I often write about things that could arise or are important after two people break up but this blog will focus on whether or not a relationship is “common-law” or what you should know if you’re not married and your relationship ends. True or False – a couple who is living together and have hit...Read More

Recently in Fredericton Provincial Court, a 31-year-old mother was sentenced to house arrest for six-months for assaulting another person with a baseball bat. The mother claimed she was standing up for her young son who was being bullied by the person she hit. At sentencing, the Judge denounced that behavior, noting that it is not...Read More

With Valentine’s Day just behind us, this is the love issue. Separated or divorced parents fall in love again and find themselves in new relationships. What would the Court think? Any do’s or don’ts? This is a frequent topic of interest during a family law file. Of course, humans heal from break ups and most...Read More

Merry Christmas ladies! I may have a special gift for you… How many of you are holding onto his last name believing that you have to be divorced in order to take your name back? I am here to tell you that you don’t need to wait to take your last name back! You can...Read More

Too often we hear a client being adamant they want “final say”. Main reason being they can’t get along with the other parent or the parents “just can’t agree on anything”. The fight for “final say” has become so common, it’s almost part and parcel with the fight to be crowned the primary caregiver. How...Read More

September can be a month of anxiety and stress for families as it presents back to school for children.  This September, post Covid-19, is arguably the most anxiety provoking and stressful in a significant number of years. All the new “school costs” and equipment requirements and other necessities have likely left many families worried about...Read More

Can a child whose parents are going through a Court proceeding in Family Division, either separation or divorce, have a lawyer? If so, who pays for the child to have a lawyer? Is the lawyer for the child separate from the lawyers for his or her parents? All too often no one speaks about the...Read More

People beginning a relationship with someone who has children should understand that they could be held liable for child support upon separation, even if the biological parent is still alive, says Fredericton family lawyer and mediator Jennifer Donovan. “Don’t enter into these situations haphazardly, thinking that you won’t have an obligation to support the family...Read More

By Tony Poland, AdvocateDaily.com Associate Editor Pro bono work is not only rewarding, it’s essential for the well-being of the community you serve, says Fredericton family lawyer and mediator Jennifer Donovan. “It’s a common preconception that lawyers are either all about the money and over-bill, or have no heart and wouldn’t help you if you...Read More