" Ambridge Law showed great attention to detail when writing my Will and helping me to plan my estate. I am glad I chose them to safeguard the future of my relatives "
E. M. A., Toronto, ON
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November 22, 2008 - Proposal of New Child Custody Rules in Ontario
Ontario's attorney general on Monday plans to unveil sweeping child custody reforms in the wake of 7-year-old Katelynn Sampson's death last summer. 1
The discovery of Katelynn's battered body on Aug. 3 in the Toronto Parkdale-area apartment she shared with her custodial parents horrified the province and moved Attorney General Chris Bentley to examine how custody is awarded.
A judge had granted Donna Irving and Warren Johnson custody as Katelynn's mother battled a drug addiction. Irving and Johnson are both charged with first-degree murder.
A complaint has been filed with the Ontario Judicial Council against the justice in the case, who apparently awarded custody of the girl without probing Irving, who has a history of drugs, prostitution and violence.
"Katelynn's death caused everybody to stand back and say what else can we do?" said Bentley, who worked as a criminal defence lawyer for 25 years in London, Ont.
Bentley told the Star the proposed changes to child custody regulations are part of a reform package of Ontario's family law to be introduced Monday and include:
* CHILD CARE PLANS: Both parents and non-parents seeking custody of a child will be required to submit a sworn affidavit outlining plans for the child's care, as opposed to the current application form, where "you simply fill in the blanks and sign," said Bentley.
* POLICE CHECKS: Non-parents will be required to submit to a broad police records check, which will be provided to the court. This is the same type of screening done on people such as daycare workers applying for jobs involving caring for children. The check would flag convictions and other concerns.
* ACCESS TO FILES: Judges will have access to any Ontario family or court files that may raise flags.
* CHILDREN'S AID CHECK: Non-parents seeking custody will also be required to get a letter from children's aid that would outline any files that raise concern over a person's ability to parent a child, or attest that no concerns exist.
None of this is required at present when an adult seeks custody of a child. Basically, a filled-out application form is sufficient, Bentley said. "What we are going to be doing is making sure there is information before a judge that would reveal any violent history."
Bentley was so touched by Katelynn's case he investigated what information is required to be given to a judge when custody decisions are made. "Unfortunately when I checked into what is required to be before a judge it turned out to be relatively little," he said.
There are nearly 14,000 custody applications before the courts in Ontario every year.
Of those, 10 per cent are by non-relatives. That is about four a day somewhere in the province by non-parents alone, said Bentley. "What we are saying is when we are dealing with our most vulnerable, our children, let's make sure we have all the material available we want the judge to see," he said.
He consulted police, legal and child care agencies about the changes and acknowledged some had concern about the time required to fill out more documents. "Yes, it might require a few extra minutes in court but we are dealing with children," he said. "Let's take the time."
The Star's Joanna Smith revealed this summer that during three custody hearings held over five months on who would raise Katelynn, few questions were asked about Irving.
Court transcripts show Irving was a good friend of Katelynn's mother, Bernice Sampson. On June 6, Irving was given full custody of Katelynn. Two months later, the Grade 2 student died. Reports at the time show Irving called 911 and said Katelynn stopped breathing after she choked on food.
As well as new child custody rules, The Canadian Press reported yesterday that Bentley will also introduce legislation to toughen the enforcement rules on restraining orders and on the division of pensions when a family breaks down. The measures are aimed at better protecting women and children.
Borrowed from materials on www.thespec.com
November 19, 2008 - Release of New Informational Legal Magazine "Law & Me"
Dear Friends,
In January 2009, Ambridge Law legal firm begins publishing a monthly magazine “Law & Me”, which will inform and educate readers about law. The magazine will target a wide audience and will cover important aspects of Canadian as well as international law and business. The magazine will offer practical and useful legal information applicable to daily life of every Canadian.
An account of the latest domestic and international legal news in the magazine will always keep readers informed of significant developments in the law affecting their lives. Legal Articles by Marina Ambridge, M.Sc., LL.B, lead lawyer of Ambridge Law legal firm in the areas of Family Law, Wills & Estate Law, and Business Law will become invaluable guides in the world of laws to all the readers. In the section “All You Wanted to Know about Law”, we will inform readers about essential aspects of different areas of law, which will help them increase their legal literacy in life and business as well as avoid costly legal mistakes.
Very useful for the readers will be articles in the section “Business, Finances, and the Law”, in which we will analyze a variety of topics related to starting your own business, banking, real estate, personal financial well-being, taxes, insurance, bankruptcy, and others. In the magazine, readers will also find interesting articles about lives and careers of important historical and modern individuals, who made invaluable contributions to the development of the law and society. Finally, readers will get a chance to learn about real-life legal stories, which can sometimes be amusing or alarming, but are always very enlightening.
Ambridge Law legal firm, headed by Marina Ambridge and the marketing director Elliott Ambridge, B.Com., LL.B. candidate, will manage the publication and provide all-around support to the magazine. The publishing department gathered a great team of professionals. We are sure that the magazine will be very popular mount the readers, who will become your regular clients!
HOW WILL YOU AND YOUR BUSINESS BENEFIT FROM ADVERTISING WITH “Law & Me”?
We enjoy a very high and devoted readership because we are the only magazine which focuses on providing useful and interesting account of important legal and business issues affecting everyday life of 350,000 Russian-Canadians.
The magazine is published monthly and, thus, your ad will enjoy a whole month of exposure to the vast Russian-Canadian market!
Readers will see your ad again and again because many of them save our magazines as legal and business guides for future reference.
The magazine is distributed in the most visited Russian locations from Mississauga to Aurora!
Your colourful and bright ad in our full-color professionally designed magazine will catch the attention of every reader!
20% off your ad for every referred advertiser.*
10 % discount for all new advertisers.*
The magazine is sent to many professional law, financial, and medical offices, where their attendees can read it in its entirety while awaiting their service.
An electronic version of the magazine is further sent to thousands of readers in need of your service. Email lawandme@ambridgelaw.com to get your copy!
Articles written by professionals are published free with a purchase of an ad!
Those who advertise most frequently will get a priority and significant discount to place their banner/electronic ad on a professional website with an online version of the magazine.
Email us today at lawandme@ambridgelaw.com or call us at (416) 590-1777 and tell everyone about your business and services!
*Please call (416) 590-1777 for more details.
April 10, 2008; 7:00-9:30 pm, 260 Edgeley Blvd., suite 601, Vaughan
Ambridge Law invites you to join lawyer Marina Ambridge and owners of professional mortgage magazine “M$M” for a meeting of a professional club under the magazine free info session.
Topics will cover a range of legal and financial issues. You will be able to ask Marina Ambridge any legal questions completely for free.
Also, the program of the evening will include:
Wine and Cheese. Finger- food.
Owners of the magazine who are also mortgage specialists will cover the latest news in mortgage and financial industry.
Official photographer of the magazine will present a collection of her photographs.
Chance to win a prize (don’t forget to bring your business cards!)
You can only bring three guests with you (please let us know beforehand how many guests you will be bringing by calling (416) 590 -1777 or email us at info@ambridgelaw.com).
The Seminar was held in English. During the Q & A session explanations were given in Russian and Bulgarian Languages.
February 7, 2008; 7:00-9:00 pm; 4950 Yonge Street, Suite 2100, Toronto (Younge and Sheppard)
Marina Ambridge (lawyer) and Yuri Isakov (financial analyst) hosted a free legal seminar on the following topics:
• Legal and financial consequences of divorce for married and common law spouses as well as for those planning to marry or live together
• Advantages and Disadvantages of common ownership of property
• Wills: mistakes in writing which might become really costly in the future
The seminar was a great chance for those who had not visited the previous one to gain some knowledge about their rights and responsibilities and for those who did visit to ask any additional questions.
November 8, 2007
– Ambridge Law hosted a two hour Free Legal seminar entitled "Financial Consequences of a Divorce". July 18, 2007
– Ambridge Law presented a two hour Free Legal Seminar entitled “Importance of Estate Planning” at Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada.
April 16, 2006
– Ambridge Law participated in filming a televised series of legal questions and answers on RTVI Canadian Television Network February 12, 2006
– Ambridge Law participated in filming a one hour program on RTVI Canadian Television Network about legal issues in Family and Estates law.
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