Raha Seyed Ali and Erika Hertz joined Watson Goepel LLP in June and July 2023 respectively. We are pleased to welcome them to our legal team. Raha Seyed Ali Raha Seyed Ali joined our Family and Immigration Law Groups as an Associate at Watson Goepel LLP. Prior to joining Watson Goepel, Raha worked at other…

In the dynamic and complex world of law, having a strong and capable legal team by your side can make all the difference. At Watson Goepel LLP, we take immense pride in announcing that several of our outstanding lawyers have been recognized as The Best Lawyers in Canada™ in the upcoming 2024 edition. This esteemed…

It is an unfortunate reality that divorce, or a relationship breakdown, can occur when someone is going through personal injury litigation. The stress of being injured in an accident and missing work can often cause strain and tension in a relationship. In such cases, clients often wonder if their upcoming settlement will need to be…

This article is part of a series of educational blog posts created by a team of Watson Goepel women lawyers in light of International Women’s Day 2023, to empower, celebrate, and encourage women in Canada.   Defining Surrogacy A surrogate mother is a woman who carries a baby full term on behalf of someone else. In some cases, the…

This article is part of a series of educational blog posts created by a team of Watson Goepel women lawyers in light of International Women’s Day 2023, to empower, celebrate, and encourage women in Canada.   Separation vs Divorce According to the Divorce Act, a breakdown of a marriage may be established when you and your spouse have ‘lived separate and…

This article is part of a series of educational blog posts created by a team of Watson Goepel women lawyers in light of International Women’s Day 2023, to empower, celebrate, and encourage women in Canada.   In May 2022, the Supreme Court of Canada (“SCC”) released two concurrent judgments for two cases dealing with circumstances where the accused was…

On June 14, 2022, our Partner and leader of our Family Law Group, Laurence Klass, chaired the Family Law 2022 Program hosted by Pacific Business & Law Institute (PBLI). Laurence led the Watson Goepel team, as well as industry experts from Schuman Basran Robin & Bell and North Shore Law, to discuss family matters that…

In a recent decision, Colucci v Colucci, 2021 SCC 24 (“Colucci”), the Supreme Court of Canada (“SCC”) clarified the appropriate framework for applications made under s. 17 of the federal Divorce Act. Under this section, parties can apply to the court for a retroactive adjustment to child support, or for the cancellation of unpaid child…

The holidays can be a particularly challenging time for separated parents. Here are a few key tips to help keep the season bright for families. Please contact Laurence Klass of our Family Law Group for more information on co-parenting.    

Payor parents, take note: even where a child has reached the age of majority, or become financially independent and is no longer considered a “child of the marriage”, the door is not closed on child support obligations that may have accrued in the past. A recent Supreme Court ruling means that the door remains open…