HEARTY LAW Firm
KNOWLEDGEABLE.
EFFECTIVE.
PROFESSIONAL.
Negotiating, litigating and resolving all of your employment & family law financial needs.
WHAT IS
Hearty Law
Hearty Law provides effective legal service related to all of your family and divorce law and employment law issues.
Whether you believe your ex-spouse is hiding assets to avoid support payments, or your ex-spouse is falsely accusing you of hiding assets, Hearty Law has the financial experience you need. Hearty Law negotiates, litigates and resolves all of your complex financial issues.
Also, experienced in employment law matters and professional discipline issues, Hearty Law is here to help during these difficult times.
Located at 500-1000 Innovation Drive, Kanata, Ontario and serving Ottawa and surrounding areas, contact Hearty Law today at ottawa@heartylaw.ca.
Finding Hidden Assets
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Providing knowledgeable, effective and professional family and employment legal services in Ottawa, Hearty Law is here to help you through your most difficult times.
Latest News
Parental Alienation Cases: Strategies and Interventions by Family Law Lawyers
Parental alienation is a serious issue that can have damaging effects on parent-child relationships during and after divorce or separation. Family law litigation often plays a crucial role in addressing parental alienation cases, where family lawyers work diligently to protect the child’s best interests while ensuring both parents’ rights are upheld. In this blog post,…
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Parenting Plans and Schedules: Crafting Effective Co-Parenting Arrangements with the Help of Family Law Lawyers
Divorce or separation can be a challenging and emotional time, especially when there are children involved. Crafting a comprehensive and well-thought-out parenting plan and schedule is crucial to ensure the well-being and stability of the children while co-parenting. In this blog post, we will explore the importance of effective co-parenting arrangements, how family law lawyers…
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Can I force the sale of the matrimonial home in Ontario?
A common issue that arises in many separations in Ontario is whether you can force the sale of the matrimonial home. Last week, the Ontario Superior Court of Justice issued a decision that addressed this issue. Can I buy out the other spouse’s share in the matrimonial home in Ontario Prior to looking at whether…
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Financial Disclosure In Family Law In Ontario: When is it Enough?
The law is very clear that financial disclosure is an integral part of the family law process in Ontario. The reason for this is very simple, there is no way to know if a resolution is fair if you don’t even know what must be divided. In a recent decision in the Ontario Superior Court…
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Can Veterans Affairs Disability Pension Payments be Excluded from Child Support Calculations?
A common issue that often arises in family law proceedings in Ontario is whether Veterans Affairs disability pension payments are considered income for child support and spousal support purposes. Previously, I wrote about this issue and found that over the past fifteen years, there has been a shift and for the most part, these disability…
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The Role of an Employment Lawyer: When and Why to Seek Legal Counsel
Employment laws can be complex, and navigating them can be challenging without the assistance of an experienced professional. That’s where an employment lawyer comes in. An employment lawyer specializes in providing legal advice and representation to employees and employers regarding workplace matters. Whether you’re facing an issue at work or seeking guidance on employment contracts,…
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How Hearty Law Helps Navigate Custody Matters With Divorce and Children
Divorce can be an incredibly challenging and emotionally charged process, particularly when children are involved. The impact of separation and divorce on children’s lives cannot be understated, and it is crucial to have an experienced family lawyer by your side to navigate the complexities of custody matters. Hearty Law understands the unique legal and emotional…
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The Emotional Toll of Family Law Litigation: Strategies for Coping
Family law litigation can be an incredibly challenging experience that takes a significant emotional toll on those involved. The legal process can be overwhelming and stressful, leaving individuals feeling anxious, frustrated, and exhausted. However, it’s essential to remember that there are strategies for coping with the emotional toll of family law litigation. This blog post…
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Family Law Assistance in Ottawa: How Hearty Law Can Help You Navigate Your Legal Journey
Family law matters can be complex and emotionally challenging. Whether you’re going through a divorce, dealing with child custody issues, or facing other family-related legal situations, having the right legal support can make all the difference. If you are an Ottawa resident needing family law assistance, Hearty Law is here to help. Why Family Law…
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Alimony and Spousal Support: Ottawa’s Guidelines and Legal Considerations
When a marriage or common-law relationship ends, one of the significant financial aspects to consider is alimony or spousal support. In Ottawa, specific guidelines and legal considerations are in place to determine the amount and duration of alimony payments, ensuring fair and equitable outcomes for both parties. Understanding Alimony and Spousal Support Alimony, also known…
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Mediation vs. Litigation in Family Law: Choosing the Right Path for Your Case with Hearty Law
Navigating the often-tumultuous emotional terrain and the high stakes involved in family law situations can make resolving disputes daunting. Two routes are generally pursued: mediation and litigation. Selecting between these two pathways largely depends on understanding what each process entails and the specific details of your situation. At Hearty Law, we’re here to guide you…
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Common Myths about Family Law in Ottawa: Debunking Misconceptions
Navigating family law matters can be an emotional and multifaceted process. Common misconceptions can compound the complexity. Nevertheless, a solid understanding of family law procedures function is crucial in enabling better decision-making and reducing unnecessary stress. This blog post tackles prevalent myths about family law circulating in Ottawa to present a comprehensive, accurate depiction. The…
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Child Custody Battles: How a Family Lawyer Can Help You Navigate the Process
Few circumstances in life can compare to the emotional turmoil and distress of a child custody battle. These struggles not only tax you emotionally but also present a maze of legal complexities that can be difficult to tackle alone. At Hearty Law, we understand the immense pressure such battles place on parents. Our role, as…
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Domestic Violence and Family Law: Seeking Protection and Legal Remedies
Domestic violence is a pervasive and harrowing issue, affecting individuals and families from all walks of life. It takes various forms, including emotional, physical, psychological, and financial abuse, and often involves intimate partner violence, child abuse, or elder abuse. For victims caught in the whirlwind of such distressing circumstances, finding the courage to break free…
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Ex-Spouse Hiding Income to Avoid Child Support and Spousal Support Payments
During divorce proceedings, an ex-spouse may attempt to hide assets and income to avoid child support and spousal support payments. If you are in this situation, seek legal assistance.
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The Cost of Divorce in Ontario
The cost of a divorce in Ontario is related to the reasonableness of each person. Parents who refuse to get along will pay astromical legal fees.
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Divorce is Expensive in Ontario Because of Unreasonable Parents
Divorce can be expensive in Ontario, but only if parents act unreasonably. Trying to look at the situation from the eyes of the other parent may assist in resolving some conflict. This is another story of how two parents arguing over every little issue winds up spending over $100,000 on yet another trial.
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Divorce Costs in Ontario Rise With Refusal to Negotiate
The cost of divorce in Ontario rises dramatically when one person refuses to negotiate in good faith. This blog post looks at a recent decision from the Ontario Court of Appeal, which resulted in the mother paying the father $250,000 in legal fees.
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How Do I Change Spousal Support Payments in Ontario
Spousal support is often a contentious issue in a divorce. It can be very difficult to change a court order once it has been issued. If there has been a material change in circumstances since the order was made, altering spousal support may be possible. This means an involuntary event such as retirement. The most important thing to do is to have legal representation when the initial order is made.
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Order for Costs Enforced by the Family Responsibility Office
Costs are typically awarded to a successful party in a divorce trial. In certain circumstances, these cost awards may be enforced by the Family Responsibility Office in Ontario.
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Date When Property is Valued in Divorce in Ontario
A contentious divorce issue is often the date when property is valued in Ontario. This date is when the couple begins to live separately and apart with no realistic possibility of reconciliation. When there is a minor difference in the dates, there may be no impact on how the property is valued. Significant differences in…
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Bad Faith and the High Cost of Divorce
This is a story from a court decision released last week by the Ontario Court of Justice. This is a textbook example of what not to do as it demonstrates bad faith and the high cost of divorce. The father attempted to leave the mother homeless. It ended up costing far more than what would have been the likely outcome had the father been reasonable to start.
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Appealing a Family Law Decision in Ontario? What You Need to Know
When someone is not successful on a family law motion, they often immediately consider an appeal. A review of Ontario Court of Appeal decisions in 2020 demonstrate that successful family law appeals are not easy. This article is about some things you need to know before appealing.
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My Ex-Spouse is Sick and Can’t Pay Child Support
There are times when an ex-spouse can’t work due to a medical condition. This limits their income and reduces their inability to pay child support. A claim of a medical condition requires proof and a lack of proof can result in significant child support arrears.
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Can I Appeal a Spousal Support Order in Ontario?
A spousal support order can be very costly. It is very difficult to overturn on appeal, so you need to spend time with your argument at trial.
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Child Support Payments and Undue Hardship in Ontario
Child support payments may cause undue hardship. There is a high burden to prove that child support payments ought to be reduced. There needs to be significant objective evidence for a court to deviate from the Federal Child Support Guidelines.
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RRSP Withdrawals Income for Child Support Purposes?
Federal child support guidelines provide a simple method in calculating child support. Determining income can be difficult. RRSP withdrawals are typically used to cover non-recurring expenses, such as a house purchase or to fund legal costs. These withdrawals can be considered income, as it is money available to pay child support.
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Calculation of Child Support When a Parent is Underemployed
When a parent is deliberately underemployed, Ontario courts will impute an income which will be the amount that child support payments are based on.
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Veterans Affairs Disability Pension Considered Income for Support Purposes?
Veterans Affairs disability pensions can be a significant source of monthly income. Whether or not this amount needs to be included in any specific situation is dependent on a number of factors.
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Can I Sell the Matrimonial Home During a Divorce in Ontario?
One of the most often asked questions is what happens to the matrimonial home when a couple divorces. More succinctly: can I sell matrimonial home during divorce in Ontario? The issue becomes much more prevalent during a global pandemic, when there is much uncertainty in the housing market. This exact issue was decided earlier this…
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Changing Primary Residence of Children Before School
Changing the primary residence of the children is a difficult decision, especially immediately before school starts. If you believe the best interests of the children means a change to where they live, you will want to read this post.
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Separated Parents Disagree – Back to School or Online School
Recently, the Ontario government released information on the plans to return children to school. This has caused conflict between some parents on whether or not sending children back to school, or online schooling is better.
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How to Get Overnight Access With Your Children
When one parent leaves the matrimonial home, a common concern is how to exercise overnight access with the children. When the same money prior to separation now has to pay for two households, there are concerns with sleeping arrangements. This post looks at some practical consideration of these issues.
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5 Pitfalls to Avoid When Seeking Sole Custody of Your Child
Seeking sole custody of your child can be contentious when the other parent doesn’t agree. Here are 5 pitfalls to avoid when seeking custody of your child.
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False Allegations of Domestic Violence Impacts Custody
False allegations of domestic violence typically result from an emotional response to a volatile situation. False allegations are harmful and Courts will often be skeptical about your ability to co-parent in these circumstances. This blog post looks at a recent Ontario Court of Appeal decision that addresses these issues.
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Both Parents Need to be Reasonable on Claim of Alienation
Going to Court on an urgent basis to seek access, when the other parent is offering access is a recipe for having costs awarded against you.
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Sole Custody vs Joint Custody for Quarreling Parents
Quarreling parents can’t make joint decisions. In this blog post I review a recent Ottawa court decision where the Judge reviewed the law on joint custody vs sole custody. While not wanting to reward a parent who refuses to cooperate, sole custody may be the only option if parents will not be able to make joint decisions in the best interests of the child.
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Ex-spouse Makes False Allegation of Abuse
What do you do when your ex-spouse makes false allegations of abuse. This can happen in high-conflict divorces. This is a story of a very recent Court decision in Ottawa, Ontario, where the mother made false allegations. The father was awarded sole custody.
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My Ex-Spouse is Wrongfully Preventing Access to My Child
When one parent wrongfully prevents the other parent from exercising access with the child, it is concerning. The only solution is to get legal advice.
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Grandparents Have Rights to Visit Grandchildren in Ontario?
Do Grandparents have a right to visit their grandchildren in Ottawa and surrounding area? Family conflict often arises where grandparents are restricted from building a relationship with their grandchildren. This blog post looks at Ontario law and how grandparents can gain access to their grandchildren.
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Finding the Right Divorce Lawyer for you in Ottawa
If you are asking who is the best divorce lawyer in Ottawa, you are asking the wrong question. You need to find the divorce lawyer that will fit your needs.
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Common Law Spouse in Ontario? You Need a Will
When a common-law partner dies without a will in Ontario, the surviving spouse has no automatic entitlement to a share in the estate. The solution is to get a will.
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Making a Will: Testamentary Freedom
An adult child being left out of a will can often be difficult to accept. Ontario Courts have determined that the person making a will is free to make their own decisions.
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Why Update Your Will as an Estate Planning Strategy?
Spending a few hundred dollars in legal fees to update her will would have saved this family over $100,000 in legal fees.
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