Join us for a unique and practical conversation featuring the Honourable Justice Gilmore and the Honourable Justice Nakonechny, exploring the key similarities and differences between spousal support in family law and dependant’s support in estates law.

This engaging session will walk participants through a fact scenario and offer a comparative analysis of how the law is applied in both areas. The panel will provide valuable insights from the Bench, addressing common challenges and nuanced questions that arise in support proceedings — both during a spouse’s lifetime and after death.

Participants will gain practical tools, hear judicial perspectives, and deepen their understanding of how to navigate overlapping issues in family and estates law.

Whether you practice in family law, estates law (or both!), this program offers essential knowledge you can immediately apply in your practice.

Learn how to navigate the intricacies of:

• **Spousal Support Entitlement and Quantum**: Understand the factors determining spousal support, including cohabitation periods, economic detriment, and the impact of other financial considerations like equalization and child support.
• **The Rule of 65 and Retirement**: Explore the significance of age at separation, the "Rule of 65," and how retirement impacts support obligations and imputation of income.
• **Dependant Support Applications**: Delve into the Succession Law Reform Act (SLRA), defining "dependant," assessing adequate provision, and weighing various circumstances to determine support.
• **Domestic Contracts**: Analyze the enforceability of domestic contracts, the vital role of financial disclosure, and circumstances in which such agreements may be challenged or overridden.
• **Interplay of Family and Estates Laws**: Discover how legal changes, such as the death of a spouse, impact existing support orders and the complexities of electing under the Family Law Act.
• **Clawing Back Assets (Section 72 SLRA)**: Gain insights into provisions that allow certain assets, including jointly held property and life insurance proceeds, to be included in an estate for dependant support purposes.

This course stresses a holistic approach to each case, ensuring you consider all relevant factors, from medical conditions and employment changes to the presence of other dependents and cultural considerations. Equip yourself with the knowledge to address challenging scenarios and achieve equitable outcomes in both family and estates disputes.