What is independent legal advice “ILA,” and do I need it?

What is independent legal advice
Date: 17 Feb, 2023| Author: Fred Streiman

There are many areas of law that recommend independent legal advice. Independent legal advice or ILA is one of the few things in life that exactly describes itself! It is legal advice given, independent of formal representation.

Most commonly, where a person is not formally represented by legal counsel it is recommended that they obtain legal advice prior to signing important legal documents. In providing ILA, the lawyer should review the document with you and confirm any obligations that arise for you or any rights or entitlements you may be giving up by signing the document.

In family law, ILA is usually associated with domestic contracts and separation agreements where one or both parties did not have the benefit of legal representation during the negotiation or drafting period. A good family law lawyer will:

  • review the terms of the agreement and advise you of any rights or entitlements you may be giving up;
  • outline your obligations; and,
  • if applicable, notify you of any claims you may make going forward and limitation periods you should be aware of.

While nothing is bullet proof, obtaining ILA protects your agreement(s) and makes it difficult to contest or overturn later on as the lawyer giving ILA will provide a certificate or sign a declaration confirming that the document was explained to you and that you were fully informed prior to signing. (In a nutshell, ILA prevents a party from saying they did not understand what they were signing or that they never would have signed if they had known what it meant).

If you are interested in obtaining independent legal advice or have any questions about it, contact us for a consultation or to book an ILA appointment.

Ingrid Saffrey – Call 905-455-7300 ext. 232 or email me at ingrid@dalestreimanlaw.com

The Common Law Reconciliation Rule – An Ancient Relic?

The Common Law Reconciliation Rule – An Ancient Relic?
Date: 06 Aug, 2021| Author: Fred Streiman

By: Rebecca Rosenberg

An established common law principle (law made by judges) dictates that a separation agreement (a legal contract outlining how a couple will settle issues around their separation) becomes void if the parties reconcile. The idea behind this rule is that it doesn’t make sense to enforce an agreement if the very basis of it – a couple separating from each other – is no longer true.

At issue in Krebs v. Cote, 2021 ONCA 467 is whether this rule should be applied to cohabitation agreements – agreements between couples that allow them to share rights in each other’s property. The parties in Krebs started an on-again, off-again relationship in 2006. In late 2012 or early 2013, the two entered into a cohabitation agreement, subsequently marrying in 2014. The pair finally broke off their relationship in 2019 at which time the respondent sought to invalidate the agreement on the grounds that their 2014 reconciliation broke their contract.

The Ontario Court of Appeal (ONCA) decided that the common law rule does not apply to cohabitation agreements, meaning a reconciliation does not automatically disturb a legal contract.

In her reasoning, the Hon. Gladys I. Pardu wrote about the outdated beliefs that form the foundation of the common law principle. Pardu described the rule as “ancient” and reminiscent of times when living together while unmarried was considered a sin. Since modern marriage contracts are more complicated, Pardu emphasized that people should be encouraged to create agreements that outline their rights and obligations to their significant others.

However, the court did not go so far as to say that judges should always back a cohabitation agreement. Instead, courts must look to the parties’ intentions at the time they agreed to the contract, noting the surrounding circumstances of that particular partnership.

So, when deciding to share your property with someone else, remember to be clear about the terms you are agreeing to. Expressly stating your intentions in these types of familial contracts can help you avoid going to court in the future.

COMMONLAW SPOUSES PROPERTY RIGHT LIMITATION PROBLEMS

Date: 06 Mar, 2014| Author: Fred Streiman

We have discussed elsewhere the extremely complicated issue of the rights that commonlaw partners have against the other’s property in the event of a separation. Those rights are very different than those granted under the Family Law Act to married spouses. These commonlaw property rights are generally rights of equity or judge made law.

One particular heading for such a claim is that of constructive trust in which the court imposes a trust right against the others property justified on the grounds of unjust enrichment or other equitable remedies (in English, it is unfair that the other benefited from your actions).

However, this has run into limitation problems.Generally speaking in Ontario, all claims are governed by the Limitations Act which holds that any lawsuit must be started within two years of the date on which the right should reasonably have been discovered by the Plaintiff.

If such a limitation period was imposed upon commonlaw spouses, one could envision a scenario in which the commonlaw spouse who feels that he or she has a claim, must bring such a claim even before the relationship ends.

Justice Perkins in 2013, made a decision that may yet be appealed. In the case of McConnell v. Huxtable, Justice Perkins decided to use the specific limitation period under the Real Property Limitations Act which provides a ten year limitation period for claims to recover land.

This is all clearly extremely complicated and complications that the drafters of the Family Law Act hoped would never arise, but they have nonetheless courtesy of various court decisions, and most importantly, the Supreme Court of Canada in Scott v. Branow.

The lawyers at Dale Streiman Law L.L.P. have on many occasions had to grapple on behalf of their clients with thorny and competing equitable claims between separating commonlaw spouses. One should appreciate that the gender of the parties is irrelevant and indeed Dale Streiman Law L.L.P. has extensive experience in acting for same sex commonlaw parties who are separating.

Any commonlaw spouse who finds themself separating would do well to speak to an experienced family law lawyer to assist them with this thorny issue.

IS SMALL CLAIMS COURT AN OPTION IN FAMILY LAW CASES?

Date: 06 Mar, 2014| Author: Fred Streiman

The general answer is no. The jurisdiction for dealing with Family Law matters with respect to custody, access and property rights under the Family Law Act, are solely the jurisdiction of the either the Superior Court or the Ontario Court of Justice, Family Court Division.

However, common-law couples, when they separate, can use Small Claims Court to settle outstanding property issues between them, so long as the amount in dispute is less than $25,000.00.

The Ontario Court of Appeal in Grover v. Hodgins first upheld that point and which has recently been reinforced in 2012 by the decision of Justice Wilcox of the Ontario Superior Court in Matteau v. Johnson. In that the case, there were claims between the parties with respect to living expense debts, money owing under an oral agreement and potentially exotic trust claims such as constructive trust.

In these circumstances, the court held that Small Claims Court did have jurisdiction. An issued had been raised as to whether or not a separation agreement or cohabitation agreement had been properly entered into. The court felt that there was no valid agreement, that it did not meet the formalities of the Family Law Act, and that the matter was completely within the four corners of Small Claims Court.

Small Claims Court is not a venue that generally justifies the expense of a lawyer. However, Dale Streiman Law LLP offers a licenced paralegal, with many years of Small Claims Court experience.

By: Fred Streiman
Fred-Streiman

PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT SHORT SIGHTED IN ITS STAFFING SHORTAGES AND FAILURE TO PAY AS YOU GO

Date: 06 Mar, 2014| Author: Fred Streiman

As any individual who has had the misfortune of attempting to file any document with the courts in Brampton or the surrounding areas, you will have learned the moto, bring a book.

The registrar or clerks office of the Region of Peel courthouse are chronically understaffed and overworked. A speed bump system of lengthy lines, which features limited number of filings, have all been incorporated in an attempt to throttle the inflow of documents in an attempt to gain a closer relationship between the available staff and the documents that are to be filed.

This blog is in no way meant to be a criticism of the court staff, but rather of the short sighted failure of the government, who are of course our representatives in their management of our tax dollars.There are substantial court fees to be garnered by the filing of the documents. As an example a motion for a divorce Order requires a fee of $280.00.

There should be careful consideration of the concept of determining what is the true cost of the filing, managing and retrieval of such documents and setting a fee that covers those costs. As such, this would be a revenue neutral process. The provincial government rakes in annually many millions of dollars in filing fees. While the government attributes these to their general fund, the government in this author’s humble view needs to look upon all of its functions where possible on a much more business like approach. There are already provisions for those individuals that cannot afford the appropriate fees to have them reduced or eliminated in particular circumstances. That is an admirable place for our tax dollars to be spent. However, it should be part of any litigant’s legal fees to pay an appropriate amount of money for the something as mundane as the filing of documents.

As a society, we underwrite the enormous costs of the judiciary and its many supporting arms. This is as it should be as the administration and rule of law is what separates Canada from oppressive autocratic and often dangerous governments. Layoffs make no sense as a cost cutting measure. The government is cutting off its nose to spite the economy’s face. A well run judicial system, which includes something as simple as the filing of a court document in less than an hour should be a feature of a modern society. The countless hours wasted while waiting in line, is a drag upon the economy, one which all of us pay for and benefits no one except perhaps the publishers of newspapers, books and crossword puzzles to occupy the waiter’s time.