IAFL Webinars

Join us for this 40^th Anniversary Webinar presented by the Canadian Chapter Five Hot Topics in Canadian Family Law.

Moderator: Shelley Hounsell KC

Speakers:  Karon  C Bales and  Aaron Franks

Intended Audience: All IAFL Fellows welcome!

Duration: 1 Hour

Location: Zoom (please register above)

Cost: Complimentary

Date & Time: September 9, 2026 at noon ET

On September 9, 2026, the Canadian Chapter of the IAFL will host a webinar about: Hot topics in Canadian family law

Recent developments in Canadian family law reflect broader social realities: increased attention to family violence and coercive control, recognizing the changing dynamics of the concept of family and respecting the rights of children to speak about their care arrangements, the increasing movement of parents and children giving rise to cross boarder relocation disputes, the nuanced identification of ownership when classifying and dividing family wealth and the recent creation of the tort of intimate partner violence by the Supreme Court of Canada add to the challenges inherent in the practice of family law. 

Recent reforms and case law continue to move family law toward a more child-centred, safety-focused approach, however laws that permit a claim for spousal support and how family wealth is distributed are inconsistently available depending upon marital status and the province where the parties reside. This presentation will highlight the key developments shaping family law in Canada with a focus on practical implications for clients, their children and their counsel.

In under an hour we will discuss…

1. When may a party’s interest in a family trust be excluded from net family property for equalization purposes?  Lang-Newlands v. Newlands, 2026 ONCA 530
2. Is it possible for a party to a foreign divorce to claim spousal support in Canada?
3. When does the Hague and the Refugee Convention collide and what are the possible consequences and remedies?
4. What is the tort of intimate partner violence and how is it playing out in Canadian case law – what does it mean for victims of IPV and the distribution of family wealth? Ahluwalia v. Ahluwalia 2026 SCC 16
5. How are parenting arrangements decided in Canada and are there any standardized guidelines?