Your McKenzie Friend Inc.
14751 125 St. T5X 0L5 Edmonton, AB, Canada

FIREARMS AND FAMILY SEPARATION This is a good video, and I enjoy this lawyers legal discourse about Canadian laws. In particular about firearms. https://youtu.be/eEpywNqreUs... But this puts to my mind something he doesn't mention. And that is the risk of having your legally owned and registered firearms confiscated if you are undergoing a separation. Particularly if it is high conflict, or involves domestic abuse. A phone call to local police, or RCMP, saying that you are a risk to yourself, and, or others, may result in an automatic visit and removal of your weapons from your direct care and control. Ie. they may take them away. And good luck to get them back easily or soon. In general, if you are a licensed gun owner facing these circumstances, it is a good idea to pass over your collection to a trusted friend or appropriate storage facility. It will be much easier to get your guns back when things are settled down. And yes, Your McKenzie Friend understands the implications that we tend to think our society is predicated on ideas like provable and probable cause, evidence, etc. being the precursor to actions by state officials wearing sidearm when they come to see you. This is not the truth Your McKenzie Friend has observed. In general the system reacts to proactively avoid any sort of big blow out, media attention, or conflict. And personal rights and freedoms fall out the window. This means a call by a neighbor, or stranger, who is credible, in police and government view, that says you are a threat, can result in a police visit and removal of firearms from the premises.

PETITION ABOUT CHILD SUPPORT Good article. The man has done his research. The Fraser Institute study is a must read for anyone wanting to understand the origins of our current support guidelines; and shows that the people making the calculation had no real financial household budget experience. Yet plenty of input from vested interest groups.... The points about calculations showing how much disparity there is in the outcome of net incomes is very important to bring to the publics attention. I wish they had attached an example. So I like this petition and hope it succeeds. Based on experience I wouldn't hold my breath that the powers that be will be influenced at all. Yet I certainly advocate that any actions are better than none. And one thing petitions can do, is get controversies into the light of attention.

VERY INTERESTING WHEN THE NUMBERS ARE CRUNCHED This shows why shared parenting must be the norm. For everyone's sake.

PROVINCIAL COURT CLOSED AGAIN For filing papers. Back to online and drop boxes. We do not yet know if other steps like the emergency triage system they used back in March and April will return also. Here's the posted announcement: In-person service at the Provincial Court Civil counters of the Edmonton Law Courts has been suspended. Although civil court matters currently scheduled are proceeding as planned, non-emergency filing of documents will be done through the drop boxes located at the entrances to the Edmonton Law Courts.

SOME REAL PROGRESS The system finally recognizes a thing that family law clients and practitioners have known about for over 30 years. Is it too little too late? Undoubtedly for many this is a resounding yes. But it provides hope for the future. ... I really hope the guidelines they produce are publicly available for consideration and discussion. I have attached a few screen shots so you will know who is involved and some of the main symptoms they list. Check the comments for these.

JUDGES ARE INTFANTALIZING OUR YOUNG ADULTS I've dealt with a few of these now, and the trend that is emerging causes me concern. These are the many cases I am now seeing where a parent, and even the new adult, ask that child support be continued after the child becomes 18 years old.... Normally under the Acts child support is no longer automatic, or as strictly under the guideline amounts, once a child becomes 18. That is because there was an expectation that the new adult should, by this time, have been prepared to become independent by their parents. This was a societal expectation; for the parents to work to raise children to independence, and for the children to embrace their new role as independent persons. At this point, if the parents are together, the now adult child is left to make their way in life. The parents have full autonomy whether to support this adult or not. However, if the parents are divorced, and subject to the rules of courts and the acts of separation legislation, the situation is quite different. And these differences, though well intentioned and entirely appropriate in the circumstances for which they were designed, are, as is wont in the courts, being expanded and abused in ways I believe are harmful to our society and the parties they influence. - To Be Continued (I have to get to a meeting)

PROGRESS IS HAPPENING. The study is good, there are many like this. What is wonderful to see here, is that the agents of government and legislation have actually regarded and used it to make positive changes in their system. However, do not celebrate too much. ... My experience in these things is that the direct agents on the operational level, lawyers, judges, clerks, and administrative folks, may act to sabotage the implemented rule changes. We'll see. But it is hopeful. https://www.wqad.com//526-22b53e9f-d34e-48d0-9e5a-570051fe

HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE Thanksgiving is an underappreciated holiday. It's a wonderful opportunity to visit family, renew and update relationships, and to enjoy a fine meal. Your McKenzie Friend hopes everyone uses the day to have a wonderful time. Be with family if you can. If you cannot be with family call them. If you are alone, go and enjoy the fine Fall weather or go to a great restaurant to treat yourself to the best meal possible. ... Whatever your challenging circumstances, try to let go of them today, and enjoy this single day as much as you can. Sometimes that is all we need; a single day that we concentrate on to make good, no matter what.

AN INTERESTING ARTICLE ABOUT A COMMON ISSUE challenging the common acceptance that professional 3rd party evaluations act in the children's best interests.

ACCESS TO LAWYERS: A BIG DEAL Your McKenzie Friend has been working on ways to provide clients Support from professional lawyers to get help with technical and specialized services, or tasks that Your McKenzie Friend cannot legally do. Specifically:... - a lawyer to stand up and speak for clients in Court of Queens Bench, EICC, and JDR meetings. Super duty counsel. - proper demand letters and proposals from a law firm with advice on legal rights. Get parties to follow orders without going into litigation. - 3 way meetings with Your McKenzie Friend to strategize. - legal property advisements and agreements review - special rates and pricing. Everything on a limited scope retainer basis. So you remain empowered, knowledgeable, in control, and save lots of money while doing bulk of work with Your McKenzie Friend. It has taken a long time to work out the details, and find the right people. But Your McKenzie Friend is getting it done; and soon can bolster clients abilities and tools to self represent significantly.