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My Practice is restricted to matrimonial and divorce litigation in Quebec. I apply a direct, assertive, and energetic approach in order to create the conditions that will result in the best possible outcome.
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 Common Issues

Residency requirement for filing divorce proceedings in Quebec

The fact that you were married in Quebec does not mean that you can file for divorce in Quebec.

To file divorce proceedings in Quebec either you or your spouse must have lived in Quebec continuously for one year before the date on which the proceedings are issued.

A divorce motion brought in Quebec, where neither party has one year of prior continuous residence in Quebec, may be dismissed for lack of jurisdiction.

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Grounds for divorce – marriage breakdown

A divorce may be granted if there has been a “breakdown of the marriage”.

The Divorce Act (s.8 (2)) defines “marriage breakdown”. Generally it consists of separation for one year, adultery, mental cruelty, or physical cruelty.

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Separation for one year

Section 8, subsection 2 a) defines separation for one year as follows:

the spouses have lived separate and apart for at least one year immediately preceding the determination of the divorce proceeding and were living separate and apart at the commencement of the proceeding;

The manner in which the “period of separation” is calculated is defined at section 8, subsection 3:

(a) spouses shall be deemed to have lived separate and apart for any period during which they lived apart and either of them had the intention to live separate and apart from the other; and

(b) a period during which spouses have lived separate and apart shall not be considered to have been interrupted or terminated

(i) by reason only that either spouse has become incapable of forming or having an intention to continue to live separate and apart or of continuing to live separate and apart of the spouse's own volition, if it appears to the court that the separation would probably have continued if the spouse had not become so incapable, or

(ii) by reason only that the spouses have resumed cohabitation during a period of, or periods totaling, not more than ninety days with reconciliation as its primary purpose.

If you are living separate and apart, you are not required to wait for one year to elapse to institute divorce proceedings.

You can file for divorce at any time after your separation, and even prior to the expiry of one year. However a judgment of divorce cannot be rendered until your separation has lasted for at least one year.

In your divorce motion in the part that deals with the grounds for divorce you should specify the date on which the separation occurred.

While waiting for the year to expire, the issues that require immediate resolution can be dealt with by means of interim or provisional judgments (see stages in a divorce case below)

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Spousal misconduct - adultery, mental cruelty, physical cruelty

Section 8, subsection 2 b) deals with “spousal misconduct” or marital fault. It reads: 

(b) the spouse against whom the divorce proceeding is brought has, since celebration of the marriage,

(i) committed adultery, or

(ii) treated the other spouse with physical or mental cruelty of such a kind as to render intolerable the continued cohabitation of the spouses.

By invoking adultery, mental cruelty, or physical cruelty you do not have to wait for one year before a judgment of divorce can be granted.

Many people believe that spousal misconduct gives the aggrieved party an advantage, regarding either the financial or custody issues, as a form of punishment to the guilty party. This is not true. The Divorce Act makes it clear that spousal misconduct cannot impact on the Court's decision on the accessory issues of custody, support, and division of property. In this regard s. 15.2 (5) in relation to support and s.16 (8) in relation to custody both read as follows:

Spousal misconduct

In making an order under subsection (1) or an interim order under subsection (2), the court shall not take into consideration any misconduct of a spouse in relation to the marriage.

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Annulment of marriage

You have 3 years to seek a marriage annulment under Quebec law.

The grounds for marriage annulment are similar in many respects to the reasons that justify the annulment of contracts in civil law.

The most common grounds include:

a) that the required formalities for the celebration of the marriage have not been complied with (for example the official who performed the marriage did not possess the required qualifications to conduct a marriage)

or

b) like any contract, that your consent to the marriage as a result of error or fraud, or under duress etc. (an obvious example of error being - you believed that you married a woman only to discover after the marriage that the person is a man)

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Stages in a Family Case

There are three stages in the litigation of family cases –
1) interim
2) provisional
3) final

The easiest way to understand the stages in a divorce case is to see the above diagram as a time continuum.

The interim stage (red) covers the period from the date of institution of the proceedings to the date of the provisional judgment.

Interim judgments are rendered only in cases of urgency, and a quick hearing date on ten days notice or even less can be obtained.

The provisional stage (green) overlaps the interim stage and refers to the period from the date of the institution of the proceedings to the date of the final judgment.

Provisional judgments, if necessary, retroactively supersede interim judgments and apply going forward to the date of the final divorce hearing.

The principal aim of a provisional judgment is to maintain, as much as possible, the living standard enjoyed by the family while it remained together.

The final stage (blue) refers to the judgment rendered at the final divorce hearing and beyond.

A final judgment can, if necessary, apply retroactively and supersede a provisional judgment. It will apply going forward into the future unless and until it is modified by a further judgment rendered on a motion to modify it based on a future change of circumstances

The three main issues in the case of the breakdown of a marriage are:

  • Custody
  • Support
  • Division of property
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Custody

Jurisdiction in custody disputes - place where custody case should be initiated

In custody matters the Court having jurisdiction is the Court of the place where the child is domiciled.

Article 3142 of the Quebec Civil Code says - A Quebec authority has jurisdiction to rule on the custody of a child provided he is domiciled in Quebec.

Article 75 of the Quebec Civil Code says - The domicile of a person, for the exercise of his civil rights, is at the place of his principal establishment.

In custody matters, if there has been a decision on custody, rendered by a court the child's domicile is the place of residence of the custodial parent.

If there has not been a decision on custody, then the child's domicile is the place of his "habitual residence".

The child's "habitual residence" may be different from his actual residence, if one of the parents has moved the child from the place where he lived with both parents to a new geographical area without the consent of the other parent. Such a move is referred to as an "unlawful removal".

An "unlawful removal" cannot give a court jurisdiction to hear a custody dispute.

Under the Civil Code the Court can exceptionally, even when a child is domiciled in Quebec, decline jurisdiction to hear a custody case regarding that child if it determines that the Court of another jurisdiction is better placed to decide the issue of custody because the child has a more "substantial connection" to another jurisdiction. This may occur when a child has recently been moved by one of the spouses to Quebec from another place.

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Criteria for custody

In any custody dispute the interest of the children will always be placed first and foremost by the Court.

The most important criterion in deciding custody is what is in the best interest of the child, and not what is best for the father or the mother.

The courts will give preference to neither the mother nor father in determining custody.

There did exist a principle known as the “tender year’s doctrine”, which determined that, everything being equal, custody of a young child (an infant or toddler) would be awarded to the mother. This principle no longer applies in today's law.

The principal factors taken into account in determining custody are the respective parental capacities of the parties (ability to provide for the basic physical and emotional needs of the children), the history of care giving (i.e. who was the primary caregiver during co-habitation), involvement in activities, availability for the children (personal schedules), communication with and attitude towards the other side, willingness to facilitate contact between the children and the other party, what the children may want etc.

Parental alienation – where one parent turns the children against the other by for example speaking badly of the other parent to the children– is considered conduct that is counter-indicative to parental capacity required for custody.

Alienation by the custodial parent is a justification for a change of custody.

Children should not be used as intermediaries to send messages to the other parent, nor should there be any discussion of the adult issues in the divorce case with the children (example – “Your mother is taking all my money. She is making me poor”). Such conduct is also considered counter-indicative to parental capacity required for custody.

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Definitions

Sole custody

Sole custody means that the children reside with one of the parents for more than 60% of the time. It implies that the parent having custody alone exercises parental authority (i.e. makes final decisions regarding the children). The non-custodial parent has the right to be consulted regarding major decisions that usually concern health, education, religion etc.

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“Split” or “shared” Custody

The parties have split custody when the children divide their residential time equally or almost equally between the parents. It is generally understood to mean a division of residential time, (usually over cycles of seven or fourteen days) from a "40 / 60" up to a "50 / 50" basis.

The Quebec Child Support Guidelines define split custody as any arrangement where the children reside with one of the parents over 40% of the time.

Split custody may be imposed, in spite of opposition by one of the parents, if the circumstances show that it has a reasonable chance to succeed.

The Quebec Court of Appeal has stated that split custody may be imposed if the following conditions exist:

  • Both parties have parental capacity
  • The parties live relatively close to one another (proximity of residence)
  • The parties have “functional” communication – i.e. – they are able to communicate information regarding the children to one another

It is recognized that it is in the best interest of children to maximize their time spent with both parents.

Split custody assures that children maximize their contact and time with both parents.

The absence of conflict is not a requirement.

Split custody may be a viable option, even if the parties do not get along, provided that they are both good parents with something important to offer to the children.

Communication need not be perfect, only effective or functional. Difficulty in communicating is not an impediment to the imposition of split custody.

Functional communication requires that you have a medium or means of communicating information regarding the children to the other party. Email is an example of such a medium, and is a good means of communication when face to face communication is not possible.

A total absence of communication (where it is impossible to communicate by any means) will rule out split custody.

Impeding communication to defeat split custody is an unwise strategy as it is counter-indicative to parental capacity and may result in custody being granted to the opposing party.

Dr. Abe Worenklein, a psychologist who has testified as an expert in many custody cases in Quebec over the years provides the following perspective on the ability to communicate and split custody:

With respect to split custody, the literature is equivocal. It is felt by some that split custody is likely to work with certain parental characteristics and capacities, together with a commitment to the concept of split custody as a fair and moral solution. It furthermore is felt that there are certain characteristics which will make split custody more likely to work. Such characteristics include:

  • "a sense of basic respect and trust for one another as parents;
  • appreciation of the value of the other parent to the child;
  • basic congruency child rearing values for capacity to tolerate existing differences
  • a sense of parity with the other parent; and
  • the ability of the two parents to communicate with each other vis-a-vis the child"

In fact, split custody is viable only if the parents have demonstrated their capacity to co-operate reasonably and meaningfully in matters pertaining to raising their children.

According to Dr. Richard Gardner, they must show the ability to communicate well and be willing to compromise when necessary to ensure the viability of the arrangement. The key words are co-operation and communication.

According to Gardner many types of parents are poor candidates for a viable split custody arrangement. Amongst such individuals are people who cannot communicate with one another. Furthermore parents who have no basic agreement in the care of child rearing and who demonstrate a lack of co-operation in other areas are also poor candidates for joint custody.

While there is a great deal of controversy as to the relationship between custody arrangements and co-parental communication, few generalizations can be made. In fact, it is felt, that “it is not prudent to make decisions about custody based solely, or even primarily, on the inter-parental relationship.”

In fact, it is pointed out by Kline-Pruett and by Santangelo (1999) that for co-operation and conflict to be useful predictors, they must be more discretely defined since they are affected by other factors.

However, research reviewed recently 5 does not support claims by critics of joint custody "that joint-custody children are likely to be exposed to more conflict or to be at greater risk of adjustment problems due to having to adjust to two households or feeling "torn" between parents.

Split custody arrangements (whether legal or physical) do not appear, on the average, to be harmful to any aspect of children's well-being, and may in fact be beneficial."

Bauserman suggests "that Court should not discourage parents from attempting joint custody". At the same time, he does point out that the results of his research do not support joint custody as preferable to, or even equal to, sole custody in all situations particularly when one parent is clearly abusive or neglectful or when it is clear that a sole custody arrangement may be the best solution. In addition, Bauserman states that in the event that one of the parents does suffer from serious emotional difficulties, children may be affected by repeated exposure to such an environment. He does point out however that in the event of extremes of parental conflict, one needs to consider that possibly split custody may be detrimental.

Yet, at the same time, some research by Bender (1994) indicates that split custody may actually work to reduce levels of parental conflict over time.

In fact, when couples are unable to resolve differences, when conflicts center around child custody and visitation, or when one or the other parent is unwilling to assume parenting responsibilities, forced shared custody and the resulting ongoing litigation can fuel existing conflict to the detriment of both parents and children.

Hetherington and Stanley-Hagen point out "Given ample evidence of the positive association between ongoing parental conflict and ongoing legal disputes and problems in children's adjustment, the practicality of joint custody in the face of continued conflict is questionable."

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“Joint” Custody

Joint custody should not be confused with split custody.

It refers only to a situation where the children have their principal residence with one parent and reside with the other parent for up to 40% of the time, but where the parties have agreed to share parental authority or to make joint decisions on important issues.

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Parental authority

As a general rule "parental authority" or the authority to make decisions regarding children continues to be shared by parents after the breakdown of the marriage.

The Court retains the authority to decide any dispute that may arise between the parties as to the exercise of parental authority that they are unable to resolve themselves. This will involve a disagreement on a decision that is to be made jointly which the parties cannot resolve themselves.

The idea of sharing parental authority does not extend to routine day to day matters. Neither parent should interfere on matters involving day to day care while the children are with the other parent, unless there is a very legitimate reason for doing so or where the best interest of a child is being compromised in some material way.

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Administration of property belonging to minor children

A minor child may have money or property that must be administered.

As holders of parental authority, both parents are legally considered as tutors to their minor children. This does not change after divorce.

Parents exercise legal tutorship jointly. One parent may, however, act for the other for a specific purpose with the other’s consent.

Where the value of the child’s property exceeds $25,000 the Public Curator must be informed and will oversee the administration by the parents of such property. Yearly reports accounting for their administration must be submitted to the Public Curator by the parents in such cases.

In the event of a dispute regarding a decision to be made by both parents in the exercise of their legal tutorship and administration of a child’s property, as in the case of disputes involving the exercise of parental authority, the court may be called upon to arbitrate.

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The wishes of children

As a general rule children cannot decide for themselves where they will reside.

Children have the right to be heard in any dispute that affects their interests either directly or through an attorney.

To appoint an attorney a child must have a sufficient level of maturity to articulate what he wants. The attorney then intervenes in the proceedings on behalf of the child, but only to ensure that what the child wants is brought to the attention of the judge.

The role of a child’s attorney is not to argue what is best for the child, but only to express the child’s point of view. The Quebec Court of Appeal has held that the role of an attorney representing a child in a custody dispute is to do no more than act as a porte-parole for the child and thus to simply articulate the wishes of the child.

The testimony of children as to their views and preferences, whether or not they are represented by an attorney, can be heard by a judge and be taken into account. This is most often done in private, in the absence of the parties, but in the presence of the attorneys.

The wishes of children are taken into account by the Court as one of the factors relevant in determining custody. The weight to be given to such testimony or expressed preference will depend on:

  • age
  • maturity
  • level of articulation
  • whether the opinion expressed is rational (makes sense under circumstances)
  • whether it coincides with child's best interest
  • whether it is based on impulse
  • whether it is the result of undue influence by a parent - the Court must be assured however, that the child has expressed his or her wishes free of influence, pressure, and manipulation by either parent.

The wish of a 12 year old child is "largely determinant". This means that although what the child says is not absolutely binding on the Court, it will be given very serious consideration.

The wish of a child between 10 and 12 will be less influential, but nevertheless will be considered carefully.

Where children, subject to a sole custody order, express the desire for split custody, this will be considered a significant change of circumstances and will open the door to a review of the custody order with a view to determining whether the three conditions that favour the imposition of split custody exist.

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Dealing with adolescent children

Dr. Abe Worenklein has described how best to deal with the wishes of adolescent children as follows:

...... adolescent boys often seek out their fathers in an effort to understand their emerging sexuality and as a means of helping them figure out their evolving concept of maleness.

...... teenagers often respond best "when they actively participate in the creation of a (residential arrangement) routine that is dependable and consistent yet flexible enough to accommodate their emerging and emergent social life".

Helping children recognize and regulate their emotions is a very important parental function. In fact, parents need to accurately identify their children's feelings and validate such feelings reflecting them back to the children so that they (a) have the experience of being emotionally recognized and responded to; and (b) begin to believe that sharing their feelings with others will lead to an alleviation of their distress "from before so that".

It is painful and harmful to children and adolescents when adults misread their emotional signals and do not validate children or do not build up their self-esteem. Clearly, emotional availability and degree of warmth as well as degree of flexibility and permission are important aspects to parenting a child and adolescent.

There is suggestion in the existing literature that "forcing visitations when the adolescent refuses may deepen the alienation between parent and child." Although a parent's rights to visitation are established by the Courts and although a parent is able to assert these rights, a parent needs to weigh this against the developing adolescent's need for autonomy and self-determination and consider the child's needs as well.

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Custody Assessments

In a custody hearing an expert may be heard to provide the Court with custody recommendations.

Judges generally favour hearing the opinion and recommendations of experts in custody disputes because such evidence is considered objective and authoritative, and gives the Court reassurance as to what is truly in the best interest of the children.

An expert's report is considered to be persuasive evidence. It is not, however, binding on the Court.

An expert’s opinion will be most persuasive when the judge concludes that the expert has been neutral, objective, and has applied the correct and appropriate principles in order to arrive at his conclusions.

An expert's report will be rejected when the Court has reason to question the expert's objectivity, or when it is shown that the expert's analysis is flawed in some way - he has failed to take into account certain important facts, has misinterpreted the facts, or has erred in his application of the principles on which his report is based.

To make custody recommendations an expert must conduct a psycho-legal assessment in which he interviews and assesses both parties and the children, and observes their interaction.

A party cannot be compelled to submit to an assessment.

However a negative inference may be drawn from a party’s refusal to be assessed.

If both parents do not participate in the assessment, and for example the expert assesses the children and one of the parents only, custody recommendations cannot be made and the expert can only report on his assessment of the children and the parental capacity of the parent evaluated.

Often the parties to a custody dispute agree on one joint expert and share the cost.

At other times one of the parties may prefer to engage his or her own expert, in which case it may happen that each party has their own expert, there are two assessments, and unless the experts agree both testify at the hearing to convey conflicting opinions and recommendations.

If the parties agree on a joint assessment the Court can refer them to the Court Assessment Service (Service de mediation et d’expertise). The service is free. It usually takes two or three months to be referred to an expert who will either be a social worker or psychologist, and a report can be expected in about six months. In Montreal the service can be reached at 514-393-2285.

Private assessments, where the expert is paid, do not generally take as long.

A custody assessment will usually involve interviews, observation of interaction both at the expert’s office and by way of home visits, gathering of information from pertinent outside sources, and psychological testing.

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What goes into a custody evaluation

According to Dr. Jack Hirschberg (Psychologist and Montreal custody evaluator hirschbergj@videotron.ca), in keeping with the goal of promoting the development of children, the following factors are deemed relevant and evaluated during a custody assessment. The list is not exhaustive:

1. The mental and physical status of the parents as it relates to the capacity of each parent to care for the child;

2. The needs of the child taking into account elements such as developmental stage and gender;

3. The cognizance by each parent of the developmental needs of the child and each parent’s capacity to meet those needs;

4. The capacity of each parent to use rearing methods appropriate to the age, gender, and temperament of the child;

5. The capacity of each parent to maintain a stable and secure environment with as little disruption to the child as possible;

6. The capacity of each parent to shield the child from the effects of inter-parental conflict;

7. The capacity of each parent to foster a positive relationship between the child and the other parent;

8. The strength of bonding between the child and each parent;

9. The relationship between the child and other members of the extended family;

10. The dynamics of the relationship between the parents;

11. The custodial and access wishes of the child and the child’s perception of its parents.

The Ackerman-Schoendorf Scales for Parent Evaluation of Custody (ASPECT) is a clinical protocol designed that may be used in making scientifically based child custody recommendations. When used partially or in its entirety, it helps to compare parental fitness to meet the needs of the child on the basis of data gathered from various sources, while at the same time ensuring that the parents are compared as objectively as possible on comparable data and issues. The data and issues chosen for comparison reflect those deemed essential by researchers and other mental health professionals in reaching appropriate custody recommendations. They include, in part:

1. Does the parent appreciate the effects of the divorce on the child;

2. Was the parent cooperative with the evaluation process;

3. Does the parent manifest overt anger during the evaluation process;

4. Does the parent maintain appropriate hygiene and attire;

5. Does the parent interact appropriately with the child;

6. Does the parent promote a favourable attitude towards the other parent;

7. Does the parent set appropriate limits to the child’s behaviour;

8. Does the parent have a realistic perception of his or her parenting skills;

9. Does the parent provide an appropriate home environment for the child;

10. Does the parent have an appropriate social support network;

11. Is the parent aware of the child’s developmental milestones and the present and future psychological and emotional needs of the child;

12. Does the child show a preference for living with one parent or the other;

13. Is the parent’s motivation for seeking the requested custody arrangement appropriate;

14. Is the parent’s cognitive and emotional maturity and stability appropriate to the needs of the child.

The data sources recommended by Ackerman, Schoendorf, and most other experts in the custody assessment field are:

• clinical observations

• clinical interviews

• psychological tests

• collateral information derived from pertinent documents and interviews of individuals with relevant information.

Of the various psychological tests available, the ones most often used and recommended are the MMPI-2 and the MCMI-III. Both have been researched and standardized with populations involving divorcing individuals. It is critical that the results from the tests be interpreted by relating the data to the specific data derived from divorcing populations and not just the general population. The experts also recommend that one not depend on the information derived from any single source, but integrate the data from the variety of sources available.

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An overview of psychological testing

Testing is used to obtain objective as opposed to clinical data and to determine if there is pathology

The tests that can be administered have been outlined by Dr. Abe Worenklein as follows:

The Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory III (MCMI-III)

This test is a true / false self-report inventory which is objectively scored. It consists of 175 items, which are used to evaluate behavioral patterns and personality styles. In fact, it is felt by several researchers that the MCMI is suitable for forensic assessments including custody evaluations.

Personality instruments such as the MCMI can provide the psychologist with valuable information on the parents’ personality traits and any possible clinical symptomatology that may have an adverse effect on the nature of the particular environment that the parents provide for the child.

One needs to recognize, however, that using the MCMI in child custody evaluations, there is no single personality trait or group of characteristics that ensures that one would be a good or poor custodial parent and consequently, these results need to be placed in the context of a complete child custody evaluation, in which direct observation can be made of parent/child interaction, in a manner which will allow hypotheses about one’s personality style in the assessment of both the strengths and deficits in parenting potential.

The Emotional Quotient Inventory

This test consists of 133 items and employs a five point response set (ranging from “not true of me” to “true of me”).

A well-functioning successful and emotionally healthy individual is one who possesses a sufficient degree of emotional intelligence and an average or above average EQ score. “On the other hand, lack of success and the existence of emotional problems are a function of the extent and degree of deficiency in the EQ score.

The Intrapersonal EQ Scale

This is a tool that pertains to the assessment of the inner-self, taps interpersonal capacity and functioning

The Adaptability EQ Scale

This scale examines how a person is able to cope with environmental demands and deal with problematic situations

The Parent/Child Relationship Inventory (PCRI)

This test assesses parents’ attitudes toward parenting and toward their children.

What is noteworthy about this inventory is that it provides a quantified description of parent/child relationships that complements other assessment procedures. It helps to put qualitative impressions in perspective by making normative comparisons possible.

In fact, it was felt by the author of the PCRI that it may prove especially useful in child custody settings that specifically address the needs of children.

The PCRI is designed to identify specific aspects of the parent/child relationship that may cause problems and to give an overall picture of the quality of the relationship.

The PCRI is divided into seven content scales reflecting the major features of parenting and the parent/child relationship as well as validity indicators. The content scales are Parental Support, Satisfaction with Parenting, Involvement, Communication, Limit Setting, Autonomy and Role Orientation.

High scorers on the PCRI scales indicate positive parenting characteristics and good parenting skills, and low scores indicate poor parenting skills.

The Parenting Satisfaction Scale (PSS)

This scale is a self-report measure that may be completed in different settings.

It is a 45 item standardized assessment of “parents’ attitude toward parenting”.

Scores derived from this scale allow a professional to define, compare and communicate levels of parenting satisfaction in three different areas:

  • Satisfaction with Spouse/ex-spouse Parenting Performance
  • Satisfaction with the Parent/Child Relationship
  • Satisfaction with Parenting Performance
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Moving away with a child subject to a custody order

A custodial parent seeking to leave the province and change the child's residence is the equivalent of a request to change the court-ordered custody and access arrangement.

To succeed a material change in the child's needs, or the parents' ability to meet those needs, must be demonstrated.

A move out of the province, that was not contemplated or reasonably foreseeable when the original custody and access order was made, is considered to be such a material change.

Once such an unforeseeable intention to move is shown, the focus then changes to a fresh consideration of the child's best interest in light of the move.

The Supreme Court has established seven criteria to look at in order to determine whether the move is in the child's best interest:

  1. The existing custody arrangement and relationship between the child and the custodial parent.
  2. The existing access arrangement and the relationship between the child and the access parent.
  3. The desirability of maximizing contact between the child and both parents.
  4. The views of the child.
  5. The custodial parent's reason for moving, only in the exceptional case where it is relevant to that parent's ability to meet the needs of the child.
  6. The disruption to the child of a change of custody
  7. The disruption to the child resulting from his or her removal from family, schools, and the community he or she has come to know.

The younger a child is the more importance the Court will place on maintaining the child's bond with the primary caregiver.

The weight to be given to the maintenance of the bond with the primary caregiver decreases as the child gets older.

The move must not intended specifically to prevent the non-custodial parent from exercising access.

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Weekends With Dad, Courtesy of D.S.L.

By LYNETTE CLEMETSON (NYT) 1758 words
Published: March 19, 2006

WITH work and the school week behind them, Charles A. Mason III and his daughter, Arielle, who live more than 1,500 miles apart, prepared for their scheduled weekend visit. There was no packing involved, no plane tickets, no car rides or drop-offs. All it took was some instant messaging on their home computers and a little fidgeting in front of their respective Webcams, and father and daughter were chatting, playing checkers and practicing multiplication tables.

''It's funner than talking on the phone, because I can see him,'' said Arielle, 10, who lives with her mother in Longmont, Colo., but has regular ''virtual visits'' with her father as part of the custody arrangement her parents worked out after her mother moved eight years ago. ''It's just like being in front of him, but with games and computer stuff added.''

As for Mr. Mason, who lives in Warrenton, Va., the video chats are a vast improvement over telephone calls, during which his daughter -- like many children her age -- is often monosyllabic and easily distracted.

''I can barely hold her attention on the phone for five minutes,'' he said. ''When we can play checkers and look at one another, I can keep her talking about school and life for an hour or more.''

As divorce has remained a constant, custody arrangements have evolved over the last half-century. Increased awareness of the toll divorce can take on children and fathers' increased involvement as parents, combined with the demands of working parents who often have to move in order to get and keep jobs, have made for increasingly creative and sometimes complex custody agreements.

As the legal system begins to acknowledge the potential benefits of technology in bridging the physical and emotional distance caused by divorce and separation, more families are experimenting with computer-assisted custody sharing.

Although any separating couple can opt for virtual visits in their custody agreement, debate surrounding the issue is unfolding on the state level as advocates push to have the option spelled out in state laws in order to broaden awareness of the practice and enable judges to grant such visits where they see fit.

In January the Wisconsin Legislature passed a measure allowing judges to grant virtual visits in custody agreements. If Gov. James E. Doyle signs the bill, Wisconsin will become the second state officially to allow such visits, following Utah, which entered virtual visits into its state code in 2004.

Efforts to push similar legislation are in various stages in several states, including Virginia, Illinois, Missouri, Florida, California and New York.

But not everyone gives virtual visits a ringing endorsement. In addition to concerns that it may be used to limit in-person visits, some lawyers and noncustodial parents also worry that it may be used to bolster the case for a custodial parent's contested relocation.

In 2001 an appeals court in New Jersey overruled a lower court decision denying a custodial parent's request to move out of state, reasoning that the court did not consider computer-assisted visits as an option for the noncustodial parent who objected to the move.

A Massachusetts court ordered video visits in 2002 in another contested relocation dispute. The father in the case, who argued that video visits were being imposed to replace in-person visits with his children, lost his appeal to stop the move.

''The danger is that it will become a substitute for real time,'' said David L. Levy, chief executive of the Children's Rights Council, based in Hyattsville, Md., which advocates for children affected by divorce and separation. ''Virtual time is not real time. You can't virtually hug your child or walk your child to school. We don't want this to be seen as an excuse to encourage move-aways.''

The Utah and Wisconsin regulations specify that virtual visits should be used as a supplement to, not a substitute for, traditional visits. The Wisconsin bill also specifies that virtual visits should not be used to justify a custodial parent's relocation. The laws define ''electronic communication'' as contact by video conference, e-mail, instant message, telephone or other wired or wireless technology.

''I think that most judges understand that children require physical one-on-one contact with the absent parent,'' said Cheryl Lynn Hepfer, president of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers.

Mr. Mason, who sees Arielle in person over spring and summer breaks and alternating holidays, said virtual chats allow him to maintain a comfortable rapport with his daughter between visits. At one point during a recent call, Arielle repositioned the camera toward her piano keyboard and played him a few songs she had learned.

''I have always wanted to attend my daughter's recitals,'' said Mr. Mason, 42, a director of information systems for the Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts. ''And here it was, Sunday afternoon, and I was getting a private recital just for me. It makes me feel closer, like I have some input.''

Vada Dreisbach, Arielle's mother, said she maintains control of the Webcam and the passwords for logging on to the necessary computer programs. She also has the computer set up so that Arielle can receive instant messages from only her father. She logs her daughter on and off before and after each visit.

''It's a very isolated connection,'' said Ms. Dreisbach, 43, a meteorological systems engineer. ''There is a lot of coordination involved, but the more comfortable a person is with the technology, the less scary it is.''

Despite the demand for long-distance custody arrangements, those who support virtual visitations say it is an option that is still relatively unknown. Some lawmakers and lawyers said legislation is needed, if only to raise awareness among lawyers.

''Lawyers and judges tend to be behind the technology curve,'' said Brian M. Hirsch, a family lawyer in Reston, Va., who represented Mr. Mason in his custody case. ''We tend to look at something new and immediately think, 'How can this be abused?' And the judges I have asked to do this have had a very negative reaction to it.''

Judge James C. Hallock, an associate judge in Kane County, Ill., who supports virtual visit legislation, said many judges need the parameters of such measures spelled out for them. ''Some judges my generation and older never even turn on a computer,'' he said. ''That makes it difficult to understand how this could be a good supplement to a relationship.''

State Senator Jay O'Brien of Virginia said he introduced virtual visiting legislation this year after witnessing a divorced relative's difficulty with trying to see his children. His bill failed to pass Virginia's Senate Courts of Justice Committee, which decided that since there was nothing expressly barring virtual visits, there was no need to permit it officially.

Senator O'Brien said he plans to work on the language of his bill and reintroduce it. ''In my own life I have seen a family member struggle with this, and if his requests weren't specifically permitted by the code, it was not going to be granted in his case,'' he said. ''I think it is necessary to inform courts and attorneys to ask for this where it is appropriate.''

John M. Speer, a financial consultant in Palm Valley, Tex., says he could benefit from state involvement. Though technically permitted by the terms of his custody agreement to visit with his three children every other weekend, such visits have become financially prohibitive since he moved from the Chicago area, where his children live, to Texas in 2001.

''Flying all three children here so often, or flying myself there and paying for a hotel, as much as I want to, I just can't do that all that often,'' Mr. Speer said. ''Having another way to see one another and communicate would prevent the distance from growing between us during the months we're apart.''

Because his ex-wife, he said, has yet to approve his requests for Web visits, having the option of such visits written into Illinois statute would allow a judge to approve the visits over her objections.

Michael Gough, who successfully lobbied for the Utah provision after his ex-wife and daughter, who was 4 at the time, moved to Wisconsin in 2003 and led the advocacy effort for the Wisconsin legislation, is working with lawyers and noncustodial parents around the country to push for similar legislation in other states.

Mr. Gough, a computer security consultant, runs a Web site called www.internetvisitation.org, which tracks legislation, offers divorce resources and gives user testimonials. He also runs a how-to site called www.videocalltips.com that walks users through the mechanics of video conferencing and rates software and Webcams.

Still, some families have found virtual visits more hassle than they're worth. When Alex Tomaszczuk moved to California in 2004, he bought a Webcam for himself and one for his ex-wife and children, who remained in Virginia. The image on the screen broke up if the kids moved around too much, and coordinating visits around the three children's busy schedules proved difficult.

''In some respects it's just easier to pick up the cellphone when I'm on the freeway and talk to them for 45 minutes,'' said Mr. Tomaszczuk, 50, a government contracts litigator who still works from Virginia part time and sees his children in person at least twice a month.

Jim Buie and his son Matthew struggled with myriad technical problems when they began experimenting with video visits in 1999. Matthew, then in high school, was living with his mother in North Carolina, and Mr. Buie was living in Maryland. But as the technology improved, Web visits became a cherished link between father and son, and they continue them, even though Matthew is now 22.

Matthew, who directs audio systems for a cruise line, took a break in a cafe in Aruba during a recent Caribbean cruise to check in with his dad via Webcam.

The two chatted about Matthew's forthcoming cruise schedule and joked about the bold Caribbean shirt he was wearing. Mr. Buie remarked that he still had not met his son's new girlfriend and asked him to bring her along for an introduction on their next virtual visit.

''This way of communicating has become something special that we share,'' said Mr. Buie, 51. ''Of course it's not as good as seeing him in person. But at least I can see him. It has kept us close.''

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Unlawful removal

International abduction of children

Where a child has been unlawfully removed from the place of his “habitual residence” and taken to Quebec the Loi sur les aspects civils de l'enlevement international et interprovincial d'enfants, L.R.Q., c. A-23.01 may be relied on to obtain the child’s return, the principal being that the custody of the child should be decided before the court of the place of his “habitual residence”.

The law provides that the aggrieved parent may ask the Quebec Superior Court to order the return of the child to the jurisdiction from which the child has been taken, so that a proper custody hearing can take place in the jurisdiction from which the child was removed.

The parent asking for the return of the child must initially satisfy the Court that the law applies. This requires proof that there has been an “unlawful removal”, or by showing that at the time of the removal a “right of custody” was being exercised that has been violated, and also that the child’s “ habitual residence” is that of the place to which the request for return is being made.

A “right of custody” refers to the exercise of parental authority, and more particularly to the right to decide the child’s place of residence.

The “habitual residence” of the child is determined by looking at the reality for the child, and not by trying to ascertain the intentions of the parents as to their place of residence.

It is important to act quickly as a new habitual residence may be acquired if a period of time has elapsed of a duration necessary for the child to have developed ties with, and to have shown signs of integration into, his new environment.

Once it is shown that there has been an unlawful removal and that the Loi sur les aspects civils de l'enlevement international et interprovincial d'enfants applies, the burden shifts to the removing parent to prove that one of the exceptions outlined in the statute to the return of the child applies.

The most commonly pleaded exception is that the return of the child will place him at risk or in an “intolerable situation”. This will be the situation if it can be shown that returning the child will subject him to a risk of substantial psychological harm.

What needs to be shown is defined as follows:

“…. the risk has to be more than an ordinary risk, or something greater than would normally be expected on taking a child away from one parent and passing him to another….not only must the risk be a weighty one, but it must be one of substantial, and not trivial psychological harm. This is the effect of the words “or otherwise place the child in an intolerable situation”

Where an order for the return of a child is made conditions may be imposed on the parent requesting the return. Such conditions have included an order:

  • to pay the expenses of the trip back by the removing parent
  • not to impede the entry of the removing parent into the country to which the child is being returned
  • to renounce to any default custody judgment obtained in the interim and to agree that the custody issue and all related matters shall be decided anew
  • to provide lodging for the removing parent and child
  • to pay the expenses of the removing parent and child during period necessary for custody issue to be determined
  • to cover all necessary medical expenses for the removing parent and the child
  • to consent to a custody hearing at the earliest date
  • to share physical custody until the custody hearing takes place
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Financial Support

Child Support

In Quebec, as in the rest of Canada, child support has been “defiscalized”. This means that it is neither taxable to the recipient, nor tax deductible to the payor.

The amount of child support payable in Canada is determined according to Guidelines that have been established by the Federal and provincial governments.

There are two sets of guidelines that are used depending on the residence of the parties.

Federal Child Support Guidelines

The Federal Guidelines will apply if the debtor ordinarily resides outside of Quebec.

The Federal Guidelines for the province where the debtor resides will apply.

If the debtor does not reside in Canada it is the Federal Guidelines for Quebec that apply.

Information concerning the Federal Guidelines is available at the following website: Department of Justice - Canada - Child Support

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Quebec Child Support Guidelines

If both parties are Quebec residents the Quebec Guidelines will apply. Information concerning the Quebec Guidelines is available in English at the following websites:

The Quebec model for the determination of child support payments

Income tax and support payments - Ministere du Revenu du Quebec

The form that is used to make a child support calculation looks a follows: Child Support Determination Form

The factors taken into account are:

  • the number of children
  • the gross incomes from all sources of both the father and mother
  • the amount of residential time of the children with each party
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Calculating “income” for determination of support under the Guidelines

“Gross income” from all sources, both direct and direct, is used for support determination.

This means that all amounts received directly, and all benefits received indirectly, must be included in the calculation of the amount of income for the application of the Child Support Guidelines.

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“Indirect income”

Monies received and declared for tax purposes, for which there are T-4s or T-5s, are received on a gross basis and are included in the calculation at the amount paid and received.

It often happens that a person's real income includes amounts that are received indirectly, or are received directly but are undeclared, and thus are not included in his taxable income.

Indirect payments may take the form of benefits consisting of “perks”, including the payment of personal expenses by the payor’s employer, or the payment of monies to a holding company or trust designated by the payor.

The debtor may also be recipient of direct undeclared cash payments.

Indirect payments most often occur when a payor is self-employed and can control how he is paid, and how much he is paid directly.

An employee may receive a benefit, in the form of a payment of a personal expense that is made on his behalf by his employer, or a corporate entity that he directs. In such a case he benefits personally by having an expense, which he would otherwise have to pay with gross pre-tax dollars, paid on his behalf with dollars on which he has no tax liability.

Such payments are deducted by the employer as business expenses while the employee may not include the value of the personal benefit derived in his income.

For purposes of support determination the net dollar value of the benefit is “grossed up” or raised to its pre-tax value, and it is the gross value of the benefit that is added to the employee’s income.

As an example - a person earning $100,000 per year is in the 50% tax bracket. Every dollar paid out on his behalf in personal expenses when grossed up to its pre-tax value must be doubled and is thus worth $2. Thus when calculating a person’s income for support determination purposes a payment of a personal expense such as a restaurant meal or a car payment of $100 must be doubled to $200.

Undeclared or cash income that can be proven is considered as well for support determination as net income that must be "grossed up" to its pre-tax value.

Thus what a person declares to the tax authorities for income tax purposes is relevant and indicative, but is not conclusive for purposes of determining capacity to pay support. Gross income declared for tax purposes may not include all of a person’s sources of income. For example it will not include personal expenses paid for that person by his company or employer. There may also be deductions taken to calculate a person’s taxable revenue, such as depreciation of physical assets, which are not pertinent for purposes of support determination.

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Consequence of the failure to disclose income

If it concludes that income has been hidden, and it is impossible to specifically quantify the amount in question, the Court may arbitrarily determine a person’s income for support determination. This means the Court will simply fix the level of income to be used, whether or not the figure is accurate in reality. In such a case the dishonest party will only have himself or herself to blame.

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Abandonment of a revenue generating activity

If it is proven that a party has voluntarily abandoned a revenue generating activity, in the case of a support debtor to avoid the payment of support (for example by taking voluntary early retirement) or in the case of a support creditor (for example by leaving employment to return to school) to increase the amount of support payable, the Court will deem that the activity never ceased and make its support determination as though the debtor’s income has not changed.

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Special case - where a party tries to avoid financial disclosure by admission of capacity to pay

Calculating residential time

To calculate residential time the number of days per year that the child spends with each parent must be calculated. Since fractions of days are to be included in the calculation, the Courts have held that counting the total number of hours in the year that the children spend with each parent, and then dividing by 24 to obtain the number of days per year, is the most accurate way to determine residential time for the application of the support Guidelines.

There are 8,760 hours in the year (365 days x 24 hours per day).

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Special expenses

Over and above the "base amount" of support, there are "special expenses" that are calculated, added on in the appropriate place on the Support Determination Form, and factored in to determine the amount of child support payable.

The addition of the special expenses to the base amount thereby increases the amount that the debtor parent pays.

The expenses that qualify as “special” are the net cost of daycare (the cost after deduction of tax benefits), post-secondary school expenses, and certain other expenses that qualify as "special" because they are necessitated by the child's particular situation, including private school expenses such as tuition, books, uniform, school trips etc., extra curricular activities, and as well medical, dental, orthodontic expenses etc.

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Claim for child support against a non-biological parent

In 1999, it was settled by the Supreme Court of Canada that child support may be claimed from a non-biological parent, if that person has voluntarily assumed the role of a father or mother to the child. This is what in law is referred to acting in loco parentis.

A claim for support against a non-biological parent is not lost because the biological non-custodial parent is already paying support. In such a case the obligations of the biological and non-biological non-custodial parents become solidary, meaning that support may be claimed from either or from both.

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Where a child is over 18 years of age and is a student

If a child who is 18 years or older resides at home, and remains dependent, the parent with whom he or she lives may apply for child support from the other parent.

Child support does not automatically stop when a child turns eighteen years of age. Such a child may remain financially dependent as a result of being a full-time student, and support for the child may continue through CEGEP (junior college), and beyond if the child attends university. The Courts accept a university education today as a necessity for obtaining and maintaining gainful employment. It is no longer considered a luxury.

A student's right to continue to claim support from his or her parents after 18 years of age has its basis in the basic obligation of parents to provide education.

It must be shown that the student's parents have the financial means to contribute.

The level of education reached by the parents is also considered. If the parents have a university education the courts consider that it would be unfair to deny the same opportunity to the child, if the parents have the means to pay.

To be entitled to claim support a university student must demonstrate that he or she is pursuing a serious course of study. This depends on the practicality of the chosen field of study, the student's regular attendance in classes, and the obtaining of passing grades.

An isolated failing grade will not be a bar to continuing support.

The student must contribute to minimizing his needs, in collaboration with the parents, by working during the summer and applying for all loans and bursaries for which he is eligible. However, if the parents clearly have the financial means to assure the child a university education, the court will usually not insist that a student borrow and incur indebtedness to provide for his or her needs.

Support for a university student need only be paid during the academic year, and not during the summer when a student can obtain summer employment.

The notion of costs in relation to studies is to be interpreted largely, and may include tuition, transportation, books, and materials.

Under art. 2 of the Regulation regarding the application of the Quebec Guidelines, there is only a presumption that the Guidelines apply. This means that the Child Support Guidelines do not automatically apply, but only serve as a guide. The Court is thus not bound to apply the Guidelines, and has the discretion to determine a different amount of support.

The Guidelines amount is normally used as a point of reference from which to start. From there, amounts are either added or subtracted, depending on the circumstances, to arrive at the amount awarded.

As an example the Guidelines amount has been reduced by one-third (1/3) to take into account a student having revenue from employment. The Guidelines amount has also been applied and then reduced by the amount of loans or bursaries obtained.

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An important distinction - where a child over 18 requires support and does not reside with either parent

A child who resides with neither parent must act on his own to claim support.

When a child over 18 years of age acts on his own to claim support from one parent or both, the provisions of the Civil Code of Quebec apply, and not the Child Support Guidelines, with the consequence that if support is awarded it is on a gross pre-tax basis (as in the case of spousal support).

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Spousal Support

Spousal support is either “compensatory” or “non-compensatory” in nature, or both.

Compensatory support is due when it is determined that the recipient has suffered financial disadvantages as a result of the marriage and/or its breakdown.

As an example, a spouse will be considered disadvantaged by the marriage if he or she has interrupted a career and remained off the labour market to stay at home and care for children.

A spouse may be considered disadvantaged by the breakdown of the marriage if the marriage provided financial benefits that effectively ceased with the separation.

Non-compensatory support is based on the social obligation that marriage produces requiring the spouses to assist each other financially. Such an obligation exists independently of the obligation to compensate for financial disadvantages having their origin in the marriage or marriage breakdown.

An example of the kind of situation envisaged would be where one of the spouses has been financially autonomous, but then becomes ill and can no longer work. At the time of the divorce it would be an unfair consequence of the marriage breakdown to terminate the financial assistance which the marriage would have entitled the disabled spouse to continue to receive simply because the parties are divorcing.

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Taxation of spousal support

Periodic spousal support (e.g. weekly or monthly payments etc.) based on a written agreement or court order is taxable to the recipient, and tax deductible to the payer.

When the debtor is a salaried employee, and is paying spousal support by written agreement or court order, it is important to ensure that his or her deductions at source be adjusted to obtain immediate effect of the reduced net cost of such payments.

Support may also take the form of a lump sum payment. Lump sum payments are granted to fulfill specific alimentary needs, which may include the purchase of a home or car, the payment of a debt etc. A lump sum is also considered appropriate as an up front payment of support to achieve what is called a "clean break" between the parties. Lump sum payments are neither taxable to the recipient, nor deductible to the payer.

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Determination of Spousal Support

The determination of spousal support is based on the financial "means and needs" of the parties.

Its purpose is to ensure, as much as is possible, the financial resources required to maintain the lifestyle enjoyed by the recipient spouse during the marriage.

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Establishing the means to pay spousal support

SEE Calculating “income” for determination of support

The same principles apply to calculating income for payment of spousal support as those referred to above for purposes of the determination of income for the calculation of child support.

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Establishing the need for spousal support – the Statement of revenues and Expenses

Like the debtor, the spousal support creditor will be asked to complete a form referred to as a “Statement of Revenues and Expenses”.

SEE Statement of Income Form. Used when making or defending a claim for spousal support

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Understanding how to read a “Statement of Revenues and Expenses”

The creditor’s net revenues - gross income MINUS income taxes - is first calculated. This provides the creditor’s net disposable income.

The net disposable income is then added to the amount of child support payable, to arrive at the creditor’s total net income

The creditor’s expenses (which are expressed in net dollars) are then subtracted from the amount of total net income. If the result is negative, meaning that there is a deficit, this usually means that spousal support is required as it is proof that the creditor does not have the means to pay his or her expenses.

To determine the amount of spousal support necessary to offset the shortfall, the net deficit is “grossed up” to its pre-tax value. This provides the amount that the creditor must claim. It is important to note that the amount to be claimed is expressed in pre-tax dollars.

Thus while the deficit is expressed in net after tax dollars, spousal support is payable in gross before tax dollars. The amount of spousal support that should be claimed is therefore the gross dollar equivalent of the amount of the net deficit.

It is very important that the creditor’s expenses be stated on the list of expenses in realistic figures and that they are not inflated. Only then will the amount of support claimed be reflective of the lifestyle that can reasonably be expected based on the total revenue that is available to the family.

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Determination of support at the final divorce hearing

At the final hearing the amount of spousal support payable will be determined by the Court after it is decided how the assets subject to the family patrimony and matrimonial regime will be divided (see below). This means that the needs of the recipient will be looked at taking into account the benefits, if any, that result from the assets that are received.

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Spousal support with a fixed term

One of the court's objectives in making a spousal support order will be to promote the economic self-sufficiency of the creditor spouse within a reasonable delay, when this is possible.

Self-sufficiency is usually possible when the creditor is relatively young, in good health, is available to work, and either has skills or has had skills in the past.

A "transitional period" is often required to allow time for recycling or re-training. Re-training may take the form of brushing up on old skills. Recycling involves acquiring new skills.

Recycling will be allowed at the expense of the other party, and support fixed accordingly, if the creditor can prove that there is a link between his or her state of dependence (i.e. the need to re-train to acquire employment) and the marriage.

As an example, a link of this nature will be found if the creditor spouse left the labour market during the marriage to care for the children with the agreement (express or implicit) of the other party.

It should be noted that the court may not tolerate a decision by a creditor spouse, who already has skills and is employable, to recycle in order to change careers. This is not a case where recycling at the time of the marriage breakdown is necessary, and is the result of a personal choice. In such circumstances it is considered that the debtor spouse should not be obliged to assume the costs of such a personal choice by the creditor spouse.

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Is it possible to avoid financial disclosure by simply admitting one’s capacity to pay the amount of support claimed?

On the first page of the Statement of Revenues and Expenses which must be completed by both parties where there is a claim for spousal support, there is a textbox that can be checked off allowing a support debtor to admit his capacity to pay the amount of support claimed, while denying the right of the creditor to claim that amount, and thus avoid a detailed financial disclosure.

Such an admission is possible, however, only in the case of a claim for spousal support, and it would be done in order to avoid the filing of the required Statement of Revenues and Expenses in which a sworn disclosure of all sources of income and assets, whatever they are and wherever they are, is required.

In the case of the Child Support Determination Form there is no equivalent textbox allowing for an admission of a debtor's capacity to pay. This is because child support is calculated based on the Guidelines in which the income of the parties is a key variable in the equation, and in which the net worth of the debtor may become a factor if there is a claim that support be granted beyond what the Guidelines provide for.

Making an admission of capacity to pay might be done by a support debtor to avoid intrusion into his financial affairs, where the amount claimed is less than what the debtor believes he might have to pay if his income and his net worth were disclosed and became known.

The Court can, however, in spite of such an admission and on request of the support creditor, make an order that a full disclosure be made. This would be the case when a full disclosure is necessary in order to ensure a complete solution of the issues in the case.

A recent case that I pleaded illustrates the danger of an admission of capacity to pay.

The husband had a very substantial net worth, in the millions. The wife was claiming child support and spousal support. She had no idea of what the husband's specific financial means were, nor what his net worth was. She had no choice but to guess, and completed the Child Support Determination Form by attributing an income of $500,000 per year to the husband and calculating her claims for child and spousal support accordingly.

The husband had reasons for not wanting to make any disclosure, and replied by admitting the amount of yearly income attributed to him. Basically he said "if my wife says that I have an income of $500,000 per year, then this is what it is". He asked to be relieved of the obligation to file a Statement of Revenues and Expenses on the basis of this admission.

The Superior Court ordered the husband to make a full disclosure and file a completed Statement of Revenues and Expenses and supporting documents, consisting of his tax returns for the last five years.

The Court reasoned that, given the circumstances of the case, only a full financial disclosure would enable the judge to arrive at a complete solution and determine what would be fair and equitable in terms of spousal support. The Court added that the husband was obliged in any event to file a Child Support Determination Form with all of the required information. This decision was confirmed in the Court of Appeal.

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Indexation of support orders

All alimentary pensions are subject to indexation on January 1 of every year by law in accordance with the rate fixed by the government.

The following tables provide the rates that have applied from 1980 to 2003: *

Starting Date

Rate

 

January 1, 1980

9%

January 1, 1981

9,9%

January 1, 1982

12,3%

January 1, 1983

11,2%

January 1, 1984

6,7%

January 1, 1985

4,4%

January 1, 1986

4,0%

January 1, 1987

4,1%

January 1, 1988

4,4%

January 1, 1989

4,1%

January 1, 1990

4,8%

January 1, 1991

4,8%

January 1, 1992

5,8%

January 1, 1993

1,8%

January 1, 1994

1,9%

January 1, 1995

0,0%

Starting Date

Rate

 

January 1, 1996

2,3%

January 1, 1997

1,5%

January 1, 1998

1,9%

January 1, 1999

0,9%

January 1, 2000

1,6%

January 1, 2001

2,5%

January 1, 2002

3%

January 1, 2003

1.6%

January 1, 2004

3.2%

January 1, 2005

1.7%

January 1, 2006

2.3%

January 1, 2007

2.1%

January 1, 2008

2.0%

 

 

 

 

 

 

* NOTE: The above table is for informational purposes only. All efforts have been made to ensure the accuracy of the data in the following table, but neither Andrew H. Heft nor any representative assume any responsibility for the accuracy or reliability of the data. Anyone relying solely to this table assumes all responsibility of the consequences of this use.

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Modification of support orders

Generally a support order may be modified when there is an important change in any factor that is determinant of the amount payable.

In the case of a support order based on an agreement (as opposed to a determination by a judge) the change must relate to something that was unforeseen at the time that the agreement was entered into – such that it can be said that had the new situation been known then the parties would have made a different agreement. In other words there must exist a significant in the situation of the parties in relation to a matter that could not have been reasonably foreseen at the time of the negotiation of the agreement.

It is important to ensure that information about the revenues of the parties is exchanged regularly – in the case of child support at least once per year after the filing of tax returns.

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Collection of Child and Spousal Support - the Act to Facilitate the Payment of Support

Since May 1, 1997, under the Act to Facilitate the Payment of Support, the Minister of Revenue of Quebec is charged with the enforcement of support orders and the collection of both spousal and child support. Lawyers were initially removed from the collection process.

The Court of Appeal subsequently confirmed however that, if they so choose, support creditors have the right to use lawyers to collect outstanding support payments.

All support orders are automatically registered with the Minister of Revenue of Quebec. This means that the support debtor makes his payments to the Minister of Revenue and the support creditor receives her payments from the Minister. Thus, by the application of the Act there are no more direct relations between the parties regarding the payment of support.

In practice it usually takes about one month after an order for the Minister to begin its collection procedure.

For judgments rendered prior to May 1, 1997, in the event of default in order for the Act to Facilitate the Payment of Support to apply and for the Minister to intervene and impose its collection procedures, the support creditor must register the default with the Minister.

Generally, where a debtor is employed, the support payments due are automatically deducted from his pay cheque in the same manner as his deductions at source.

Where the debtor is self employed the Minister will issue an order to remit the amount payable as the support payments become due. Failure to comply will result in seizure, assuming that a self-employed debtor has assets that are apparent and can be seized.

Problems may arise where a self-employed debtor’s assets are not apparent or easily traceable. In practice the Ministry of Revenue has demonstrated that it does not have the time or resources to do the detailed investigation that is often required to uncover hidden assets. This is where it would be advisable to pay an attorney to collect what is owing.

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Exemption from application of the Act to Facilitate the Payment of Support

It is important to point out that the parties to a support order can ask the Court for an exemption from the application of the Act to Facilitate the Payment of Support, and deal with each other directly.

To be granted the exemption the support debtor must deposit security with the Minister, usually equivalent to three months worth of support payments.

If there is a default, and the creditor registers the default with the Minister of Revenue, the Act to Facilitate the Payment of Support will take effect, and with the security deposit the Minister will have funds to pay the support creditor for three months while it gets its collection process into gear.

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Certain special situations in the collection of support
Where a support debtor transfers assets to a third party

It may happen that a debtor transfers assets, which could be used to satisfy a claim or judgment debt against him, to a third party, and thus attempts to hide his assets or to make himself appear unable to pay or insolvent.

A person is insolvent when his liabilities exceed the value of his assets.
If the transfer is made for a price which is less than the fair market value of the asset (the asset is disposed of for less than it is worth), and the debtor is insolvent at the time or the transaction renders him insolvent, the court will deem it to be made with intent to defraud and it will be set aside on application or declared unopposable to the creditor. This means that if the application is granted the creditor may act as though the transaction never took place and seize the assets in the hands of the third party transferee.

If the transfer is made for fair market value it may still be set aside if the debtor is insolvent or the transaction renders him insolvent, and the third party transferee knows of the debtor's insolvency. In such a case the transaction is also deemed to be made with intent to defraud and will be set aside on application and declared unopposable to the creditor.

A third party transferee who is "related" to the debtor (the debtor and third party are not dealing with each other “at arm's length”, such as a husband and new wife) is deemed to have knowledge of the debtor's state of insolvency. Otherwise knowledge of insolvency must be shown for intent to defraud to be proven.

An action to declare a fraudulent transfer unopposable must be brought within one year of the date when the creditor acquires knowledge of it.

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Contempt of court - Intentional refusal to respect a support order

In family cases, a support debtor will be found to be in contempt of court where there is a clear order providing for the payment of financial support and it is deliberately ignored.

The hearing of a charge of contempt of court in a family case follows the rules that apply to penal or criminal proceedings.

The accusation of contempt must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.

This is the only time in a civil case where the burden of proof exceeds the normal requirement that the plaintiff prove his case by a balance of probabilities i.e. - more probable than improbable.

A contempt hearing is a three-step process involving proof of two elements - first proof of the violation of a court order, and then proof of the intention to violate the order:

1) First the Petitioner must prove first that the Defendant has violated a court order.

2) if such proof is made, it is then up to the Defendant to provide an explanation for his conduct.

3) If an explanation is provided, the burden shifts back to the Petitioner to prove the falsity of the explanation, or if the explanation is true that it is insufficient to justify the Defendant’s conduct.

If found guilty the penalty may be a fine and/or imprisonment.

In family cases, particularly in the case of deliberately defaulting alimentary debtors, or debtors who structure their financial affairs in such a manner as to render themselves judgment proof, the Courts routinely impose prison sentences where it appears that the imposition of a fine will prove useless. The sentences handed out have been as high as six months.

A common practice is to order a term of imprisonment and at the same time provide that the debtor can avoid incarceration, by paying the arrears of support owing. This can be effective on a practical basis. In a recent case that I pleaded this kind of a sentence was ordered, and when the police went to execute the arrest warrant the debtor suddenly found the money to pay the arrears of child support due, which up to that point had been accumulating for two years.

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“Provision for Costs” - payment of legal fees by the other party

One party can be ordered to pay the legal fees and costs of the other. This is called a “provision for costs”.

A provision for costs is most often awarded when there is gross discrepancy between the financial means of the parties in order to level the playing field and thus to assure the protection and exercise of the rights of the financially disadvantaged party.

A provision for costs may be awarded at any stage of the case, and there may be several provisions for costs awarded if the circumstances so warrant.

As with financial support the issue is one of means and needs - the means of the party who is paying and the needs of the party who is asking that his or her fees be paid.

The Court usually requires a detailed estimate of anticipated fees and disbursements, including experts' costs.

There are many specific reasons that justify a provision for costs such as the nature, seriousness, and importance of the proceedings, the anticipated duration of the proceedings, the good or bad faith and behaviour of the parties, whether the rights of children are in issue etc.

The Courts do not favour granting a provision for costs if its effect will be to finance or fuel unnecessary litigation or what has been described as “judicial guerrilla warfare”.

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Division of Property

The matrimonial regime

Your right to a division of property will be based on your matrimonial regime.

In Quebec, at divorce or in the case of legal separation, property is divided based on the "matrimonial regime" adopted at the time of the marriage.


Unlike other jurisdictions, where there is no choice as to how marital property is to be divided, in Quebec the parties can pre-determine how they will divide their property at divorce based on which matrimonial regime they choose.

There are essentially two types of matrimonial regimes to choose from:

  1. Partnership of Acquests
  2. Separation as to Property

In Quebec by contract of marriage, entered into before the marriage, you can choose between partnership of acquests or separation as to property. During the marriage you can modify your matrimonial regime by changing it from one regime to the other.

If you have not entered into a marriage contract, the law decides your regime for you.

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Partnership of acquests

Those who married after July 1, 1970 without a marriage contract are by law subject to the legal regime in Quebec which is partnership of acquests.

If you have not signed a