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Family Law

Individuals in difficulty need a family law lawyer who is a good listener, skilful advocate and strong negotiator, committed to helping you at this time of crisis.

At Cunningham Swan, the lawyers in our Family Law Group combine these skills while handling your matters efficiently and in a way that best meets your needs. Most importantly, you can count on us to represent you sensitively and in a timely, responsive and confidential manner.

Let us help you with any of these critical Family Law issues:

  • Marriage Contracts and Co-Habitation Agreements
  • Separation and Divorce
  • Child Custody and Access
  • Child and Spousal Support
  • Division of Property
  • Income Tax and Pension Advice as it relates to Marriage Breakdown
  • Mediation and Dispute Resolution

Our Family Law Group includes:

Partners:
Name Phone Email
Lili Kramil-Marcus 613.542.0404 lkramil-marcus@cswan.com
Lesley Kendall 613.546.8067 lkendall@cswan.com
Associate:
Name Phone Email
Carolyn Shelley 613.546.8093 cshelley@cswan.com

The lawyers in our Family Law Group also practice Alternative Dispute Resolution, including Collaborative Family Law.

Lili is a mediator for family law related issues and Lili and Lesley are also qualified Parenting Coordinators to assist in the interpretation of Court Orders or Agreements on high conflict parenting cases.

All three of our lawyers are panel members of the Office of the Children's Lawyer and as such are able to represent children in Court proceedings and in adoptions.

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Collaborative Family Law

Collaborative Family Law (CFL) is a different and unique way of resolving your family law matters that is designed to cost less and minimize conflict while reaching a resolution that both spouses create with the assistance of legal counsel.

If you decide to proceed collaboratively, you, your spouse and both of your respective lawyers sign an agreement to exchange all important information and settle all issues without going to court.

The CFL process focuses on meetings with both parties together with their lawyers. In these meetings, each person is represented by their own CFL lawyer. However, the two lawyers and the two spouses work together to reach a fair settlement that meets the needs of everyone involved. Your CFL lawyer acts as both a legal advisor and a negotiation coach.

If a settlement is not reached collaboratively, either party may decide to go to Court to resolve the issues arising from the breakdown of your relationship. If you decide to go to Court, your CFL lawyers cannot continue to represent you. Each party will need to hire a new lawyer or represent themselves in Court.

For details about why Collaborative Family Law is a better approach and how CFL can help you, please contact our office.

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Parenting Coordinators

Parenting Coordinators (PC's) are a unique combination of mediator and arbitrator, trained to resolve on-going issues between high conflict parents.

A PC is appointed by the Court on consent of the parties to help them implement their parenting plan after there is an Order or Agreement in place. The PC will first attempt to mediate disputes. If no resolution results from mediation, the PC has the power to arbitrate, pursuant to the Arbitration Act.

Parties pay privately for the PC at an hourly rate. Typically, each parent contributes one half of this cost. PC's are appointed for a definite term, typically 6 to 24 months.

Each party must have independent legal advice prior to signing the contract with the PC. Upon the appointment of the PC, the involvement of legal counsel should be reduced as the parties work with the PC and one another to reduce the need for Court involvement.

For details about what PC's can and cannot do, please contact our office.

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