Advanced Issues in Child and Spousal Support 2022

9:00 a.m.
Welcome from the Chairs

William H. Abbott, MacDonald & Partners LLP
George Karahotzitis, Thomson Rogers

9:10 a.m.
Critical Case Law Update

Gary S. Joseph, MacDonald & Partners LLP
Adam Prewer, Epstein Cole LLP

The law around child and spousal support issues continues to develop at a rapid pace. In this opening session, our experts will provide an in-depth review of some of the most important cases of the past year and discuss their likely impact.

10:10 a.m.
ABCs of Child Support Post- High School

Judith M. Nicoll, McInnis & Nicoll
Michael Stangarone, MacDonald & Partners LLP

• Post-secondary education:
– Who is responsible for funding it?
– What is covered?
– When does it end? How many degrees and diplomas is too many?
– What is the payor’s obligation to continue to pay for extra expenses (cell phones, transportation home?)
– What, if any, obligation does the child have to contribute?
• Support for a Gap Year
• What happens when the (almost) adult child doesn’t continue in school, but still lives at home

10:55 a.m.
Health Break

11:10 a.m.
Revisiting Retroactive Support Claims

The Hon. Justice Melanie Kraft, Ontario Superior Court of Justice
Cheryl Goldhart, Goldhart & Associates

Post-Colucci, counsel are grappling with how to navigate the challenges of negotiating and litigating claims for retroactive child and spousal support. Should we still be discounting retroactive support claims and support arrears lost in settlement discussions, given the Court’s current position? What are the issues counsel need to be aware of when negotiating these claims? What does the Court need from counsel when advancing or defending an application for retroactive support? Receive expert guidance on these and other key issues.

12:00 p.m.
Lunch Break

1:00 p.m.
Finding Money in the Shadows: Complex Issues Imputing Income

Ilana Zylberman Dembo, Epstein Cole LLP
Matthew Krofchick, CPA, CMA, CBV, CMC, CFF, FDRP‑Val,Krofchick Valuations

Get expert guidance on some of the more thorny challenges, including:
• Rate of return on investments: what is obligation to cash out and ensure a rate of return?
• Investable assets rates of return – when and what kind of expert do you need?
• Bitcoin/ cyber-currency – determining income, rates of return, etc.

1:45 p.m.
Ending or Reducing Support – If, How and When

Rollie Thompson, QC, Professor Emeritus of Law,
Schulich School of Law,Dalhousie University
Maxine M. Kerr, Family Law & Mediation

What are the pre-conditions to support? When does entitlement to support end (especially when there is lots to go around)? For your high-income earner clients, how much support is enough? What are the best strategies for defending attacks to reduce or suspend support? Get answers to these and other key questions.

2:30 p.m.
Health Break

2:45 p.m.
Practice Pitfalls For Family Law Lawyers (and How to Avoid Them)

William M. Trudell, William M. Trudell P.C.

3:15 p.m.
View from the Bench and Trenches

The Hon. Justice David Jarvis, Ontario Superior Court of Justice
The Hon. Justice Melanie Kraft, Ontario Superior Court of Justice
The Hon. Justice Tami L. Waters, Ontario Superior Court of Justice
Charu Chande, J K Hannaford Barristers
Heather L. Hansen, C.S., McCarthy Hansen & Company LLP

An interactive Q&A with judges and senior family law practitioners. Hear from experienced judges about what they want (and don’t want) to hear and see from advocates.

This interactive forum will also provide you the opportunity to ask the experts about other challenging issues you are facing, get practice tips and more.

4:00 p.m.
Program Concludes