Goldwater, Dubé

Divorce rates are down in Canada, but so is the percentage of people who choose to get married. Granted, the number of couples calling it quits is the lowest it's been in 50 years, but it’s worth noting how the dissolution of a #commonlaw relationship is not recorded in #divorce data. 

Young people who spent time in #youthprotection struggle to stay in school and find work. A new study shows how those who received #DPJ services were twice as likely to drop out of school as those who hadn’t. 

Whoops! A famous lawyer in London claims it was a “computer error” that resulted in the #divorce of the wrong couple. Despite her mea culpa, a judge says the the divorce stands because she would have had to navigate through multiple screens to reach the point of finality. Sorry about that, Mr. and Mrs. Williams.

Education | Goldwater, Dubé’s own Me Daniel Romano had the pleasure of judging this year’s Maple Bowl Moot Court competition. The annual event, presented by McGill University, saw students deliver a spectacular performance followed by a tour of our downtown offices. Best of luck to the 2025 organizing committee!

Statement | Québec’s new “parental union” regime will leave unmarried spouses without protection and will create new inequalities — read Me Anne-France Goldwater’s analysis of the government’s proposed family law reform. #cdnlaw #cdnpoli

Déclaration | Le nouveau régime québécois « d’union parentale » laissera les conjoints de fait sans protection et créera de nouvelles inégalités — lire l’analyse de Me Anne-France Goldwater sur la réforme du droit de la famille proposée par le gouvernement. #droitqc #polqc

Before considering #divorce, first take a moment to ask yourself a very important question: are you legally wed? Quebec, like every province, maintains specific criteria for the legality of #marriage. Getting married abroad is fine, but a beautiful ceremony ― be it religious or not ― is not enough.

It took 6 years in court, but 20 years after becoming the first #samesexcouple to marry in Quebec, Michael Hendricks and René Leboeuf would do it all over again. Speaking on the recent anniversary of their historical vows, they explain how marriage is important because of what it represents: equality, and having the same rights as all Canadian and Quebec citizens.

Pets are not property. In British Columbia, it’s the law ― and families are better off for it. Recent amendments to BC’s Family Law Act are being hailed as “game-changing” as the province moves away from an ownership formula to a “best interest for all” approach. #divorce #familylaw 

"If social workers break down and leave the profession, it's the public who will pay the price." Quebec could see an exodus of #socialworkers over the next two years due to cumbersome bureaucracy and an overwhelming workload.