Predatory Marriage: A Wills & Estates Perspective

The Family Law Connection

Predatory Marriage

A Wills & Estates Perspective

By Jaclyn Giffen, B.Soc.Sci., J.D., M.A.

In many Canadian provinces, including Ontario under the Succession Law Reform Act (SLRA), by entering into a marriage any existing legal Last Will and Testament is automatically revoked. This means that the will that you would have made prior to such marriage is null and void, rendering you intestate (without a valid will) upon your death. The exception would be if your will contained a clause that stated that you made the will in consideration of marriage. A lawyer would be in the best position to ensure any will you execute is not revoked by operation of law.

Predatory Marriage

Predatory marriages have become a pertinent issue in Ontario and are typically associated with the financial exploitation of vulnerable people, especially the elderly. This rule of law can make vulnerable people, who do not have the full capacity to make decisions on their own, easy targets for predatory marriages as a predatory partner can use their status as a “spouse” to gain access to the victim’s assets. Not only do predatory marriages affect the victimized spouse, but they also have an impact on the loved ones or charities who were the intended recipients of the victim’s assets within the individual’s previously executed testamentary documents.

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Things to consider when looking for a therapist

Things to consider when looking for a therapist
by Allyson Lucas, NorthStar Wellness

THE SEARCH

Ask for recommendations from your friends or family. If your workplace has a Human Resources Department, EAP program or insurance company, you may want to consult with them. Visit websites such as Psychology Today, Google local therapists and browse their websites.

Learn the differences between a psychiatrist, psychologist, registered psychotherapist, social worker and counsellor and decide which professional is best suited to your needs. Double-check to see if your benefit plan covers these particular services.

Call or email a mental health professional and ask if it’s possible to meet them for a free consultation for 15 – 20 minutes to learn more about them and see if they would be a good fit for you.

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Hiring is Often a Challenge For Any Business Owner

Hiring is often a challenge for any business owner
By Janet McLeod, East City Flower Shop

Finding staff, teaching staff and sometimes firing staff – uggg is ongoing.
Over the years we have created a series of interview questions that help us learn more about the interviewee. Yes, we have the standard “what did you like best about working at…”  “tell me about a hobby or activity you enjoy” “ tell about a goal you set for yourself and how you went about obtaining this goal” questions.

We have a small work area and we meet with people at all stages of the ‘Circle of Life’ so you need to be sympathetic and you also need to be able to banter. Some of the questions we have added to our interview process, and these have been tailored to us, are:

  • Lion or bear, who wins? There is no correct answer, but no answer is not what we are looking for.
  • What would you do if the power went out and you were here alone? The correct answer is something similar to “ I would check next door and see if the power is out everywhere” or “ I would check the fuse panel” We have heard answers like “I would lock up and leave” “ I would lock the door” “ Don’t worry, I would stay”
  • Tell me about the last book you read. We like to work with people who have varying interests.

Staffing is a full time consideration in a small business, taking time to create questions that make it easy to find people who are a good fit for your workplace is a great first step to finding long term staff.


Janet McLeod
Canada’s eighth accredited master florist
Peterborough Examiner Reader’s Choice 2013
East City Flower Shop
159 Douro Street

Peterborough, Ontario, Canada K9H 1H7
Telephone: 705-742-1617
Website: www.eastcityflowershop.com
Video: www.youtube.com/watch?v=7LWChMdTf8A