Access to Justice Podcast

Subscription billing in family law can make it easier for planning and creates cost certainty for clients going through divorce.  Learn from Evan how the subscription billing model has fundamentally changed the approach to managing family law files, making it more client-friendly and cost-effective.

You, like many Canadians probably rely on a trusted advisor to help manage your savings and investments. Tune into this week's episode of Access to Justice to learn what to look if you're on the hunt for an advisor and to find out how financial professionals develop a plan for your money! 

Welcome to Access to Justice Podcast, where we delve into the intricate world of music industry law. In this episode, we explore essential insights for songwriters and performers to safeguard their creative work, understand their rights, and capitalize on available resources to generate income. Join us as we discuss the nuances of entertainment law, copyrights, royalties, ownership, and much more. Whether you're a seasoned musician or just stepping into the industry, this episode will empower you to navigate the legal landscape of the music world. Don't miss out on expert advice and actionable tips that could transform your music career. Subscribe now for more enlightening discussions!" 

Folks of all ages are victims of fraud but seniors can be disproportionately affected whey they are preyed upon. Tune in as Laura Tamblyn Watts, Canage founder and CEO, shares the top 5 ways to spot a scam and how to prevent being a victim. 

Wills, powers of attorney, and personal directives are often bundled and sold as a package by lawyers. Tune into this episode of Access to Justice to hear host Evan Clarke explain the differences between the documents. We also learn what a Green Sleeve is and who should have one! 

Are you watching interest rates soar worrying about how it might affect you as a homeowner or potential homeowner? Did you know that the interest rate is just one part of the mortgage picture? Listen to this episode of Access to Justice when we chat with mortgage broker, Lucy Arruda, about what to consider when crafting the perfect mortgage (and find out how she can help)!

Skimming, bribing, larceny, and extortion are all types of fraud. But did you know that there is also financial statement fraud? Business owners and family lawyers should tune into this episode to hear guest Daryn Hobal explain the different types of financial statement fraud and get some tips on how to spot it. 

Mediation can be an effective and cost-efficient way to resolve disputes. Good preparation can increase the chances of coming to a fair agreement. Heather Malaryk, family lawyer and mediator, shares some tips for folks heading into mediation. 

Are you feeling stuck in contested family law proceedings? Drawing on her vast courtroom experience, Crystal Lawrence shares some of her top Do's and Don'ts for litigants navigating a family dispute in court. Tune in to hear about how the court views social media posts, text messages, and audio recordings.

Access to Justice chats with family lawyer Dustin Tkachuk about why "too many people are spending too much time in the legal system". If you feel caught in court proceedings, listen to this episode to find out what you can do about it. 

If you're deciding how to resolve your separation or divorce, know that process matters! Access to Justice chats with lawyer Jeff Johnson of Court Stults Johnson about how using Collaborative Family Law can help you feel better about the outcome.

What is a trust? If you have a will and kids who are under 18, chances are you have created a trust. What's the difference between a will, a trust, and an estate plan? Tune into this episode of A2J when we speak with Damian McGrath, Senior Trust Advisor at Raymond James Ltd., who answers these questions and more. Want to impress your family beyond making sure that your estate is easy to administer? Stay tuned to the end to learn some Latin to drop into conversation at the next family reunion!

Your ability to earn income is your biggest asset, says Karine Orser, an Insurance and Estate Planning Advisor. Whether you are an employee, a business owner or the spouse of an earner, tune into this episode to learn what to look for in your disability insurance contract, what the most common disability claims are, and how to figure out whether you are under- or over-insured.

Oranges, icebergs, and ostriches:  What do these all have to do with workplace conflict? Tune in to this episode Access to Justice for the answer as we sit down to learn from Mediator/ Lawyer / Facilitator / Instructor / Speaker Paulette Dekelver. She tells us how the shift from rights to interests can make all the difference! 

Find out how spending an hour with an independent accountant before you sign your separation agreement could end up saving you thousands of dollars. Tune into Access to Justice with Angela Richardson C.P.A., to learn about the tax implications you should be considering!

Refugees fleeing persecution in their home country face a long and complicated process to land in Canada. Join Access to Justice as we speak with Ruth Williams, immigration lawyer, about the different paths to Canada and how you can help! Visit A2JPodcast.com

Family sponsorship is the most popular path to immigrating to Canada. Join us for this episode of Access to Justice when we speak with immigration lawyer Melvin Marin of Kahane Law. He shares the 5 basic things you need to know about family sponsorship to put your best application forward

'I'm here because they're here". We have a spicy episode this week with Sex Therapist Michael Sommerfeld. This is an episode for people in a relationship, thinking about being in a relationship or just plain curious about what sex therapy is. 

This week Dave Hawryluk of Capital Edge Financial shares valuable group benefit tips. Whether you are an employee or an employer, tune into this week's episode of Access to Justice to find out what you might be overlooking in your benefit plan! 

Part 1 - We tackle legal terms that you hear and want to make sense of. Part 2 - Child Support, Spousal Support and Property Division

Determining income is an important step in any divorce that involves child or spousal support.   If the payor is an employee, this can be an easy exercise, but it becomes more complicated if the payor is self-employed or runs a company.   Tune into this episode of Access to Justice Podcast when we speak with Cameron Brinkman of Pisko Brinkman LLP where he breaks down income determination down to the basics.

 “A conflict avoided is a conflict repeated”. Tune in to this episode of Access to Justice when we dive deep with Paulette Dekelver about conflict and how to get comfortable with it.

Parenting time and decision-making can be one of the toughest things to decide in separation or divorce. There are so many things to consider at a time when emotions are running high. Add in financial stress and efforts to keep the kids out of the middle and it can be recipe for disaster. Join hosts Heather and Evan as they suggest some ways to start the conversation and resources you can turn to if you get stuck.

Pre-nups, co-habs, and marriage contracts, oh my. What's the difference?   You'll want to check out this episode of Access to Justice if you're getting married, moving in with someone or if you're a parent or child of someone doing one of those things.   You'll find out how these agreements can protect family assets when we chat with experienced family lawyer, mediator, and registered collaborative professional Jack Hauptman.

Divorce can put massive financial strain on a family. Pair that with concerns about your financial future: Will I be able to afford to keep the house? Can I still retire as planned? The worry might be come overwhelming! Find out how working with a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst could save you money, help you stay on track to meet your financial goals, and help ease some of the stress of a divorce when we speak with Holly Brady of Prospera Solutions.

If you're caught in a conflict spiral with your co-parent and are looking for an effective alternative to court that will reduce child stress, improve parental behaviour and communication, and provide timely decisions when parents can't agree, parenting coordination might be your answer. Don't miss this episode when Dr. Greg Pickering talks to us about what parenting coordination is, who might be well-suited for it, how much it costs, and more!

Why would you need a business valuation? What drives the value of a business? Are there different considerations when a business is being valued in litigation versus for accounting purposes? Don't miss our conversation with Vince Gervais of Frost Valuations Inc when we take a deep dive into what goes into putting a dollar value on a business

If you live in a smaller or more remote Alberta locale, you might face unique advantages and challenges in trying to access justice.   Tune in to this episode of Access to Justice when we chat with Jasper lawyer, Chris Stolfa, about how he serves the legal needs of his community. Be sure to stay tuned ‘til the end to find out Kim's ski racing nickname! 

Millions of people are fleeing the war Ukraine. Canada is changing the rules for travel visas and family sponsorship to ease entry to Canada. Tune into this special short episode of Access to Justice to hear the latest from immigration lawyer Melvin Marin on the new rules.   For more information visit:  https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/ukraine-measures.html or call Canada Immigration directly from inside or outside of Canada at 1-613-321-4243 (collect calls and reverse charge calls are accepted).  

How can you avoid conflict in your divorce?  Why would you want to avoid going to court?  Is family court anything like you see on TV? Family lawyer Joanne Waldie of Bruyer & MacKay answers these questions, imparts some wisdom, and so much more on this episode of Access to Justice! 

Insolvency is when you can't cover your monthly bills and debt re-payments, a spot that more and more Albertans are finding themselves in as the pandemic nears the 2-year mark. If you are having trouble making ends meet, find out what your options are and where to turn for help when we chat with Licensed Insolvency Trustee, Sandra Landry of MNP Ltd.

What's the difference between being laid off and fired? How has COVID-19 changed employee rights and employer's obligations?  How you do you know if you're getting a good deal if you are let go? Find out answers to these questions and more when we chat with employment lawyer, Mark Smith.

Do courts ever get to hear about what the kids want when their parents divorce? Get the answer to this question and a whole lot more when we chat with lawyer Jeff Keller who acts as independent legal counsel for children when they get caught in their parents' high conflict separation.  

Tune into this episode of Access to Justice when we speak with Nitin Bhatia about the basics starting and running a small business. You'll hear about how, when, and why to involve other professionals like lawyers and accountants, whether you should consider incorporating your business, and loads of other practical considerations.

Whether you're looking to buy your first home, you're selling your home to fund your retirement or you're anywhere in between, don't miss this week's episode of Access to Justice when Jeff Kahane of Kahane Law shares everything that you need to know about basic real estate transactions.  

Do you have to get along with the other person to go to mediation with them? Find out the answer to this question and much more when we chat with collaborative family lawyer and mediator Jim Taylor. We discuss how mediation can help you keep some control over the outcome of your situation (and possibly some dollars in your pockets)!

Life insurance. Critical Illness insurance. Disabilityinsurance. Which ones do you need? What'sthe difference between them? Who should you turn to for advice? Learn about the differenttypes of insuranceand more when we interview A2J special guest Kim MacDonald.

Do you need a business valuation? HINT: You might want to think about one if you're going through a separation or divorce, or doing estate planning.  What's a Chartered Business Valuator (CBV)?  What types of situations justify hiring a CBV? Listen to this episode of A2J where we interview Jonathan Lacasse of Grant Thornton LLP and find out the answers to those questions and much, much more!