tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-79421404347926142222024-02-20T15:54:07.508-07:00Family Law DemystifiedPractical, helpful, straightforward family law information from a family law lawyer, speaker & author, geared to help anyone going through separation, divorce, custody, child support, spousal support or other relationship breakdown or other family law issues.Lisa Tose, B.A.(Hon.), J.D., LL.M.http://www.blogger.com/profile/01386785201852232877noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7942140434792614222.post-18148538874937318602013-01-05T13:23:00.000-07:002013-01-05T13:34:05.527-07:00Another Sperm Donor Controversy: Part 3 "Are you the Father?"<em>Yet another case has appeared in the news in which a man who thought that he was a 'sperm donor' has been ordered to pay child support. In this case, the scenario occurred in Kansas, with remarkably similar details as the U.K. case. You can read further details here: </em><a href="http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/story/2013/01/02/us-sperm-donor-kansas-court-lesbian-couple.html?cmp=rss"><em>CBC News article on Kansas sperm donor issue</em></a><em> or here : </em><a href="http://www.cnn.com/2013/01/04/us/kansas-sperm-donation/index.html"><em>CNN coverage on Kansas sperm donor controversy</em></a> . <br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">It is evident that, although it is extremely rare, sometimes individuals who only intend to be sperm donors may be held to have some level of legal responsibility for the children that were conceived by their donation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On the other hand, many men find themselves with the full spectrum of legal responsibilities for a child that resulted from a very brief encounter, in which the man lacked any intention for the conception of a child.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Men who have a sexual encounter<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>that results in a child, though, and men who donate their sperm outside of the legal parameters for doing so, like the English “sperm donor” will probably be legally construed as a “parent” of the child, not a mere donor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The resulting irony is that the donor, who intentionally assists with the conception of the child, is sheltered from legal responsibility for the child whereas the sexual partner, who has no intention for the conception of a child may end up with decades of legal obligations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This ironic legal distinction is simply the result of the assisted human reproduction laws’ goal of encouraging a sufficient pool of sperm donors for the convenience of individuals seeking donor-assisted conception services.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Consequently, the intention to create a child is irrelevant in determining whether or not an individual will have legal responsibilities for the child.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the case of sperm, egg or embryo donors who utilise the public donation scheme or draft an appropriate legal document delineating their roles, there will be no legal responsibilities for the child resulting from their donation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Instead, the standard parental legal responsibilities for the child will be linked to the donor recipient and usually his or her partner or spouse.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The donor is therefore considered to merely be a donor, rather than a parent.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Given the clear limitation of the responsibility of sperm (or egg or embryo) in the relevant laws, there ought to be no concern on the part of donors that they may find themselves in a situation like that of the man in the recent English case.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thus, the law recognizes a distinction between a “sperm donor” who merely intends that his sperm be used to conceive a child for which he will have no responsibility and a man who merely intends to have an intimate experience with a woman and neither intends to conceive a child nor intends to have any responsibility for any resultant child.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The law places emphasis not on the intention to conceive a child, but on the choice of the manner of interaction with the other parent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">What the law clearly supports is the principle that everyone must take responsibility for his or her reproductive actions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is a false sense of security in the “one-night stand” type relationship that bears no reality to the legal consequences of such an encounter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Similarly, “donors” who choose to enter into private donation relationships should take the time and spend the money to have an appropriate legal agreement drafted which reflects the intentions of the parties involved.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">In the midst of the tangle of parental and donor’s legal responsibilities; however, is the intrinsic reason for these responsibilities: the child.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Family law governing the responsibilities of children’s guardians exists to ensure that children’s needs are met by the adults who chose to conceive or parent them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Whereas adults can engage in a range of reproductive choices, freedoms and options, the rights and concerns of the children that are created through the exercise of these options must be paramount. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Of course, in the case of the English man who is facing a child support order for the two children conceived through his sperm donation, the legal upheaval that now exists could have been avoided if the parties had attended at a lawyer’s office <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">prior</i> to entering into the arrangement.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is always more costly and difficult to seek legal counsel after a problem has been created rather than to seek assistance from a lawyer with preventing such a problem.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><o:p></o:p></div>
Lisa Tose, B.A.(Hon.), J.D., LL.M.http://www.blogger.com/profile/01386785201852232877noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7942140434792614222.post-29506459856463021402012-12-13T12:53:00.000-07:002012-12-13T12:54:18.761-07:00 I want to take my kids to Disneyland but my ex, the children’s mother, doesn’t agree. Can I take them anyway?<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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In your case; therefore, you will most likely not be able to
travel outside of Canada unless your ex indicates her consent on a notarised
travel permission document.</div>
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Sometimes, when parents separate, they include a term in
their agreement order that indicates that the consent of the other parent is
not necessary for travel outside of the country.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If that is your situation, then you will need
to take a copy of the order or agreement with you for travel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Note that if your agreement was informal, and
was not signed with independent legal advice, it may not be accepted as valid by
third-party agencies (like airlines or customs agents). <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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If you don’t have an agreement or order, or you do have one
but it doesn’t reference international travel, you will typically need a
notarised travel permission document from your ex to take the children out of
the country. </div>
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<i>For more family law information, listen to "Family Law Answers for Real Life" radio program live every second Wednesday night at 9 p.m. (MST) or on demand at: </i>http://www.blogtalkradio.com/lisatose</div>
Lisa Tose, B.A.(Hon.), J.D., LL.M.http://www.blogger.com/profile/01386785201852232877noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7942140434792614222.post-89195786356215979512012-11-30T09:05:00.000-07:002012-12-05T19:20:09.549-07:00Will a Judge always let the kids live with the Mother after a separation?<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Years ago, it used to be assumed that the children were always best taken care of by their mother.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This was particularly thought to be true when the children were young.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This presumption was called “the tender years doctrine.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Courts used to support this social assumption and, if a parenting application were to be heard, a judge would typically order that the children should live with their mother rather than their father.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">This is no longer the default presumption.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In Canadian family law, the best interests of the children are the most important considerations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Therefore, custody, parenting or access arrangements ordered by the courts are usually constructed to support the children’s best interests, which will depend upon their individual circumstances. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">From a legal perspective, in most cases, it is assumed that the children’s best interests are best fostered by having a good relationship with both parents.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The judge may consider many factors in deciding how much time the children spend with each parent, such as the age of the child, the amount of time each parent spent with the child before the application, and any other relevant considerations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Gender is not a relevant consideration and there is no legal presumption that females are naturally better parents than males.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Don’t forget that you and the other parent, together and outside of court, can determine a parenting schedule that works best for your children.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you can come up with an agreement, this can be made into a legally binding court order without having to litigate in court.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<b><span style="color: orange;">For even more family law tips & information, listen to Lisa's Radio Program, <em>“Family Law Answers for Real Life”</em> on demand at: </span></b><o:p></o:p><br />
<u1:p></u1:p><b><span sans-serif="sans-serif" serif="serif" style="font-family: ';"><a href="http://www.blogtalkradio.com/lisatose"><span color:="color:" serif="serif" style="font-family: ';"><span style="color: #e69138;">http://www.blogtalkradio.com/lisatose</span></span></a></span></b><o:p></o:p><br />
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">You should consult with a qualified attorney in your jurisdiction to receive specific legal information on your unique situation.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
Lisa Tose, B.A.(Hon.), J.D., LL.M.http://www.blogger.com/profile/01386785201852232877noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7942140434792614222.post-71683287373138648222012-11-23T17:18:00.000-07:002012-12-05T19:21:02.576-07:00My work schedule has changed and now I can’t see my children at the time stipulated in the parenting order. What do I do?<br />
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Unfortunately work schedules can often change and this may affect your ability to see your children. If you have a parenting order or agreement with specified times and dates for parenting time, when your employer changes your work schedule you will have to try to amend the parenting order or agreement. Ideally the other parent would understand that you have little or no control over your work schedule and would accommodate a change to the parenting order or agreement with little formality. </div>
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It may be helpful for you to bring up the possibility of your work schedule changing at the time that you are creating your parenting order or agreement. It is wise to build in provision into your parenting agreement that allows for the schedule to change if your work schedule changes. For example, if you see your children 30% of the time you could change the dates in the order to accommodate your new work schedule and still see the children 30% of the time. Essentially, you and the other parent may agree to have a term in the order or agreement that allows that you each have the same proportion of time with the children regardless of your work schedule changes.</div>
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Another option is to structure your parenting order or agreement without specified dates for each parent, but with a guideline of how much time each parent will have parenting time (with the children). That way, if either parent's schedule changes, or other events arise, the order or agreement is already sufficiently flexible to accommodate those unforeseen changes. This kind of an agreement is much more flexible, but requires both parents to have good communication and co-parenting skills. </div>
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It is important that both you and the other parent remember that you are working together as co-parents, for the best interests of your children, regardless of the fact that you are now separated or divorced. It may require some cooperation and some extra effort on your part or the part of the other parent, but it is usually considered in law to be in the best interests of children to have as much parenting time as possible with each parent. With this in mind, when a parent’s work schedule is changed, the children should not lose out on their time with that parent. </div>
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If the other parent is not accommodating or willing to change your parenting order, you may seek the assistance of a family mediator or a collaborative lawyer to help to create a peaceful resolution. Should you need to go to court for assistance, a change to your work schedule would be sufficient grounds for amending a parenting order.<br />
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<span style="color: orange;"><em><b>For even more family law tips & information, listen to Lisa's Radio Program, “Family Law Answers for Real Life” on demand at: </b></em><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<em><b><a href="http://www.blogtalkradio.com/lisatose"><span style="color: windowtext;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;">http://www.blogtalkradio.com/lisatose</span></span></a></b></em><o:p></o:p><br />
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Lisa Tose, B.A.(Hon.), J.D., LL.M.http://www.blogger.com/profile/01386785201852232877noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7942140434792614222.post-8482327549142778892012-11-13T10:04:00.000-07:002012-12-05T19:26:27.744-07:00Another Sperm Donor Controversy: Part 2 - Donor-Assisted Conception Laws<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Given that the widespread use of donor-assisted conception is relatively new, the legislation governing its use has only recently been introduced.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In contrast, legislation that establishes the responsibilities for more traditional parenting roles has not enjoyed the same the kind of in-depth examination.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As a result, men who lack the intention or desire to be a father, but who are nonetheless biological fathers, can have the usual legal responsibilities for their biological children.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">It is no accident that the legislation that governs the legal roles of sperm donors is so clear about the lack of legal responsibilities of sperm donors to the children that are created with their donation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Canada, for example, examined the roles of sperm donors in the assisted human reproduction arena before establishing their respective laws.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The overarching goal of the laws regulating the use of sperm donors (as well as egg and embryo donors) was to encourage people to be comfortable donating sperm (or eggs or embryos) without the fear that any legal responsibility for any resultant children would ensue.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">In Canada, and originally in the U.K. the rights of the children born through sperm, egg or embryo donation to know the manner of their conception or the identity of their donor biological father or donor biological mother were determined to be less important than encouraging donations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was feared that if any hint of legal responsibility was infused into the laws, even to require donors to consent to the release of their identities to the children upon them reaching the age of majority, would limit the pool of potential donors and make it more difficult for individuals seeking donors for conception.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The U.K. has since revised this aspect of their law and now allows donor-conceived children to have access to their donor’s contact information, when they attain the age of majority.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This approach is much more in line with most modern adoption laws.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">As the use of donor-assisted conception increasing in countries like Canada, the United States and the United Kingdom so does the demand for donors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Additionally, donor-assisted conception or assisted human reproduction technologies have become an accepted aspect of reproductive freedom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is no surprise, then, that in developing assisted reproduction laws, the legislators did not want to be seen as encroaching on the reproductive choices available.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Moreover, assisted human reproduction legislators were reluctant to step on the toes of the clinicians who offer assisted reproductive services.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While in a country like Canada it is illegal to pay donors for anything above their out-of-pocket expenses related to the donation, the clinics that provide the services are largely private, for-profit enterprises.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Although there continues to be a great push to include assisted conception services within the public health care system in Canada, these services have remained within the private medical service industry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">This article will be continued in a later blog post, which will analyse the legal distinction between a “sperm donor” and a “father.”</span></i><br />
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><em><b><span style="color: orange;">For even more family law tips & information, listen to Lisa's Radio Program, “Family Law Answers for Real Life” on demand at: </span></b></em><span style="color: orange;"><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<em><b><a href="http://www.blogtalkradio.com/lisatose"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">http://www.blogtalkradio.com/lisatose</span></span></a></b></em><o:p></o:p><br />
<br /><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="color: orange;">Lisa is conducting a seminar for separated and divorced parents on December 4, 2012 in Leduc, Alberta. This seminar will address the challenges that can arise for separated and divorced parents through the holidays, such as accommodating various schedules and determining who gets to be with the children on the holidays. For more information please go to </span><u><span style="color: #f6b26b;">www.lisatose.com</span></u><span style="color: orange;"> where you may register online.</span></span></i></b><span style="color: orange;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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Lisa Tose, B.A.(Hon.), J.D., LL.M.http://www.blogger.com/profile/01386785201852232877noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7942140434792614222.post-63897191853423817082012-11-02T14:34:00.000-06:002012-12-05T19:26:46.844-07:00Another Sperm Donor Controversy<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US">Question:</span></b><span lang="EN-US"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> <i> </i></span><i>I’m thinking of being a sperm donor, but I’m worried about having to pay child support for any children that are conceived using my sperm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Will I be legally responsible for child support if I donate sperm?</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US">Answer:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></b><span lang="EN-US">The laws in Canada preclude a sperm donor from having to pay child support or to have any legal parenting responsibilities to any children conceived via the donor’s sperm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nonetheless, a recent case from England about a sperm donor who is being required to pay child support plays on the fears of all potential and actual sperm donors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US">The news article from England (<a href="http://ca.shine.yahoo.com/blogs/shine-on/gay-sperm-donor-ordered-pay-child-support-daughters-135103565.html">"Gay Sperm Donor Ordered to Pay Child Support for Daughters 13 Years Later"</a>) illustrates the critical but very fine line between being a sperm donor and being a father.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In that case a man who claims to have acted as a “sperm donor” for a couple many years ago has been hit with a child support order for the two children that resulted from his “donation.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US">In this recent English case, which has similarities to some other recent American cases, a man had agreed to provide his sperm to a female couple.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The three individuals had agreed that the man would act as a sperm donor only and that there would be “no strings attached” but did not draft any sort of written, legal agreement outlining these terms.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nonetheless, after the couple separated, the man received a retroactive child support order for the children, who were born in 1998 and 2000.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The man has had no contact with either of the children.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US">In countries like Canada (as well as the United Kingdom and the United States, for example), there are explicit laws that define the role of sperm (as well as egg and embryo) donors and generally limit their legal responsibilities. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The legal responsibilities of sperm donors are usually delineated by law to exclude parental responsibilities such as guardianship or child support (in Canada see the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Assisted Human Reproduction Act</i>).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Typically, the sperm donor is not even required to permit his identity to be released to the person who is conceived from his sperm or the recipient.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US">Nonetheless, when people enter into private arrangements, as occurred in the recent English case, the law may not recognize the male as a “sperm donor” only and he may be legally considered to be a father, just like any other father. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In very clear “text book” cases it is easy to distinguish a sperm donor from a father.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The donor intends only to give his sperm to a recipient to assist with conception, but chooses to have no parental responsibilities.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A “father,” on the other hand, intends to play a role in the child’s life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US">It is evident that it is not necessary that a “father” has any intention to conceive a child.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In reality, aside from the very clear cases when a man either intends to be a sperm donor or a father, the legal differentiation becomes more evasive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is particularly so when a man neither intends nor wishes a child to result from an encounter, such as, in a “one-night stand” experience.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In that situation, the man may be responsible for a wide range of legal responsibilities for the child regardless of his lack of intention to conceive a child or to play a role in a child’s upbringing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>What, then, is the essential distinction in law between a “sperm donor” who is excluded from legal parental responsibilities and a “father” who bears significant legal responsibility for the child?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US">This blog post will continue with the next segment analysing the legislative history for the distinction between <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“fathers” and “sperm donors.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></i></span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: orange;">For even more family law tips & information, listen to Lisa's Radio Program, <em>“Family Law Answers for Real Life”</em> on demand at: </span></b><span style="color: orange;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<b><span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';"><a href="http://www.blogtalkradio.com/lisatose"><span style="color: #f6b26b; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">http://www.blogtalkradio.com/lisatose</span></a></span></b><span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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Lisa Tose, B.A.(Hon.), J.D., LL.M.http://www.blogger.com/profile/01386785201852232877noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7942140434792614222.post-66864695704878909482012-10-14T16:16:00.002-06:002012-12-05T19:21:36.049-07:00We live in Canada but were married in Mexico. Where do we get divorced?<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b>Q:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were married at a resort in Mexico, but have always lived in Canada.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’ve separated and now we want a divorce.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Where do we file divorce papers?</b></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">If you live in Canada, you should start divorce proceedings in the province in which you live, regardless of where you were married.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To be able to file papers in your province, you will have to have been living there for at least one year prior to starting the divorce process. If you have recently moved to a province, and haven’t yet lived there for one year, you will have to wait to file divorce documents.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Otherwise, the court in your new province will not legally have jurisdiction over your divorce proceeding. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you travel, or spend time in a few different provinces, the appropriate province for starting the action will be the one in which you mostly, or ordinarily, lived and consider to be your home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">You are your spouse do not both need to live in the same province to start divorce proceedings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Often, people will be living in a different province from their spouse when a divorce action is started.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In that situation, either spouse may start the process from within the province in which he or she has been living for at least the past year. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">For example, Casey and Rory met each other in a running group in Calgary, Alberta.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They wanted a destination wedding and were married in a beautiful ceremony on the beach in Mexico.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After the wedding, they continued to live in Calgary until they experienced marital difficulties two years ago, when Rory moved to Vancouver.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now, Casey wants to start the divorce process.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Casey, having lived in Alberta for many years, must file divorce documents in Alberta.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rory, on the other hand, having lived in British Columbia for the past two years, would have to file divorce documents in British Columbia.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If both Casey and Rory each file divorce documents in the two different provinces, only one action will be allowed to continue.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Generally, the action that continues will be the one that was started first.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><i>In Canada, divorce law is governed by a federal law called the Divorce Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. 3 (2<sup>nd</sup> Supp.).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To read the Divorce Act online, go to <a href="http://canlii.org/en/ca/laws/stat/rsc-1985-c-3-2nd-supp/latest/rsc-1985-c-3-2nd-supp.html">Canlii.org</a> . </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><i>Please consult with a lawyer in your own jurisdiction to obtain professional advice on how the law applies to your unique situation.</i></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><b><span style="color: orange;">For even more family law tips & information, listen to Lisa's Radio Program, <em>“Family Law Answers for Real Life”</em> on demand at: </span></b><span style="color: orange;"><o:p></o:p></span></span><br /><b><span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';"><a href="http://www.blogtalkradio.com/lisatose"><span style="color: #f6b26b; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">http://www.blogtalkradio.com/lisatose</span></a></span></b><span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';"><o:p></o:p></span><br /><span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';"><br /></span></span>
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<br />Lisa Tose, B.A.(Hon.), J.D., LL.M.http://www.blogger.com/profile/01386785201852232877noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7942140434792614222.post-19120658059707119792012-09-26T21:23:00.001-06:002012-12-05T19:22:01.174-07:00Can Someone Quit His or Her Job to Avoid Paying Child Support?<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Has your ex told you that he or she will quit his or her current job to reduce or eliminate child support payments?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Are you considering finding a lower-paying job, working less or getting laid-off so that you won’t have to pay as much child support?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is a very bad idea for anyone to quit his or her current job for a lower paying position with the goal of reducing child support payments.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The short answer is that the payor will probably end up paying the same amount as when he or she had the higher income job.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">In Alberta (and most jurisdictions in Canada) when there is a court order stating the amount of child support payable, the payor is legally required to pay the amount on the order until the court varies the amount in the order.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If the payor brings an application before the court to reduce the child support that is payable, the judge will definitely ask why he or she has changed jobs and is now making less money.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When a court believes that someone is trying to be underemployed (either in position, hours or pay) according to a person’s qualifications, abilities and past employment, then it is normal for a court to impute, or deem, income to that person.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">For example, let’s say that Kerry and Alex had two children during their relationship and then separated.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The children now live with Alex through the week and Kerry has parenting time every weekend.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After their separation, Alex brought a child support application to the Alberta Provincial Court and got an Child Support Order that stated that Kerry had to pay $1700 per month in regular child support payments.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After one year, Kerry decided that this was too much money to pay in child support, so Kerry switched jobs from being a full-time neurosurgeon to become a part-time coffee shop attendant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>According to Kerry’s calculations, the new child support payable based on the part-time coffee shop attendant job would reduce the child support payable to only $200 per month.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Kerry then went back to the Alberta Provincial Court with an application to vary the current Child Support Order.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Judge declined to reduce Kerry’s payments because Kerry had the ability to continue to work as a full-time neurosurgeon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In making the decision, the Judge declared that Kerry would be deemed to have the same income as when Kerry was working as a neurosurgeon, and as such, the payments were maintained at the same amount, even though Kerry was making far less money.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">If someone loses his or her job due to circumstances beyond his or her control, or, has to switch jobs for a legitimate reason, then child support might be varied to reflect the new income level.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nonetheless, it is up to the person whose income has reduced to prove that he or she has made good-faith efforts to find a job equivalent to the previous position.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The laws of child support in Alberta, and in Canada, are designed to ensure that children have adequate financial resources to preserve their well-being after their parents have separated.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thus, courts do not look favourably upon parents who try to avoid paying the appropriate child support amount.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">If you would like to calculate child support payments based on income, you can go to this website:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><a href="http://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/pi/fcy-fea/lib-bib/tool-util/apps/look-rech/index.asp"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">http://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/pi/fcy-fea/lib-bib/tool-util/apps/look-rech/index.asp</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Please note that this is a simplified calculation tool only.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you have a shared custody arrangement, you will need to do additional calculations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Watch for a future blog post on calculating child support when there is a shared custody arrangement or when children live with each parent at least 40% of the time.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><b><span style="color: orange;">For even more family law tips & information, listen to Lisa's Radio Program, <em>“Family Law Answers for Real Life”</em> on demand at: </span></b><span style="color: orange;"><o:p></o:p></span></span><br /><b><span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';"><a href="http://www.blogtalkradio.com/lisatose"><span style="color: #f6b26b; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">http://www.blogtalkradio.com/lisatose</span></a></span></b><span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';"><o:p></o:p></span><br /><span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';"><br /></span></o:p></span></div>
Lisa Tose, B.A.(Hon.), J.D., LL.M.http://www.blogger.com/profile/01386785201852232877noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7942140434792614222.post-85877346733651421202012-09-12T21:23:00.001-06:002012-12-05T19:22:23.731-07:00My partner and I just separated. We were common law, not married, so do I have to pay spousal support?<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">In Alberta, "common law" relationships (or "adult interdependent partner relationships") can give rise to a claim for partner support (“alimony ” or “spousal support”) just as in a legal marriage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Being “common law” rather than married does not change the entitlement of someone to claim partner support.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Entitlement to spousal support is based on many diverse factors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One of the key considerations is if one partner sacrificed his or her position in the paid labour force due to the relationship.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Another factor is the length of the relationship.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These two qualities are key.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thus, the longer a couple has lived together, and the longer one partner has remained out of the paid labour force, the more likely it is that there will be entitlement to partner or spousal support.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Other considerations for spousal or partner support include the labour force qualifications, education, positions pre-relationship and post-relationship, age, abilities and needs of the party making the claim.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Additionally, it is important to consider the means of the other party (his or her income and assets).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Often, the age of both parties is a critical factor as the needs and means of the parties as at retirement may change the circumstances significantly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The historical textbook situation where spousal support is a live issue occurs when one partner leaves the paid labour force to stay home to raise the children and take care of the domestic duties, while the other partner is enriched by this sacrifice and is able to devote more time and attention to his or her employment and career.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nonetheless, spousal support claims can certainly arise absent any children when the above factors are met.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Spousal support has many goals, including compensating <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>a person for the sacrifices that were made during a relationship that benefitted the other partner and may have had significant effects on the recipient partner’s overall lifetime income, earning potential and career achievements.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, one of the most important goals of spousal support is to allow the receiving partner an opportunity to have some money to live on until he or she is able to find employment that will take care of his or her needs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These days it is increasingly uncommon that spousal support would last throughout a person’s lifetime, but that will be the subject of another blog post!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><b><span style="color: orange;">For even more family law tips & information, listen to Lisa's Radio Program, <em>“Family Law Answers for Real Life”</em> on demand at: </span></b><span style="color: orange;"><o:p></o:p></span></span><br /><b><span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';"><a href="http://www.blogtalkradio.com/lisatose"><span style="color: #f6b26b; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">http://www.blogtalkradio.com/lisatose</span></a></span></b><span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';"><o:p></o:p></span><br /><span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';"><br /></span></span>
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Lisa Tose, B.A.(Hon.), J.D., LL.M.http://www.blogger.com/profile/01386785201852232877noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7942140434792614222.post-20270229670552966692012-09-02T19:32:00.000-06:002012-12-05T19:22:37.697-07:00Can I Keep the Kids if the Other Parent isn't Paying Child Support?<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">As a family law lawyer in Alberta, Canada, I’m frequently asked by clients who are having problems getting child support if they can withhold parenting time or access to the children from the non-paying parent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Child support and parenting time (or access) with kids are two totally distinct issues in law.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You cannot withhold the other parent’s time with the kids simply because he or she is behind on child support payments.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Although its frustrating, if a parent is supposed to pay child support and isn’t paying, you are not entitled to suspend the time the other parent is supposed to spend with the children.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Instead, there are specific approaches that you can take if the other parent hasn’t been paying their child support.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You should ensure that your child support agreement or Order is registered with the Maintenance Enforcement office so that they will take care of dealing with late or missed child support payments on your behalf.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Don’t forget that Alberta family law principles are based on protecting and preserving the best interests of the child.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Usually, this means that children get to spend time with both parents.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Although you might reasonably argue that a parent who isn’t paying child support is also not respecting the best interests of the child, the law and the courts nonetheless don’t let you keep the kids away from the other parent for the purposes of getting child support.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span><o:p><i>Watch for the next blog post about spousal support ("alimony") in common law relationships.</i></o:p><br />
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<b><span style="color: orange;">For even more family law tips & information, listen to Lisa's Radio Program, <em>“Family Law Answers for Real Life”</em> on demand at: </span></b><span style="color: orange;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<b><span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';"><a href="http://www.blogtalkradio.com/lisatose"><span style="color: #f6b26b; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">http://www.blogtalkradio.com/lisatose</span></a></span></b><span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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Lisa Tose, B.A.(Hon.), J.D., LL.M.http://www.blogger.com/profile/01386785201852232877noreply@blogger.com1