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**November is Make a Will Month** — a timely reminder that estate planning isn't just about deciding who inherits your assets. It's about protecting the people you care about and making difficult decisions easier for those you leave behind. For blended families, estate planning can be particularly important. A second marriage, children from a previous relationship and differing expectations about inheritance can create complications when there is no clear plan in place. This month, we're exploring what can happen when someone dies without a will in Ontario, and why thoughtful planning can make all the difference.

AI can save time, but it can also create unexpected legal risks. From privacy and confidentiality to copyright, misinformation, and liability, what you put into AI, and what you do with its output matters.

In Ontario family law, support is usually based on income. But if someone’s reported income does not reflect what they actually earn or could earn, the court may use a different amount. Learn when income may be adjusted for child or spousal support and why full financial disclosure matters.

On May 15, 2026, the Supreme Court of Canada made legal history by recognizing the tort of intimate partner violence, a landmark decision that acknowledges coercive control and patterns of abuse as a standalone civil wrong. For many survivors, the harm they endured extended far beyond physical injuries. This groundbreaking ruling gives courts a new way to recognize the devastating effects of coercive control, including financial abuse, isolation, intimidation, and the erosion of personal autonomy. What does this decision mean for survivors and for family law in Ontario? Our latest blog explains why *Ahluwalia v. Ahluwalia* is one of the most significant developments in Canadian family law in decades, and what it could mean for those navigating high-conflict separations.

Buying and selling on the same day may sound efficient, but in real estate, it often creates unnecessary stress. One of the best ways to make a move smoother is to stagger your closing dates — letting your purchase close before your sale. If there’s a gap, bridge financing can help by giving you temporary access to the equity in your current home before it officially sells. The real advantage is breathing room. Instead of coordinating movers, funding, keys, paperwork, and cleanouts in one frantic day, you gain valuable time and flexibility. For many buyers, bridge financing is surprisingly affordable and well worth the peace of mind it provides.

A simple change in how property is owned can have significant legal consequences—especially after a separation. Joint tenancy includes a right of survivorship, meaning ownership automatically passes to the other person on death. Severing that joint tenancy creates a tenancy in common, where each person’s share forms part of their estate instead. While this shift can help protect individual interests and align with estate planning goals, it doesn’t resolve broader family law issues—particularly when it comes to matrimonial homes and possession rights. If you’re separating and jointly own property, timing and proper legal advice are key to avoiding unintended outcomes.