Family Law Portal Goes Live!

A collaboration between the Ryerson’s Legal Innovation Zone and FDRIO Members!

On June 20, 2019, Ryerson’s Legal Innovation Zone (LIZ) launched the Family Law Portal. This free, on-line service helps Ontario families involved in separation or divorce better understand their rights, their responsibilities, the decisions they need to make, and the documents they need.

“Families need a way of resolving separation and divorce issues that works for them”, said Chris Bentley, Managing Director of the LIZ, which managed and coordinated the project.   “When you are better informed, you can spend your time, emotional energy and limited resources on the issues and decisions that matter most to you”.  

Practitioners (including FDRIO Board of Directors and Members: Thomas Dart, Sina Hariri, Judith Huddart, Dr. Barbara Landau, Neil Maisel and Daniella Wald) with over 160 combined years of family law and financial experience contributed their knowledge and experience to make sure the Portal gives people the information they need. Contributing expert Barbara Landau, said “The Portal represents the start of an approach that many of us have worked toward for years – an approach that provides separating families with what they need during a difficult life transition.”

The Avanti Foundation and the Law Foundation of Ontario (LFO) funded the project.  “We are pleased to support this innovative approach to helping families experiencing family breakdown.” said Tanya Lee, CEO of the Law Foundation of Ontario.  “Technology is part of what is needed”.

Neota Logic and YouX provided the technology and related expertise.  Kim Massana, CEO of Neota Logic, commented, “The Family Law Portal is ground-breaking and creates a needed accessibility point for legal services.  We are pleased to leverage LIZ expertise with Neota Logic’s no-code app building platform”.

The Family Law Portal is the first of a new 4-part approach:  Inform, Triage, Connect and Resolve. The development of a triage system for family law cases is already underway and will be launched early next year.  

Check out the Portal here!

Mr. Sina Hariri, LL.M.(ADR), J.D (US)., LL.B. (Canada), Acc. F.M. (OAFM), FDRP.Med. (FDRIO), Lawyer, Accredited Family Mediator, Certified Specialist in Family Mediation, and Notary Public