Surviving Your Divorce: A Guide to Canadian Family Law

Charlotte Neff is an associate professor of law and justice at
Laurentian University, and co-author of The Annotated Competition Act
1992.

This second edition of The Everyday Guide to Canadian Family Law (1991)
begins with a discussion of the emotional stages of marriage breakdown,
followed by a more detailed consideration of domestic violence,
practical advice on dealing with lawyers, and an overview of the legal
process. Six chapters outline the law concerning divorce, family
property division, child custody and access, support, and common-law
relationships. Following are discussions of dispute resolution
alternatives, marriage and cohabitation agreements, and considerations
involved in the drafting of a will. Samples of forms and relevant
addresses are included in the book’s appendices.

The guide’s layout and appearance marks a significant improvement
over the previous edition. Address lists have been updated, but
statistics within the text have not. The bibliography includes little
that is recent, and Czechoslovakia and Yugoslavia are still listed as
countries! The content is largely unchanged, the major additions being
short discussions of marriage counseling, establishing paternity
(including a sample agreement), the Thibaudeau case (which
unsuccessfully challenged the way child-support payments are taxed), and
Canada Customs and abduction. Despite its failure to address such issues
as eligibility for spousal support, the guide continues to be a valuable
resource for those going through a separation or divorce.

The author practised family law for five years before joining the
Policy Development Division of Ontario’s Ministry of Attorney General,
where he was deeply involved in the development of the 1986 Family Law
Act. He provides a sensitive yet practical treatment of an area of law
that profoundly affects numerous families every year.