METRAC 158 Spadina Road, Toronto ON, Canada | | Phone METRAC Webinar Property Rights and Obligations of Married and Co-habiting Partners January 19, :00pm – 1:00pm

METRAC METRAC, The Metropolitan Action Committee on Violence Against Women and Children, is a not-for-profit, community-based organization that works to prevent and end violence against women, youth, and children, across diverse communities. METRAC’S Community Justice Program provides accessible legal information, education, and training for women and service providers. It examines how legislation and legal practices affect women from diverse backgrounds and especially those experiencing abuse or violence. FLEW, The Family Law Education for Women campaign information on women’s rights and options under Ontario family law available in 14 languages, accessible formats, online and print Phone: METRAC Youtube: METRAC Facebook: METRAC Twitter:

Presenters Tamar Witelson Legal Director, METRAC Robert Halpern Family Law Specialist, Torkin Manes LLP, Toronto Author of Property Rights and Obligations under Ontario Family Law

Division of Family Property in Ontario Ontario Family Law Act, R.S.O. 1990, CHAPTER F.3 applies to married spouses, both opposite and same sex guiding principles: marriage is an equal partnership assumes each spouse contributes equally to household, child and financial responsibilities result: each spouse entitled to equal share of family assets/debts at marriage breakdown

Equalization Payment applies to the increase in couple’s property that occurred during the marriage deducted: property (minus debts) that each spouse owned on the date of marriage (except the Matrimonial Home) excluded: gifts that each spouse personally received during the marriage (except the Matrimonial Home) calculate Net Family Property for each spouse: total assets minus total debts for each spouse at end of marriage asset examples: businesses, real estate (land, cottages, secondary or rental properties), furnishings, bank accounts, pensions, cars debt examples: mortgages, bank loans, car loans, credit card balances, unpaid income taxes

Equalization Payment (Cont’d) calculation of Equalization Payment: higher Net Family Property (spouse 1) minus lower Net Family Property (spouse 2) divide the difference by two (equals $X) spouse 1 pays half the difference ($X) to spouse 2 Domestic Contracts: spouses can agree to exclude specific property from the equalization calculation violence or abuse: get legal advice before signing any agreement about division of family property

Matrimonial Home “Matrimonial Home” is the home ordinarily occupied by the spouses as the family residence at the time of separation there are special rules for the Matrimonial Home in the equalization calculation the Matrimonial Home is included in the property calculation of the spouse(s) whose name is on the deed if the Matrimonial Home was owned by one spouse before the marriage, it is NOT deducted from that spouse’s Net Family Property

Matrimonial Home (Cont’d) if the Matrimonial Home was a gift to one of the spouses during the marriage, it is NOT excluded from that spouse’s Net Family Property the value of the Matrimonial Home at separation must be included in the calculation of the Equalization Payment both spouses have a right to live in the Matrimonial Home unless and until there is a court order or agreement to the contrary locks cannot be changed by one party without a court order or agreement to the contrary property cannot be sold without both spouses’ agreement

Presenters Tamar Witelson Legal Director, METRAC Robert Halpern Family Law Specialist, Torkin Manes LLP, Toronto Author of Property Rights and Obligations under Ontario Family Law

Common Law or Cohabiting Partners The Family Law Act rules for division of property do NOT apply to common law or cohabiting partners The Family Law Act does apply to common law partners for spousal support in Ontario, “Common Law” partners for support purposes are defined as spouses who have lived together for at least three years or have a child together and lived together in a relationship of some permanence

Common Law or Cohabiting Partners (Cont’d) the courts have made rules for the division of property between unmarried cohabiting partners factors the court considers: long relationship integrated finances cooperation in running the household cooperation raising children leaving school or workforce for family moving for one partner’s career the court may order one partner to pay money to the other or divide ownership of some family property between partners

Surviving Spouses if wife or husband dies before his/her spouse, the surviving spouse has a choice regarding family property: 1.if there is a will, accept the bequest of property according to the will, OR 2.if there isn’t a will, accept the assignment of property according to the rules for intestacy (no will), OR 3.choose division of property according to the equalization calculation. if division of property by equalization calculation (#3), payment to the surviving spouse takes priority over will or intestacy rules

Where to Get Legal Advice 1. consult a family law lawyer in private practice recommended by a friend or support agency Law Society of Upper Canada Referral Service toll free: Legal Aid Ontario online info from Family Law Information Program (FLIP) Family Law Information Clinics (FLICs) Family Law Service Centres legal aid certificate for complex cases or if domestic violence is involved 3.Community Legal Clinics some specialty clinics, serving specific communities, may cover family law issues

METRAC 158 Spadina Road, Toronto ON, Canada | | Phone METRAC Webinar Questions?

Presenters Tamar Witelson Legal Director, METRAC Robert Halpern Family Law Specialist, Torkin Manes LLP, Toronto Author of Property Rights and Obligations under Ontario Family Law

METRAC 158 Spadina Road, Toronto ON, Canada | | Phone Useful Resources METRAC: Ontario Women’s Justice Network: Family Law Education for Women: