Canada: Family and Matrimonial

When the Supreme Court of Canada established the new tort of intimate partner violence (“IPV”) in Ahluwalia v. Ahluwalia,[1] it answered a call to action to address and provide a remedy to the coercion, control, and systemic harm that results from this pervasive form of abuse. In the wake of the decision, family and civil lawyers now have to figure out how to effectively litigate these cases. How should they be pleaded? What evidence will courts find persuasive? How much corroboration is necessary?

The Supreme Court of Canada has established a new tort for intimate partner violence, extending legal recognition beyond physical abuse to include psychological control, financial manipulation, and other coercive tactics. Understanding who can sue, what conduct qualifies, and how courts will assess damages is essential for anyone navigating this emerging area of law.

Une fiducie familiale constituée par un parent après le mariage de son enfant serait normalement considérée comme un don fait après le mariage (gift after marriage) et, à ce titre, exclue du calcul de l’égalisation en vertu de la Loi sur le droit de la famille de l’Ontario. Dans l’affaire Lang-Newlands c. Newlands, 2026 ONCA 530 (« Lang-Newlands »), la Cour d’appel de l’Ontario (la « Cour ») en décide toutefois autrement. Elle conclut que, puisque la valeur de la fiducie provenait entièrement d’actions que la bénéficiaire détenait déjà à la date du mariage, son intérêt dans la fiducie ne constituait pas un don. Elle est donc désormais tenue de verser une importante somme au titre de l’égalisation.

Crypto in divorce in Canada presents unique hurdles for couples managing Bitcoin, Ethereum, and other digital assets amid separation.

That deceptively simple question drove four to five days of Superior Court litigation in Ontario…all funded by Canadian taxpayers, in what hosts Gavin Tighe and Stephen Thiele call one of the most revealing windows into the mounting crisis of judicial resource allocation in Canada.

For many business owners, the company is their largest asset. In an Ontario divorce, the business itself is usually not divided between spouses, but its value can have a major impact on the equalization payment that one spouse may owe the other.

Explore recent legal insights and updates from Clark Wilson LLP, covering employment law changes, commercial lease renewals, business succession disputes, trust protection strategies, foreign influence registry requirements, and construction law developments. Stay informed on critical legal matters affecting businesses and individuals across Canada.

Should you add your adult children to your property title to avoid probate in Ontario? This estate planning decision can have consequences beyond probate costs.

With increasing longevity comes a host of challenging issues. One of them is maintaining an up-to-date estate plan.