediator” do?
“Elder Mediation” is now called "Intergenerational Mediation" in Ontario and is probably more appropriately called multi-generational, multi-party family mediation. Unlike mediation for separation and divorce,
Who Should I Appoint as Guardian for my Children?
by Bethany Anderson It can be really difficult to decide (or even think about) who should look after your minor children if you pass away
How Do I Choose My Estate Trustee (Executor)? Here are some things to consider…
By Bethany Anderson Choosing an estate trustee (executor) is an important decision and your ideal choice will depend on a number of factors. Spouses often
“High Income” Families and Spousal Support
By Marian Gage We should talk more about high income spousal support cases. I’m not talking about the cases where a support payor earns an
Early Neutral Process Planning
Separating can be overwhelming, especially in the initial phase. It’s hard for separating spouses to know where to start (Lawyers? Therapists? Financial professionals? Mediators? All
“Do I Need a Will?” (and other questions for our Wills and Estates Lawyer)
People call us every day with questions about wills. We thought it would be helpful to interview our Wills and Estates lawyer, Bethany Anderson, so
It’s Not Win or Lose. It’s How you Play the Game
Around August every year we pull out the fall calendars and the cheque books and the sports bags and dance bags hoping some of that
Does it matter if “I do?” What if “I don’t?”
By Marian Gage The Angus Reid Institute recently published a poll indicating more than half of the respondents feel marriage is not important to them.
Slow and Steady Saves Time and Money
We meet a lot of new clients in January/February. There’s something about this time of year that drives people to make that call and meet
When the housing market is hot but the marriage has grown cold…
Tired of reading about the “housing bubble?” Me too. The cost of housing has become a big issue for families who separate in Halton. It
From Spouse to Roommate…
When is a separation not a separation? It depends on who you ask. In family law two people are considered to be separated when at
Your Wedding Season Downer
The end of May is here. The weather is warm and beautiful. It’s time to check those wedding registries and grab your tissues: It’s Wedding
Are your legal fees tax deductible?
By Marian G. Gage, B.J., LL.B., AccFM/IM (OAFM) …maybe. If you paid legal fees in pursuit of child support or spousal support in your family
Summer Vacation Starts Early
By Marian G. Gage, B.J., LL.B., AccFM (OAFM) It’s hard to put one’s mind to something as intangible as summer vacation when the kids are